Albuterol for COPD, Maintenance User Reviews

• maria
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 2, 2020

"Cannot remove perrigo albuterol sulfate canister from the body of the inhaler, even with a pair of pliers! Removal of canister is necessary every five days to rinse through the inhaler, or it clogs up and is unusable. The "rescue inhaler" is absolutely essential in management of severe emphysema. . . HELP! What can I do until Teva improves the design of their new inhaler?"

• Anonymous
• January 23, 2009

Ventolin HFA (albuterol) "My husband has COPD and our doctor recently changed his albuterol inhaler to Ventolin. His other one was not working like it should. He has been on the Ventolin for about 2 weeks and it works great. He does not have to use it as much and it lasts much longer than his previous one. He loves this inhaler."

• Jean
• May 28, 2020

"The first time I used it it stopped dispensing meds after 4 uses. Took it to Walgreens where the canister was extremely difficult for the pharmacist to get out. She cleaned it and gave it back to me. 3 days later I decided to try this particular canister again. Nothing was dispensed. I requested that my physician order only Pro Air. Went to Walgreens and was given the same awkward useless inhaler. I’m extremely frustrated with allergy symptoms getting bad. I’m afraid to go anywhere without taking 2 with me and something to be able to pry out the canister with and hope it works."

• Erix
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 6, 2020

"My Insurance company only covers this new generic version of Albuterol Sulfate HFA 90MCG Inhaler manufactured by Perrigo. It is terrible. First, it does not come in a sealed packet, it is just in the box. Secondly, the safety cap is not attached to the spray unit and is difficult to remove. Thirdly, the spray is very, very weak. I have used Ventolin and other versions of Ventolin in the past and was alway completely satisfied. This new generic version is terrible!"

• aintj...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 21, 2020

"I was given the new Perrigo albuterol inhaler by my pharmacy after getting the generic ProAir inhaler. The first Perrigo inhaler stopped working with 44 inhalations left. I decided that it might need to be cleaned. The delivery device has a clear plastic cover over the canister and is not possible to remove without using a screwdriver to pop the clear plastic part off. It is very poorly designed. Once I removed the canister, the delivery device fell apart. I cleaned it but it still did not work properly. The pharmacy once again gave me the same inhaler and I thought I would give it another try. This time it stopped working with 110 inhalations left. I believe this is such a poorly designed inhaler and it can be dangerous for someone who needs immediate relief."

• Mac
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• September 4, 2020

Ventolin (albuterol) "Express scripts gave me the VENTOLIN inhaler instead of PROAIR, the design of the inhaler did not work as well for me. It seems like the time (1/100th of a second?) that the medication is delivered is too short to "catch" during an inhale. I called my doctor and changed back to PROAIR."

• Carole
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• May 24, 2019

Ventolin HFA (albuterol) "I am a cancer patient who developed COPD following chemotherapy and radiation. I use Ventolin for those times I am suddenly short of breath. I’m reviewing Ventolin to respond to several comments that the inhaler stops working before all of the 204 uses have been used. This was happening to me — several times — and was frustrating: insurance only allows refills every 30 days, and my co-pay is expensive. I took my inoperable Ventolin in and complained to my pharmacist. The counter indicated 75 uses remaining — I had wasted 10 attempts trying to get medication dispensed. My pharmacist removed the canister from the dispenser and rinsed the dispenser under very warm water. I let it air dry for ages She reassembled the inhaler and it worked perfectly! Ventolin has been very important in “rescue” occasions when I very suddenly and without warning cannot breathe. This happens so unexpectedly that I don’t go anywhere without my Ventolin inhaler."

• Imp
• Taken for 10 years or more
• August 31, 2020

"I have used ProAir HFA for decades without problem. For reasons unknown to me I have been switched to Perrigo. So far I have used four of their actuators. Of the four, two have been messed up but in different ways. Both basically stopped functioning slightly more than half-way through the 200 metered dosages. The actuator is too big and awkward and you can't easily get the canister out for cleaning. That process actually requires pliers! I hate these and want to go back to what I had before but I'm not sure ProAir HFA is still even being produced! Who do I ask? My doctor? Pharmacist? Insurance company?"

• Iny
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 9, 2020

"The generic Proair is DANGEROUS. My Teva Proair always opens my airways. This does not open them well. Delayed time for any opening you do get. Horrible taste. Burns your nose inside ? I will get Proair Brand cannot go this stuff."

• Schram
• November 2, 2013

"My doctor put me on a dosage of 2 puffs every 4 hours as needed but when I used this amount I developed almost continuous anxiety attacks, insomnia, back and arm pain, wheezing, muscle spasm and jerking in extremities, and pounding in my ears. I was greatly distressed until I read this article and discovered that all of these symptoms are side effects of the albuterol."

• Ugly...
• December 24, 2016

Ventolin HFA (albuterol) "Took regular for about 3 weeks. Started severe muscle cramps, bone pain, cough, sputum production, sleeplessness,, voice change,spinning sensation, blurred vision, respiratory infection. Stopped about 2 months. Still having severe muscle cramps and bone pain. How long will this last?Could it have lowered creatine kinase , potassium, or magnesium."

• mathg...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• December 28, 2016

Ventolin HFA (albuterol) "My main complaint is that the inhaler seems to be empty before the 200 puffs are used. It seems to help well for the first 150 to 175 puffs, then stops feeling effective. I carefully following how to use it & don't know why I am not getting the right dosage throughout."

• niknik
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• November 10, 2020

"Teva Albuterol Sulfate Inhalation Aerosol clogs after only a few doses. I've found a can of compressed air is the handiest way to unclog it. Pharmacy refused to acknowledge it's an issue, but this generic's propellant, catalent, is manufactured by the same company that makes Perrigo inhalers, which were recalled in August 2020 for this same problem. I reported the problem to the FDA, but can't get my money back on this defective inhaler. Never had this problem with ProAir inhalers."

• Coco
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• October 1, 2020

"The Catalent Pharma generic of Albuterol, distributed by Perrigo, is terrible. It should be pulled off the market as you cannot rely on the actuator to not clog even when cleaned per the instructions. This is an emergency inhaler. It should work each and every time. A pliers is required to remove the canister. I can physically feel particles when inhaling it ergo the clogging issue. I called my pharmacy and requested the Teva. That is reliable. Shame on the manufacturer."

• JZRA
• April 3, 2009

Proventil HFA (albuterol) "Asthma, COPD. I love this inhaler. It works well and I use it less often than other inhalers I have used in the past. I have had asthma for over 20 years. I was using another inhaler when the FDA changed it due to enviromental concerns about the propellents used. The inhaler the pharmacy replaced it with was very "wet" and seemed weak and that it stayed mainly in my mouth. It was actually the pharmacist who suggested Proventil HFA because I mentioned I prefer the "dryer" delivery of albuterol."

• never...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 6, 2016

ProAir RespiClick (albuterol) "Asthma and COPD for 50 years. This product is unusable. I work outside ALL weather. To big for a pocket, AND DON'T get wet. What good is a rescue inhaler if one can't take it with them where it may be needed. Now taking a round of prednisone. First time since 2012."

• atlan...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• July 11, 2019

ProAir RespiClick (albuterol) "My Doctor prescribed Proair Respiclick instead of my Proair inhaler. It us horrible when I need my rescue inhaler this does absolutely nothing to help me breath. I also find that I have a problem trying to inhale the powder when I am already short of breath. Terrible medication"

• Mike
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• April 20, 2019

Proventil HFA (albuterol) "Most of the time my newest Proventil inhalers do not give a puff if needed about half the time. Used it for years with no problems. Now malfunctioning inhalers are so prevalent , I have three wasted in my med drawer. Will ask for new med to replace proventil."

• Punky
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 20, 2022

"I asked my doctor if he would let me try Albuterol for my COPD because I could not afford the Spiriva Respimat so he let me try it and I can afford it plus it helps my shortness of breath just as well. So far I am taking 2 puffs every morning like I was with the Spiriva Respimat and so far it’s working for me. I was just wanting to know if it was safe to use it every morning"

• Grann...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• May 14, 2012

Ventolin HFA (albuterol) "I have been prescribed several maintenance medications to control my COPD over the past 4 years. Ventolin has proved to be, by far, the best medication I have used. Very quick acting & reassuring."

• Anonymous
• June 15, 2009

ProAir HFA (albuterol) "Improved breathing 50% the frist time I used it."

• prest...
• November 22, 2014

ProAir HFA (albuterol) "I could not be without Pro-Air. I take it with me everywhere I go, it works very fast and is a lot less expensive than my other inhalers."

• vonjon
• August 7, 2009

Proventil HFA (albuterol) "I have found this medication to work very well when I feel tight and have shortness of breath. My prescription calls for use every 6 hours but I use it when I feel I need to breath better."

• mario...
• February 2, 2011

Ventolin (albuterol) "It works."

• cjg
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• December 14, 2019

ProAir HFA (albuterol) "This inhaler is so overpriced it is a joke. I experience side effects from it immediately as bronchospasm. Pharmacies should have to pay patients to use it, rather than paying the docs."