Albuterol and Bad Taste: What Users Say

• Lis...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 24, 2020

Albuterol for Asthma, acute "Update: I went to the Perrigo site. At the 'contact us' portion, I gave my complaint regarding the taste, the low effectiveness, and the problem with not being able to get the canister out to wash it. THEY CALLED ME!!! It was a great conversation. They were very kind, took a survey, and are refunding my copay. They are very much concerned, as this is their first launch of this product. Please join me in contacting them so they can correct this product."

• Hoc...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• June 30, 2020

For Asthma, Maintenance "I received the Albuterol HFA inhalers from Express Scripts, manufactured by Perrigo. They are absolutely awful. First of all, they do not work. They also have a terrible smell and taste. I have used this medication for numerous years and have never once had this experience. As others have mentioned, the medication canister is almost impossible to remove from the mouthpiece, making cleaning an issue if the inhaler gets clogged. I would hope that Perrigo revamps this medication, as I am completely willing to pay more for meds that work."

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

For COPD, Maintenance "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."

• Lba...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 23, 2020

For Asthma, Maintenance "I have been on albuterol for years. NEVER have I had a nasty aftertaste, like the inhaler from Perrigo. Since using this Perrigo albuterol inhaler, my tongue felt raw, the aftertaste when I exhale is nauseating. Not to mention, the inhaler itself is bulky, difficult to open, and seal tight, so I can't wash it. I feel this is a dangerous product. I ordered a new inhaler and had to wait for a few days. I began to realize I hadn't been getting relief when I finally got the new inhaler. 2 puffs and I'm really breathing well again. Perrigo needs to be investigated."

• Liz...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 4, 2020

For COPD, Acute "This new inhaler, Perrigo Albuterol Sulfate, is terrible! It tasted awful, and I can’t get it apart to clean. I don’t feel like it opens my airways like the other inhalers I usually used in the past!!!! Great for my insurance if it’s cheaper, but if I can’t breathe.... that hospitalization I’ll end up with will be costly!!!"

• Jul...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 19, 2020

For Asthma, Maintenance "I cannot in good conscience call the product that Catalent/Perrigo has on the market an albuterol rescue inhaler. This product is awful. The cap is difficult to remove, you can’t tell if it’s dispensing meds or the right amount. Worst of all, my throat felt burned after use and the taste is terrible. Had to contact my pharmacy and pay to get my old inhaler that I knew worked and gave me relief in a time of need. I contacted the FDA. They have a MedWatch report on their website where consumers/patients can leave a complaint about a medicine or medical device. Hope you all stay healthy. If you have a problem, let the FDA know."

• Ckd...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 24, 2020

For Asthma, acute "The generic albuterol version by Perrigo is awful! The holder is awkward, the cap is hard to get off, the canister won't come out to clean, the dosage is weak and ineffective, and it leaves a horrible taste in your mouth. If an emergency arose, I'd die before I could get the cap off. Miss my ProAir inhaler, which I've used for years, but insurance will now only cover the generic. This product needs to be recalled. How did this medication even get FDA approval?"

• Ech...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 2, 2020

For Asthma, acute "My most recent prescription, they gave me Perrigo Albuterol Sulfate (normally I get the Teva). The Perrigo design is very odd. Cannot clean it properly. And the taste is horrible. Not sure if it’s allergies (it’s spring), but it doesn’t seem to open my airways as well as other brands. I have had it two days and asked the pharmacy to please get me a Teva one. I have to pay out of pocket for it, but I can’t use this Perrigo one. It’s worth the money to have an inhaler I know that works for me."

• JVa...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 23, 2020

For Asthma, acute "I got the Perrigo albuterol inhaler from Kaiser when they ran out of stock of the Ventolin. It's the worst inhaler I have ever used. First, it is awkward to use, and the inhaler has stopped giving out puffs on occasion. The taste is beyond horrible. It has a weird garlic-like aftertaste. I am also wasting puffs when I have to press it repeatedly into the air to make sure a normal puff is coming out since it usually releases a tiny puff. These need to be recalled. I have yet to use it with a full-blown respiratory infection, but if I have to, I am scared that it won't be effective for it."

• JoJ...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 14, 2020

For Asthma, acute "I want my ProAir back!!! I have pulmonary sarcoidosis and severe asthma. The Perrigo inhaler is absolutely horrible. It has a horrible taste that stays in my mouth no matter how many times I brush my teeth or use mouthwash. The taste chokes me up and dries my mouth out. It doesn't help me at all. I feel it makes everything worse. How can it be a rescue inhaler if it's clogged up when you need it? It clogs up every 2 or 3 sprays. I'm in the ER quite a bit for my breathing. This inhaler will just send me there more often and cost the insurance company a lot more."

• Ros...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 3, 2020

For COPD, Acute "The new inhaler from Perrigo is terrible. I have used 2 of the 3 I received, and both have failed. The first didn’t work at all. Push to use, but it wouldn’t work. The second worked briefly, then stopped. The taste was bad, the amount coming out did not seem like it was a full dose. Overall, this inhaler is awful."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 10 years or more
• January 25, 2021

Albuterol for Asthma, acute "Ventolin does not have an aftertaste, and as long as you keep an eye on the expiration date, it is effective most of the time. When it's not, I usually need a prescription for additional steroids and do use a maintenance inhaler for regular treatment to prevent attacks."

• Che...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• July 24, 2020

For Asthma, Maintenance "I take Advair twice a day, and a puff of Albuterol before or after going upstairs, and before bed. I just started using the most recent inhaler, the Perrigo albuterol. I was surprised at how strange it tasted, I thought something might be wrong with me. So I googled 'Albuterol tastes strange,' and I'm amazed and disappointed at how many complaints this medicine has received recently! My insurance company uses Express Scripts, I guess I should see if they have anything else to offer! I don't think I'm going to get used to this! And why should I?"

• PTS...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 3, 2020

For Asthma, acute "I was switched earlier this year to the albuterol Perrigo inhaler. I could have ended up in the hospital or even died if I wasn't at home, where I always have a backup plan. 1. The albuterol is off in some way-something is wrong here-it is very 'watery' and clogs the hole fast. Like other users mentioned, it is almost impossible to rinse out as it is very difficult to remove the canister. It should not clog, even if it is not rinsed out. That, my friend, is a safety issue. Even though I do my best to clean it, it still clogs. 2. Why do I need a needle to clean the hole? 3. Big and bulky, poor design, uncomfortable in pocket. 4. Bad taste, leaves a wet horrid taste in your mouth. The rating is for Perrigo inhaler only. Albuterol is a great med, but not from them. I have used inhalers since the '80s. Please do not use this inhaler. I have had multiple life-threatening experiences where I had a severe attack and Perrigo failed on me. I was at home and was only saved due to my backup plan."

• Tsi...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 21, 2022

For Asthma, acute "I have always used Ventolin inhalers with great success and no side effects. My insurance switched me to a Teva Pharmaceuticals HFA inhaler, and it is terrible and dangerous. After two days, I stopped and told my doctor I would pay out of pocket if necessary to go back to Ventolin. The Teva inhaler filled up my mouth with medicine, not my lungs, then made me immediately cough violently, so even the little medicine that may have made it to my lungs did not stay there for the required ten seconds. On top of that, the medicine gave me a terrible headache and a bad taste in my mouth."