Salbutamol

Salbutamol, also known as albuterol and sold under the brand name Ventolin among others, is a medication that opens up the medium and large airways in the lungs. It is a short-acting β2 adrenergic receptor agonist that causes relaxation of airway smooth muscle. It is used to treat asthma, including asthma attacks and exercise-induced bronchoconstriction, as well as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). It may also be used to treat high blood potassium levels. Salbutamol is usually used with an inhaler or nebulizer, but it is also available in a pill, liquid, and intravenous solution. Onset of action of the inhaled version is typically within 15 minutes and lasts for two to six hours.

Salbutamol
Salbutamol (top),
(R)-(−)-salbutamol (center) and
(S)-(+)-salbutamol (bottom)
Clinical data
Trade namesVentolin, Proventil, ProAir, others
Other namesAlbuterol (USAN US)
AHFS/Drugs.comMonograph
MedlinePlusa607004
License data
Pregnancy
category
  • AU: A
Routes of
administration		By mouth, Inhalational, Intravenous
Drug classBeta2-adrenergic agonist
ATC code
Legal status
Legal status
Pharmacokinetic data
MetabolismLiver
Onset of action<15 min (inhaled), <30 min (pill)
Elimination half-life3.8–6 hrs (inhaled); 5–7.2 hrs (pill)
Duration of action3–6 hrs (inhaled); up to 8 hrs (pill)
ExcretionKidney
Identifiers
  • (RS)-4-[2-(tert-Butylamino)-1-hydroxyethyl]-2-(hydroxymethyl)phenol
CAS Number
PubChem CID
PubChem SID
IUPHAR/BPS
DrugBank
ChemSpider
UNII
KEGG
ChEBI
ChEMBL
ECHA InfoCard100.038.552
Chemical and physical data
FormulaC13H21NO3
Molar mass239.315 g·mol−1
3D model (JSmol)
ChiralityRacemic mixture
  • CC(C)(C)NCC(C1=CC(=C(C=C1)O)CO)O
  • InChI=1S/C13H21NO3/c1-13(2,3)14-7-12(17)9-4-5-11(16)10(6-9)8-15/h4-6,12,14-17H,7-8H2,1-3H3 Y
  • Key:NDAUXUAQIAJITI-UHFFFAOYSA-N Y
 NY (what is this?)  (verify)

Common side effects include shakiness, headache, fast heart rate, dizziness, and feeling anxious. Serious side effects may include worsening bronchospasm, irregular heartbeat, and low blood potassium levels. It can be used during pregnancy and breastfeeding, but safety is not entirely clear.

Salbutamol was patented in 1966 in Britain and became commercially available in the UK in 1969. It was approved for medical use in the United States in 1982. It is on the World Health Organization's List of Essential Medicines. Salbutamol is available as a generic medication. In 2021, it was the seventh most commonly prescribed medication in the United States, with more than 61 million prescriptions.

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