Hello @loosethread, and welcome to Mayo Connect. Side effects from albuterol, especially the nebulized version, are common. Although I have never heard of shoulder pain specifically, muscle aches are a common complaint when using the nebulized form - I remember my daughter complaining abouy her legs when she was first using it - not a good thing for a cross-country skiier!
On a personal note, having had asthma for MANY years, I can tell you my body just hates albuterol - especially the nebulized version.
Here are a few things that have worked for me -
An inhaler instead, unless I was in an active attack.
Eliminating caffeine while using it - the two together seem to amplify all of its effects (not easy for me to do...)
Switching to Levalbuterol, a slightly different version of the same medication. (It used to be a name brand drug called Xopenex and was very expensive, but the generic is widely available now)
Finally, two years ago, my pulmonologist switched me to a combination medication that is a long-acting beta-agonist plus a very small dose inhaled steroid. (Name brand Symbicort, but at least two generic versions are available.) This is used to both a preventive, used twice a day, and functions as a rescue inhaler.
A couple questions for you - is asthma a new diagnosis for you, or something that happened after a respiratory illness? Was the nebulized albuterol prescribed for you to use on a daily long-term basis? Finally, is all of this being managed by your primary provider, or are you seeing a pulmonologist?
Let us know if you have more questions - side effects from drugs can be scary.
Sue
Hello, Thankyou for your information. Yes I have had asthma all my life and now that I'm older it seems to be getting worse again with age. I am getting over pneumonia this past month and was given the nebulizer along with antibiotics to use as needed. Seems my shoulders starting just aching all day since nebulizing so not sure with that. I have been plagued by constant cough for the past year and cant seem to get a handle on it. Have alot of allergies to some of the new inhalers out there so I'm looking for some new avenues. I do take albuterol rescue inhaler that does not seem to cut it anymore. I see you had success with Symbicort something I will check into. A lot of steroids don't agree with me but I do use Flonase daily and Allegra. Any advice much appreciated. Do you use any type of air purifier you like? Thankyou for your time.
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Hello @loosethread, and welcome to Mayo Connect. Side effects from albuterol, especially the nebulized version, are common. Although I have never heard of shoulder pain specifically, muscle aches are a common complaint when using the nebulized form - I remember my daughter complaining abouy her legs when she was first using it - not a good thing for a cross-country skiier!
Here is what Mayo Clinic has to say about it:
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/asthma-attack/expert-answers/albuterol-side-effects/faq-20058088#
On a personal note, having had asthma for MANY years, I can tell you my body just hates albuterol - especially the nebulized version.
Here are a few things that have worked for me -
An inhaler instead, unless I was in an active attack.
Eliminating caffeine while using it - the two together seem to amplify all of its effects (not easy for me to do...)
Switching to Levalbuterol, a slightly different version of the same medication. (It used to be a name brand drug called Xopenex and was very expensive, but the generic is widely available now)
Finally, two years ago, my pulmonologist switched me to a combination medication that is a long-acting beta-agonist plus a very small dose inhaled steroid. (Name brand Symbicort, but at least two generic versions are available.) This is used to both a preventive, used twice a day, and functions as a rescue inhaler.
A couple questions for you - is asthma a new diagnosis for you, or something that happened after a respiratory illness? Was the nebulized albuterol prescribed for you to use on a daily long-term basis? Finally, is all of this being managed by your primary provider, or are you seeing a pulmonologist?
Let us know if you have more questions - side effects from drugs can be scary.
Sue
Hello, Thankyou for your information. Yes I have had asthma all my life and now that I'm older it seems to be getting worse again with age. I am getting over pneumonia this past month and was given the nebulizer along with antibiotics to use as needed. Seems my shoulders starting just aching all day since nebulizing so not sure with that. I have been plagued by constant cough for the past year and cant seem to get a handle on it. Have alot of allergies to some of the new inhalers out there so I'm looking for some new avenues. I do take albuterol rescue inhaler that does not seem to cut it anymore. I see you had success with Symbicort something I will check into. A lot of steroids don't agree with me but I do use Flonase daily and Allegra. Any advice much appreciated. Do you use any type of air purifier you like? Thankyou for your time.