Abuse of Albuteral Inhalers

[sandy_girl_3]

I have noticed my 16 year old daugther using her inhaler, that is only supposed to be used before exercise, at times when I am certain that she does not need it. Should I be concerned? She supposedly has exercise induced asthma although I dont  believe this was properly tested for diagnosis. Is this something she could be using to get a high off of? Can it be a cause for the phone calls I have been getting about her being sick at school, headaches, nausia, vomiting?

[caregiver222]

First of all it is absolutely positively impossible to get a "high" off an albuterol inhaler.

Secondly, the inhaler is NOT to be used "before exercising" but only in the event of shortness of breath.

A little known secret is that the inhaler can improve athletic performance somewhat by opening up the alveoli and getting more oxygen into the bloodstream. For a long distance runner or swimmer this might mean the difference between coming in first, rather than second. I wouldn't be surprised if someone told her this.

On a short term basis, this is probably a habit that will cause no lasting harm. Albuterol sulfate can cause ventricular arythmias, but only in high doses.

[123abcs]

albuterol inhalers ARE prescribed to be used before exercising in exercise induced asthma.

[caregiver222]

I know physicians suggest they be used for this purpose. My own opinion is that this is inappropriate, especially for a sixteen year old participating in extracurricular sports.

Albuterol sulfate certainly opens the airways. But you are then operating on "reserve".

Any further agravation and constriction cannot be resolved. Steroids take too long a time.

The answer for a sixteen year old is to discontinue the excercise, not take albuterol sulfate beforehand.

There are aerosolized steroidal inhalers if the situation is bad enough and the need to excercise important enough.