albuterol and heart palpitations

Yes, I felt very uncomfortable when I used the Albuterol and was unable to tolerate the nebulized Albuterol because of the palpitations and “wired” feeling.

I switched to Levalbuterol and tolerate it much better, although I don’t tolerate more than 1 puff well, especially when I nebulize before bed. I know that I need it to open the airways, especially to allow the Arikayce deep into the lungs. I can tell a difference in my clearance when I don’t use it.

Maybe you could ask your doctor to let you try the Levalbuterol instead, to see if that helps. Most people tolerate it better.

I had my doctor prescribe a lower dose of levalbutirol for the nebulizer (.63) and that has helped

Yes, after long time I saw a couple of cardiologists who wound up diagnosing SVT and prescribed metoprolol.

Thank you for you comments And time to reply. I talked to my pulmonologist and she said to stop using albuterol and see how I feel and she is changing it to levalbuterol. I hope it works. I am having a stress test next week so thank you again

Albuterol will cause high heart rate when used as a nebulizer medication. It should go right back down. I’d ask the doctor in charge of your MAC medication what he/ she thinks. I don’t think the side effects include a rapid heartbeat, but everyone is different, so I would ask. Even asking your pharmacist can be helpful with that kind of question. Good luck. Irene5

@lilianna There is another option that will help open airways without tremors or palpitations. Albuterol & levalbuterol are in the class called SABA (short-acting beta-agonist) which open the airways quickly, but are prone to causing these effects. But, as "rescue inhalers" they open airways quickly. The beneficial effect also dissipates quickly.
The other class of drugs are LABA (long-acting beta-agonists) - the airway opening effects lasts twelve hours or longer, and since there is no quick "jolt" these almost never cause racing heart, palpitations or tremors. Formoterol is on such drug. LABA's are often used to treat COPD and similar airway conditions (bronchiectasis anyone?) because they help relax the airways for hours. The "downside" is that they must be used faithfully twice (or 3 times) a day to maintain effectiveness.
You might want to ask your pulmonologist if this is a possibility for you
Sue

Thank you Sue. I did not use albuterol yesterday night and today morning and I believe there is difference. My heart rate is still 80-90 but less palpitations. But I will definitely ask my doctor what LABA she would suggest. Yesterday she suggested trying levalbuterol since I never used it before - I was using albuterol for over a year without problems until recently. I wait for my insurance to approve it so that I can switch and see how I tolerate it. I will start like that. Thanks again for thoughts.

Hello, Sue, this is a question for you. I believe I read on one of your posts that you have reduced the number of days for your airway clearance.
This is what has led to my question for you or anyone that can give me answers about weaning oneself off of daily use of saline nebulizing while using SmartVest.
I had a bad episode of Hemoptysis on May 19, 2024, and after the episode I coughed up blood spattered mucus for about 4 or 5 days. So, I did not nebulize 7% saline nor use the SmartVest.
I did, however, continue my levalbuterol inhaler, followed by 5 minutes of steaming (to prevent blocking up with stuck mucus), and then followed by my low dose Symbicort inhaler.
Then followed another problem, severe back spasms that even today May 27, 2024, continue. I have not been able to even cough without pain and so have discontinued the 7% nebulized saline and SmartVest now for 8 days.
Had I not had the episode of Hemoptysis followed by back spasms, I would not have known that I could manage my BE (at least for this week) without this portion of my daily airway clearance.
Can one diminish the number of days, let us say, per week of not using the saline and vest therapy? Or is this an individual experiment one has to go through with Airway Clearance?

7% and the vest makes me bleed too.

thank you Irene,
it took me a while to answer but the change to levalbuterol did help. It is through the inhaler. I noticed right away the palpitations dicreased in frequency and the stress test which I had two weeks ago did not show any changes. Next week I am going to get hooked up to the monitor, I think they use a patch now, just to eliminate other heart concerns. The issues just multiply with time. Now I have a flare-up (the first one since I started MAC meds) and the cough is horrible (second day on levofloxacin, extra airway clearance, nebulizing 7%. I pray it helps.