What is the difference between xopenex and pulmicort

If your breathing condition is mild, your doctor may only prescribe one puff 45 mcg of Xopenex HFA taken up to every 4 hours. For Xopenex, the typical dosage in children ages 6 through 11 years is 0. The maximum dosage of Xopenex in this age group is usually 0. This also happens to be the starting dosage of Xopenex for adults and children ages 12 and older.

For Xopenex HFA, the dosage for children is the same as it is for adults. This is because Xopenex is considered a rescue medication. If you need to take Xopenex more than twice each week to treat your breathing problems, your doctor may change your overall treatment plan.

If this medication is working well for you, your doctor may recommend that you continue to use it over a long period of time. You may wonder how Xopenex compares to other medications that are prescribed for similar uses. Xopenex contains the drug levalbuterol hydrochloride, while Xopenex HFA contains the drug levalbuterol tartrate. All three of these drugs belong to a class of medications called short-acting beta-agonists SABAs. Xopenex, Xopenex HFA, and albuterol are each used as needed to treat and prevent bronchospasm in people with reversible obstructive airway disease.

With bronchospasm, the main airways in your lungs become tight and narrow. This can make it hard for you to breathe. Reversible obstructive airway disease includes conditions such as asthma and certain other breathing problems related to allergies. Xopenex is prescribed for people ages 6 years and older, while Xopenex HFA is prescribed for people ages 4 years and older. Depending on the form of albuterol prescribed, it can sometimes be used in people as young as 2 years of age.

Albuterol can also be used to prevent exercise-induced bronchospasm in people ages 4 years and older. With this condition, you have trouble breathing during exercise. With an MDI, the drug is released in puffs, which can be inhaled. Xopenex, Xopenex HFA, and albuterol are very similar drugs, which means they can cause similar side effects. Below are examples of these side effects. Xopenex, Xopenex HFA, and albuterol are all approved to treat and prevent bronchospasm in people with reversible obstructive airway disease.

The use of nebulized Xopenex and nebulized albuterol have also been directly compared in clinical studies of people with mild to moderate asthma. In this 4-week study, some people were given either Xopenex or albuterol sulfate three times daily. Other people were given a placebo treatment with no active drug.

Children in this age group who were taking 2. However, children taking 1. All the people in the study who were using either Xopenex or albuterol had their FEV1 increase more than did people who were taking a placebo. Xopenex and Xopenex HFA are each available as brand-name and generic medications. Albuterol is available in several forms, which come in both brand-name and generic options. According to estimates on GoodRx. Brand-name medications usually cost more than generics. Xopenex and Xopenex HFA can cause mild or serious side effects.

The following lists contain some of the key side effects that may occur while taking Xopenex or Xopenex HFA. These lists do not include all possible side effects.

For more information on the possible side effects of Xopenex or Xopenex HFA, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. They can give you tips on how to deal with any side effects that may be bothersome. Many of these side effects may go away or become less noticeable over time. Call your doctor right away if you have serious side effects. One serious side effect of Xopenex and Xopenex HFA is severe bronchospasm tightening of your airways.

Symptoms of this condition can include:. You may wonder how often certain side effects occur with this drug. In clinical studies , no one taking Xopenex had an allergic reaction to the drug. A more severe allergic reaction is rare but possible.

Symptoms of a severe allergic reaction can include:. Call your doctor right away if you have a severe allergic reaction to Xopenex. You may feel your heart rate increase called tachycardia after taking a dose of Xopenex or Xopenex HFA. This side effect will likely go away after several hours following your dose. No one taking a placebo treatment with no active drug had tachycardia.

If you have chest pain or palpitations, or your heart is racing, call your doctor immediately. If you have heart-related side effects from Xopenex or Xopenex HFA, your doctor may recommend that you use a different medication for your breathing problems. These infections can cause cough, runny or stuffy nose, and sore throat. They can check to see if you have an infection and recommend whether you need any additional treatment. With bronchospasm, your airways become tight and narrow, making it hard for you to breathe.

If you have unexpected bronchospasm after taking Xopenex or Xopenex HFA, stop taking the drug and call your doctor right away.

If you have worsened breathing problems while using Xopenex or Xopenex HFA, your doctor may prescribe a different medication for you. Xopenex and Xopenex HFA can cause a low potassium level hypokalemia in people using these drugs. Symptoms of hypokalemia can include:. During clinical studies of Xopenex and Xopenex HFA, the side effects in children were very similar to those in adults. Xopenex and Xopenex HFA may also be used off-label for other conditions.

With bronchospasm, the main airways in your lungs become tight and narrow, making it hard for you to breathe. 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. However, albuterol is approved to be used in the prophylaxis of exercise-induced bronchospasm. Typically, albuterol would be administered 15 minutes prior to the anticipated exercise to reduce the likelihood of bronchospasm caused by exercise.

Levalbuterol is sometimes used off-label for this indication as well. The following chart lists the most commonly known uses for these drugs. Only your healthcare provider can determine if these drugs are appropriate for your condition. In cases of severe asthma and COPD bronchospasm, please seek treatment in the nearest emergency department.

Levalbuterol and albuterol have been compared extensively with regard to asthma and COPD outcomes. A study evaluated adults who were hospitalized with asthma or COPD exacerbations who were treated with either levalbuterol or albuterol administered by nebulization. The results of this clinical trial found that clinical outcomes were similar between the two drugs and both were effective at relieving the symptoms of bronchospasm.

However, the cost of levalbuterol treatment was significantly more expensive than the cost of albuterol treatment, and patients in the levalbuterol group had a significantly longer hospitalization than patients in the albuterol group. Longer hospital stays also increase the overall cost of interventions.

A meta-analysis and systematic review of seven different trials, including over 1, patients, was done comparing levalbuterol to albuterol in acute asthma.

This study found no significant difference between the drugs when comparing clinical outcomes such as respiratory rate, oxygen saturation, and change in lung volume. Lung volume is sometimes referred to as forced expiratory volume, or FEV1, in medical literature. This study concluded there was no evidence to support choosing levalbuterol over albuterol in the treatment of asthma. While both drugs are effective, prescribers may weigh the lack of evidence of the superiority of levalbuterol and the higher cost when deciding which medication to prescribe.

Levalbuterol is only approved in pediatric patients four years and older, therefore albuterol would be preferred in the younger pediatric population. Only your doctor can choose the correct medication for your condition.

Get a prescription coupon. Levalbuterol is a prescription drug that is typically covered by commercial insurance plans. It is also typically covered by commercial insurance plans. While levalbuterol and albuterol are moderately selective for beta receptors on the intended smooth muscle of the airways, there may still be some cardiac beta-receptor stimulation causing an increase in heart rate, known as tachycardia.

Both levalbuterol and albuterol may cause nervousness and tremor. Migraine and dizziness were noted with levalbuterol, but not albuterol. This is not intended to be a comprehensive list of potential adverse effects. Please consult your healthcare provider for a complete list of side effects. Due to their chemical similarities, the potential drug interactions for levalbuterol and albuterol are very similar.

Azithromycin, a very common antibiotic often used in upper respiratory infections, should be avoided in combination with either levalbuterol or albuterol when possible. Azithromycin, when administered with short-acting beta-agonists, has an increased risk of causing QT prolongation, a type of cardiac arrhythmia.

It is important to obtain a baseline of cardiac function prior to administering these drugs at the same time. Beta blockers, often used to control heart rate and blood pressure, are functionally opposite of beta-agonists. Their functions will counteract each other.

If a patient must be both a beta blocker and a beta-agonist, using a cardioselective beta blocker is preferred. Examples of cardioselective beta blockers include atenolol and metoprolol, among others. This is not a complete list of potential drug interactions. Please seek the medical advice of a healthcare professional for a complete understanding of potential drug interactions. If this occurs, therapy should be stopped immediately and a new treatment should be started.

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. While rare, some people have been known to develop rash or hives after using Xopenex. The drug may also cause anaphylaxis which, if left untreated, can lead to shock and death. Likewise, seek emergency medical attention if allergy symptoms develop rapidly and are accompanied by shortness of breath, wheezing, irregular heartbeats, dizziness, and the swelling of the face or throat.

Xopenex can affect potassium levels and, in some cases, lead to hypokalemia—a condition in which low potassium causes weakness, fatigue, muscle cramps and stiffness, and tingling or numbness. It is important to let your healthcare provider know if you experience these symptoms as hypokalemia can increase the risk of cardiovascular side effects.

Do not take a potassium supplement in an effort to avoid hypokalemia unless your healthcare provider tells you to. Doing so can interfere with other medications you may be taking, including ACE inhibitors.

Xopenex is known to interact with certain drugs, either by increasing or decreasing drug concentrations of one or both drugs, or triggering severe side effects. In some cases, a dose adjustment or separation of doses by one to four hours may be enough to compensate for the interaction. In others, a change of treatment may be indicated. Others still may require no adjustment at all. To avoid drug interactions, let your healthcare provider know about any and all drugs and supplements you take before starting Xopenex.

This includes pharmaceutical, over-the-counter, nutritional, herbal, and recreational drugs. Sign up for our Health Tip of the Day newsletter, and receive daily tips that will help you live your healthiest life. Food and Drug Administration. FDA listing of authorized generics as of April 1, April 1, Airflow obstruction: is it asthma or is it COPD? Sunovion Pharmaceuticals Inc.

Xopenex HFA levalbuterol tartrate inhalation aerosol, for oral inhalation use. Updated February Do inhaled levalbuterol and racemic albuterol have different cardiac effects? Evid Based Prac. Comparison of levalbuterol and racemic albuterol based on cardiac adverse effects in children.

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