- With Mayo Clinic asthma and allergy specialist
James T C Li, M.D., Ph.D.
read biographyclose windowBiography of
James T C Li, M.D., Ph.D.
James Li, M.D.
"People with allergy or asthma can lead full and healthy lives." — Dr. James Li
Dr. James Li is chair of the Division of Allergic Diseases in the Department of Internal Medicine and a board-certified asthma and allergy specialist. He hopes his expertise and the information on the site educates health care consumers in an area of rapid change both in medications and diagnoses.
"There are a lot of misperceptions about allergy and asthma," says Dr. Li, a New York City native who has been with Mayo since 1985 and works with a group of subspecialists in allergy, asthma and immunology. "I believe it's important to provide truthful, accurate information about allergy and asthma to the public. The more people know, the better they can take care of these conditions."
Dr. Li is a professor of medicine at College of Medicine, Mayo Clinic. He's a past director of the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology, the American Board of Allergy and Immunology, and the American Board of Internal Medicine. He's a fellow in the American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology.
The American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology honored him with the Distinguished Service Award, and the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology with its Special Recognition Award.
Tests and diagnosis (2)
- Reactive airway disease: Is it asthma?
- Will my child outgrow asthma?
Causes (1)
- Asthma and acid reflux: Are they linked?
Treatments and drugs (3)
- Albuterol side effects: What's normal?
- After a flood, are food and medicine safe to use?
- LABAs for asthma — Should I stop taking them?
Lifestyle and home remedies (5)
- Air pollution and exercise: Is outdoor exercise risky?
- Asthma: Why are symptoms worse during my period?
- Asthma diet: Does what you eat make a difference?
- see all in Lifestyle and home remedies
Prevention (1)
- Hygiene hypothesis: Early germ exposure prevents asthma?
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Question
Albuterol side effects: What's normal?
I'm taking albuterol for mild allergic asthma. Although the albuterol seems to help my symptoms, it affects my mood and ability to concentrate. Is there another medication I can switch to?
Answer
from James T C Li, M.D., Ph.D.
Albuterol is commonly used for short-term relief of asthma symptoms. A type of medication known as a short-acting bronchodilator, it eases symptoms by opening the airways during an asthma flare-up.
Albuterol is usually given with a metered dose inhaler (ProAir HFA, Ventolin HFA, others) and sometimes in tablet or liquid form. Albuterol side effects can include:
- Restlessness
- Irritability
- Nervousness
More-serious — though less common — side effects include:
- Tremor
- Increased or irregular heart rate
Albuterol side effects are worse with the liquid or tablet form than with the inhaled form. Also, the risk of albuterol side effects increases with higher doses.
To ease medication side effects, you may need to try a metered dose inhaler if you are taking the liquid or tablet form. Or it may be worthwhile to try a different quick-relief medication, such as the short-acting bronchodilator levalbuterol (Xopenex) or pirbuterol (Maxair).
If you use albuterol three or more times a week or have severe asthma symptoms, you probably need to take a long-term asthma medication to better control your asthma. With asthma under better control, you won't need to use albuterol or another quick-relief medication as often.
Carefully track your asthma, and check with your doctor about any changes that may be needed. Avoid any known asthma triggers. Work with your doctor to make sure you're using the right type and dose of medication to keep your symptoms — and medication side effects — under control.
Next questionAfter a flood, are food and medicine safe to use?
- Sorkness CA. Beta-adrenergic agonists. In: Adkinson NF, et al: Middleton's Allergy: Principles and Practice. 7th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Mosby; 2008. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/100024376-7/727439687/1183/535.html#4-u1.0-B0-323-01425-9.50075-7_2434. Accessed Sept. 18, 2011.
- Albuterol. AHFS Consumer Medication Information. Bethesda, Md.: American Society of Health-System Pharmacists; 2000-2011. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0000355/. Accessed Sept. 18, 2011.
- Lemanske RF. Beta agonists in asthma: Acute administration and prophylactic use. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Sept. 18, 2011.
- Liu AH, et al. Childhood Asthma. In: Kliegman RM. Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. 19th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders Elsevier; 2011. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/208746819-6/0/1608/0.html. Accessed Sept. 18, 2011.
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