Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease – also known as COPD, is known to cause respiratory problems such as bronchitis or bronchial asthma. When you experience short breathing cycles or if you are gasping for breath, it can be due to such conditions. If left untreated, your lungs may witness a very high level of stress. What starts off with lungs may soon lead to impairment of other vital organs such as hear, brain, etc. Your treating physician is likely to prescribe medications that form part of a genre called bronchodilators. These meds ease airways and make you breath easy. Levalbuterol is one such med. But, can you use this bronchodilator with budesonide? It is a wise thing to know more.
An excessive accumulation of mucus in airways and lungs often is the leading cause for breathing difficulties. These difficulties may show up in the form of panting or wheezing. You may experience shallow respiratory cycles, which make it difficult to pursue normal breathing. Owing to build-up of mucus, your air passages may constrict; in short, your breathing activity undergoes a severe level of stress. It is a common practice to administer meds of a genre called bronchodilators to widen your airways. The key function of these meds is to regulate airflow in and out of your respiratory system.
Those who live with chronic obstructive pulmonary disorders (in short, COPD) are commonly advised to take such medications. Levalbuterol is an example of drugs forming part of the bronchodilator class of meds. This drug clears the pathways of air by dilating air channels as well as helps remove excessive mucus. Key chemicals of this drug are known to bring about faster relief. The fast action of this drug helps ease the tissues of lungs.
No two individuals living with COPD are administered with the same medication / treatment plan. Your dosage plan depends on a variety of factors; some of the salient factors include body weight, gender, age, seriousness of your respiratory condition, etc. Above all, the way your system handles the initial doses also determines the dosage strength and duration of your medication plan. Levalbuterol is not an over the counter medication. It is administered under the care of a qualified chest physician or a medical practitioner.
Levalbuterol – Drug interactions
Those who are using any other versions of bronchodilators – drugs such as salmeterol, albuterol, metaproterenol, etc., must talk to your physician. It is harmful to use more than one form of bronchodilator at the same time; such a usage can result in an overdose. You can detect an overdosed condition through a few of its characteristic signs namely, dizziness, excessive giddiness, loss of coordination, dehydration, swelling of oral or facial organs as well as slow down of breathing cycles.
In order to avoid drug interactions with levalbuterol, it is a safe practice to provide details about drugs you are presently consuming. Also, share as much details of treatment plans that you are currently pursuing. Those who are sharing the list of existing medication plans must care to include prescription drugs, over the counter meds, herbal drugs, vitamins, and protein supplements. In the same vein, those who are taking dietary aids of any form must share details about such aids with your caregiving team.
Levalbuterol and budesonide
Budesonide is an inhaled form of corticosteroids which is administered for treating asthmatic conditions as well as Crohn’s disease, inflammatory bowel disorders, ulcerative colitis, etc. This steroidal drug is available as a generic equivalent which allows for being sold at a low cost. It is available in multiple forms namely, oral pills, delayed release variants and as an inhalation-friendly suspended version. Budesonide has a half-life of less than 3 hours. Hence, your system can dispose this off within a lesser timeframe.
A combination of levalbuterol and budesonide is administered for treating conditions such as allergic and / or non-allergic rhinitis, chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases such as bronchitis, asthma, etc.; especially, asthmatic attacks among children and asthmatic spells induced by working out or exercises.
Precautions to be observed while using levalbuterol along with budesonide
You are advised not to use this combination when you are not having respiratory difficulties. People who used this combinatorial treatment (when there was no need for it) experienced faster heartbeats, abnormal pulse rates, increased presence of acids in blood, etc. Those who are pregnant must consult with their treating doctor prior to using bronchodilators like levalbuterol along with steroids such as budesonide. The effect of this combination on your fetus is not fully known. Hence, treating doctors never use these two drugs during times of pregnancy. On the other hand, if you are aiming to become pregnant or are sexually active, you are recommended to use suitable non-hormonal birth control measures.
As an added precaution, if you are nursing a newly born infant, it is a safe practice to keep away from these two medicines. Active ingredients of levalbuterol and budesonide may enter into mother’s milk. The odds of newly born babies developing adverse side effects and a few withdrawal symptoms are very high. Infants may experience sleep related problems, feeding difficulties and may turn restless. It is a safe practice to talk to your treating doctor prior to starting your dosage plans.
Levalbuterol and budesonide must never be taken along with a few antimicrobial drugs such as ritonavir, clarithromycin, ketoconazole, amoxicillin (a widely used antibiotic med), etc. Also, if you have experienced any prior spells of hypersensitivity or allergic reactions to the key chemicals used in either of these drugs, your treating doctor must be made aware of all such problems. If you are living with prior clinical problems like cardiac dysfunction (recent heart failure, angina or painful chest, abnormal heartbeats, etc.), high blood pressure, diabetes mellitus, etc. must update their doctor of such ailments. People who often experience fits or seizures and those with kidney related problems (altered output of urine and / or painful urination spells) must keep their physician abreast of these problems.
The good thing about a combinatorial treatment of levalbuterol and budesonide is it is not addictive or habit forming. But, you are advised to stay aware of a few likely side effects this combination may trigger. A few common discomforts of this combination are sleeplessness (or insomnia), acute levels of dehydration (marked by parching of mouth or skin and a persistent sense of thirstiness), extreme levels of dizziness as well as involuntary tremors or shaking of your body. Many of these discomforts are known to go away on their own as your body gets accustomed to the treatment plan. However, among some users, one or more of these adverse reactions and side effects may persist for long; in such instances, talk to caregiving team as soon as you possibly can.
Effects of alcohol on a combinatorial treatment of levalbuterol and budesonide
This combination is likely to make you drowsy or very dizzy. Those who drink alcohol on a daily basis are advised to minimize their intake of such drinks. It is considered safe to discontinue the intake of alcoholic drinks all through your medication plan. Also, those who have had prior episodes of substance abuse or use of intoxicating items like cannabis must inform their doctor about their lifestyle.
Owing to the high level of dizziness a combination of levalbuterol and budesonide causes, it can be dangerous to drive, work on heavy machinery or pursue adventurous activities like swimming or cycling. In general, it is not a safe practice to perform activities needing a very high level of concentration and focus. In order to avoid the risks of an overdose, those who have missed a dose must not take a dual dose to make up for the missed dose. It is a safe practice to skip the dose you missed and carry on with your next dosage. Those who took two doses at the same timeslot are more likely to witness a high level of dizziness as well as toxicity (triggered by an excessive presence of active chemicals of both levalbuterol and budesonide).
Other precautions you need to stay aware of
A combination of levalbuterol and budesonide (i.e., its key ingredients) is more likely to trigger a sudden increase in blood pressure levels or hypertension. Owing to such risks, it becomes essential to keep a tab on your blood pressure levels periodically. If spells of hypertension are soon turning into an acute condition, it may trigger an intensive pain in your chest, your rate of respiration may become rapid, and you may start wheezing or pant for breath. Also, those who are planning to undergo a surgical procedure or a dental intervention must tell their caregiver about this combinatorial treatment plan. As this combination may interfere – in an adverse manner – with anesthetic drugs, your dentist or surgeon is more likely to recommend discontinuation of this combination; especially, a few days into the run up to your surgical / dental intervention.
In sum, you need to know that this combination of drugs is not available as an over the counter (OTC) option. Those who administered this combinatorial treatment in excess have encountered acute spells of anxieties, faster heartbeats, painful muscles and overall weakness coupled with spasms and / or cramping of muscles. Hence, it is a good practice to administer the combination of levalbuterol and budesonide as per the advice of a qualified medical practitioner.
Education: Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) from the University of Florida. Experience: 5 years as a pharmacist and medical writer, creating content on medication management and pharmaceutical news for healthcare blogs and patient education sites.
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