SAME-DAY albuterol (generic Ventolin) pickup for asthma

Albuterol is a bronchodilator used to relax muscles in the airways and encourage airflow to and from the lungs. This medication is primarily prescribed to people who have been diagnosed with asthma or lung conditions such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) that cause obstructed airflow to the lungs.

Common symptoms of these lung conditions include:
- Coughing
- Wheezing
- Difficulty breathing
- Shortness of breath
- Chest tightness

Albuterol helps loosen airways in the respiratory system (like the bronchi and trachea), to prevent these symptoms and relieve them if they occur.

It is important to note that albuterol does not cure asthma or lung disease. Instead, it is used to manage symptoms associated with these conditions.

Albuterol belongs to a classification of medication known as bronchodilators. These medications help relax the muscles that surround the airways in the lungs (known as the bronchi) during bronchospasms. Bronchospasm is the medical term for the tightening and inflammation of these airways.

Common symptoms of bronchospasms include:
- Coughing
- Wheezing
- Shortness of breath
- Chest tightness

Bronchospasms commonly occur after exercise or exposure to an irritant (such as secondhand smoke or airborne allergens). Bronchodilators help people mitigate and prevent the symptoms listed above by relaxing the muscles that surround the airways, which encourages airflow to and from the lungs. Albuterol does not cure patients of asthma or lung disease, but it can improve quality of life and prevent potentially severe breathing problems.

The use of albuterol may cause side effects. These are especially uncommon when albuterol is administered via inhaler (they are a little more common when taking an oral tablet or inhaled liquid). Talk to your health care provider if these symptoms recur, or do not go away.

The most common side effects of albuterol include:
- Tremors (uncontrollable shaking of the body)
- Nervousness
- Dizziness
- Heartburn
- Nausea and vomiting

More severe side effects are rare but are usually a result of an allergy to albuterol.

Seek medical attention right away if you experience any of the following adverse reactions:
- Tachycardia (fast or irregular heartbeat)
- Chest pain
- Rash/ hives
- Swelling of the face, throat, or extremities
- Difficulty breathing
- Throat irritation

In addition, talk to your doctor about any medical conditions you have been previously diagnosed with, as well as any medication you are currently taking.

Albuterol is commonly prescribed as an aerosol inhaler, or as a liquid to be administered through a nebulizer. For most individuals using inhalers, 2 inhalations should be taken every 4-6 hours. This usually comes out to about 2 inhalations 4 times a day. More frequent inhalations are not recommended and might lead to adverse side effects.

To prevent exercise-induced bronchospasms, it is recommended that you take 2 inhalations of albuterol 15 minutes before exercise, or physical activity.

Good news! Providers on Sesame can write a prescription for albuterol to be picked up near you – often within the same day. Don’t wait to get your prescription filled. Talk to a provider on Sesame and get your prescription ordered right away for fast and convenient pickup from a pharmacy of your choice.

Note that all prescriptions are at the discretion of your doctor.