Reversible obstructive airway disease includes conditions such as asthma and other certain breathing problems related to allergies. Typical symptoms of reversible obstructive airway disease include cough, chest tightness, and trouble breathing. Xopenex is approved for use in people ages 6 years and older, while Xopenex HFA is approved for use in people ages 4 years and older.
These drugs belong to a class of medications called short-acting beta-agonists SABAs. This opens up your airways and makes it easier for you to breathe.
COPD includes conditions such as chronic bronchitis and emphysema. Your doctor will work with you to create a treatment plan that works best to manage your COPD symptoms. Using a medication such as Xopenex HFA about 15 minutes before you start exercising can help prevent these symptoms.
A small study compared treatment with Xopenex HFA to treatment with a placebo no active drug in people with exercise-induced bronchospasm. The study showed that people taking Xopenex HFA had better lung function during exercise than did people who took the placebo.
If you have questions about using Xopenex or Xopenex HFA for exercise-induced bronchospasm, talk with your doctor. They can discuss all of your treatment options with you. Xopenex is approved for use in children ages 6 years and older, while Xopenex HFA is approved for use in children ages 4 years and older. Xopenex and Xopenex HFA are short-acting medications that are used as needed to treat sudden breathing problems.
These drugs are also called rescue inhalers or rescue medications. They work quickly to treat breathing problems, such as shortness of breath and chest tightness. Rescue medications are almost always used with drugs called maintenance medications. When used to treat breathing problems such as asthma , maintenance medications are taken consistently, at least once every day. Maintenance medications are used to prevent breathing conditions from worsening and to prevent sudden breathing symptoms.
If you need to use your rescue medication, such as Xopenex or Xopenex HFA, more than twice each week, let your doctor know. They may recommend changing your maintenance medication to something that better controls your breathing symptoms. Other drugs are available that can treat or prevent bronchospasm caused by reversible obstructive airway disease.
Some drugs may be better suited for you than others. They can tell you about other medications that may work well for you. These drugs work quickly to treat sudden breathing problems, such as shortness of breath or chest tightness. Drugs that work in this way are called rescue medications.
Note: Some of the drugs listed above are used off-label to treat this condition. Pulmicort contains the drug budesonide. It belongs to a class of medications called inhaled corticosteroids. Xopenex and Xopenex HFA are used as needed to treat and prevent bronchospasm in people with reversible obstructive airway disease. Xopenex can be prescribed for people ages 6 years and older, while Xopenex HFA can be prescribed for people ages 4 years and older.
These drugs are called rescue medications because they work quickly to treat sudden breathing problems. Pulmicort, on the other hand, is used as a maintenance treatment for asthma. As a maintenance treatment, this drug is taken consistently rather than as needed. It works to control asthma symptoms and prevent sudden breathing problems called flare-ups. Pulmicort Flexhaler an aerosol powder can be given to people ages 6 years and older. Pulmicort Respules a liquid suspension can be given to people ages 12 months to 8 years of age.
Pulmicort Flexhaler is typically taken once or twice each day. This form of Pulmicort is typically taken twice each day. Therefore, these drugs can cause similar and different side effects. Below are examples of both common and serious side effects for each drug. Studies have also found Pulmicort Flexhaler and Pulmicort Respules to be effective as maintenance consistent treatment of asthma to control breathing problems and prevent flare-ups.
Xopenex and Pulmicort are available as both generic and brand-name drugs. Xopenex and Xopenex HFA are short-acting medications that are used as needed to treat sudden breathing symptoms.
On the other hand, Atrovent is a maintenance medication. But even with maintenance treatment, some people still need to use a rescue medication occasionally. Atrovent is available by itself and also as part of a combination medication that contains albuterol.
This combination product is typically used as a rescue medication. Your doctor may recommend a different treatment plan for you so that you avoid taking two rescue medications. Xopenex and Xopenex HFA are used as needed to treat sudden breathing problems.
They work quickly to open your airways and make it easier for you to breathe. Corticosteroids are commonly used as maintenance medications to control asthma or other breathing conditions and prevent flare-ups. Maintenance medications are taken consistently each day, rather than as needed. Corticosteroids are available as inhaled and oral taken by mouth forms. Sometimes, corticosteroids are used with rescue medications as part of your complete treatment plan.
If you have questions about whether you need to use corticosteroids, talk with your doctor about your treatment options. These drugs work quickly to help you breathe easier. Other drugs, called maintenance medications, are used consistently at least once each day. These drugs work to control breathing conditions and prevent symptom flare-ups.
Xopenex and Xopenex HFA should generally be used less than twice each week. If you need to use them more often, talk with your doctor. Rescue medications are used as needed to treat sudden breathing problems. If you do need to use your rescue medication more than twice a week, your doctor may recommend adjusting your treatment plan. Listed below are the maximum recommended dosages for Xopenex and Xopenex HFA, when these drugs are used to treat bronchospasm related to asthma.
If you have questions about how often you should be using Xopenex or Xopenex HFA, talk with your doctor.
In people ages 12 years and older, the maximum dosage of Xopenex is usually 1. For people ages 6 through 11 years, the maximum dosage is usually 0. In people ages 4 years and older, the maximum dosage of Xopenex HFA is usually two puffs a total of 90 mcg taken once every 4 hours. If you have certain heart problems such as blood pressure issues or heart palpitations or you drink large amounts of alcohol, you may be more likely to have side effects from these medications.
Xopenex can interact with several other medications. It can also interact with certain supplements. Different interactions can cause different effects. For instance, some interactions can interfere with how well a drug works.
Other interactions can increase side effects or make them more severe. Below are lists of medications that can interact with Xopenex. These lists do not contain all the drugs that may interact with Xopenex. Before taking Xopenex, talk with your doctor and pharmacist.
Tell them about all prescription, over-the-counter, and other drugs you take. Also tell them about any vitamins, herbs, and supplements you use. Sharing this information can help you avoid potential interactions. If you have questions about drug interactions that may affect you, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
This includes heart-related side effects such as chest pain, palpitations feeling fluttering with your heartbeat , or changes in your blood pressure. Interactions with these drugs are described below. Taking these medications together can further increase your risk of having a low potassium level. Symptoms of low potassium level include muscle cramps, problems with your heart rhythm, dizziness, and fainting. Typically, changes in your potassium level that are caused by taking Xopenex or Xopenex HFA are temporary.
And your potassium level usually returns to normal without being treated. If you need to take a diuretic, your doctor will likely recommend that you use a drug other than Xopenex or Xopenex HFA. Using beta-blockers with either of these drugs can also make you more prone to having bronchospasm tightening of your airways that can make it hard for you to breathe. If you need to take a beta-blocker, your doctor will likely recommend that you use a drug other than Xopenex or Xopenex HFA.
This can make digoxin less effective to treat your condition. In some cases, your doctor may recommend that you use a drug other than Xopenex or Xopenex HFA if you need to take digoxin.
Examples of these antidepressant medications include:. These side effects can include fast heart rate, palpitations feeling fluttering with your heartbeat , or changes in your blood pressure. However, you should still check with your doctor or pharmacist before using any of these products while taking Xopenex. Sometimes severe, life-threatening side effects can occur with overuse or misuse of these drugs.
You can also call the American Association of Poison Control Centers at or use their online tool. But if your symptoms are severe, call or go to the nearest emergency room right away. Studies are currently being done to better understand if these drugs have an effect on pregnant women or on their developing fetuses.
The doses of these drugs given in the studies were higher than typical doses given to humans. No negative effects were seen in fetuses exposed to either drug. More studies are needed to know if these drugs affect human pregnancies. They can discuss with you the risks and benefits of different treatment options. Your doctor can recommend healthy and safe ways to feed your child. Your insurance plan may require you to get prior authorization before they approve coverage for Xopenex.
This means that your doctor will need to send a request to your insurance company asking them to cover the drug. The insurance company will review the request and let you and your doctor know if your plan will cover Xopenex. If you need financial support to pay for Xopenex HFA, or if you need help understanding your insurance coverage, help is available.
Sunovion Pharmaceuticals Inc. For more information, call Xopenex and Xopenex HFA are each used as needed to treat and prevent bronchospasm caused by certain breathing conditions. With bronchospasm, your airways becomes tight and narrow, which makes it hard for you to breathe. It generally takes about 5 to 15 minutes for each treatment. Instructions for how to use your nebulizer will be specific to your machine. Children or older adults who are taking Xopenex may need help to set up and use their nebulizer.
With an MDI, the drug is released in puffs, which are inhaled. For some people, using an MDI is more difficult than using a nebulizer. This material may not otherwise be downloaded, copied, printed, stored, transmitted or reproduced in any medium, whether now known or later invented, except as authorized in writing by the AAFP.
Contact afpserv aafp. Want to use this article elsewhere? Get Permissions. Read the Issue. Sign Up Now. Previous: An Abscess on the Forehead. Jan 15, Issue. Bottom Line Levalbuterol tartrate appears to be no more effective and offers no improvement in the side-effect profile compared with albuterol.
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Earn up to 6 CME credits per issue. Purchase Access: See My Options close. Best Value! To see the full article, log in or purchase access. Author disclosure: Nothing to disclose. Email Alerts Don't miss a single issue. Sign up for the free AFP email table of contents. Navigate this Article. Xopenex and albuterol are both useful drugs with similar actions.
Because some providers believe that Xopenex has fewer side effects, it may be a reasonable option if you have any issue with albuterol. Xopenex is sometimes used off-label to treat exercise-induced bronchoconstriction EIB , the narrowing of airways caused by excessive physical exertion. Although technically a form of asthma , EIB can occur both in people with asthma as well as elite athletes with no diagnostic evidence of asthma. In people with mild intermittent asthma , Xopenex may be all that is needed to keep symptoms under control.
In others, daily medications such as long-acting beta-agonist and inhaled steroids may be added to the treatment plan to ensure long-term control. Your healthcare provider will assess your needs based on pulmonary function tests PFTs and imaging studies , as well as your general response to treatment. Xopenex should not be used in anyone with a known or suspected allergy to levalbuterol, albuterol, or any other ingredient in the medication. Xopenex is known to affect heart rate and blood pressure, posing risks to people with pre-existing cardiovascular disorders.
Levalbuterol is also known to act on the sympathetic nervous system and may affect glucose tolerance and thyroid function. To avoid drug-related complications, people with diabetes, thyroid disease, or cardiovascular disorders should have their condition routinely monitored. Any increases in the frequency or severity of symptoms may warrant a dose adjustment or change of treatment. Be sure to speak with your healthcare provider about the risks vs. Use appears to be safe for mother and child during pregnancy, but it's important that you get personal advice from a healthcare provider.
It is unknown if Xopenex is passed through breast milk. There are two forms of Xopenex: Xopenex HFA, the aerosolized form of levalbuterol, and Xopenex solution, the nebulized form.
Xopenex HFA is approved for adults and children 4 and over. It is available in a gram g canister with doses or an 8. The recommend dose is the same for adults and children :. Xopenex solution is approved for adults and children 6 and over. It is available in three premixed strengths: 0. There is also a 1. The recommended dosage varies by age:. As a general rule, the lowest possible dose able to improve breathing restriction should be used. If Xopenex is unable to provide relief at the prescribed dose, let your healthcare provider know before making a dose adjustment.
Never exceed the maximum recommended daily dosage. If Xopenex fails to provide relief at this dose, other medications will likely be needed to sustain long-term control of your asthma or COPD symptoms.
Because of its convenience and simpler dosing schedule, Xopenex HFA is often the preferred choice for first-time users. On the other, nebulizers are easier to use with younger children and allow for accurate dosing for people with severe COPD or asthma.
Speak with your healthcare provider about the benefits and drawbacks of each. Both can be stored at room temperature, ideally between 68 degrees F and 77 degrees F. Do not store in direct sunlight or use after the expiration date. Keep out of reach of children. Using Nebulized Xopenex Solution. Never mix another inhaled medication with Xopenex nebulized solution unless your healthcare provider tells you to.
Xopenex is considered safe for long-term use with few intolerable side effects. The risk of side effects is dose-dependent, meaning that it increases in tandem with the dose or the frequency of dosing. Most of these side effects are mild and tend to resolve without treatment within an hour or so. Many will resolve fully as your body adapts to the medication. There are few severe side effects associated with Xopenex. Of these, some are potentially life-threatening and require immediate medical attention.
One such condition is known as paradoxical bronchospasm in which an inhaled beta-agonist causes an unexpected worsening of symptoms. While the cause is poorly understood, paradoxical bronchospasm often occurs with the first use of a new canister or vial.
It can be life-threatening. It is also important to watch for signs of allergy.
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