Ventolin is albuterol. It is not a steroid, and not addictive. As several have mentioned, using an albuterol, levalbuterol or similar neb regularly helps relax the bronchial passages so that other meds (like Tobramycin for pseudomonas or Breo) penetrate the lungs more effectively, and so that breathing therapy to get rid of mucus (saline, Acapela device, etc) work better. Th e nebulised solution is more effective, but if all you have is the inhaler, use that. If Ventolin, or plain albuterol makes you so shaky that you refuse to use it except in an emergency, ask your doctor for levalbuterol neb and inhaler. Brand name is Xopenex, and it was often not covered because it was expensive, but a generic form is now available. For me levalbuterol not only means less tremors, but it does not seem to raise my heart rate or blood pressure as much as albuterol.

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