Albuterol Inhaler Side Effects

Having been prescribed to numerous steroids and antibiotics with little improvement, our pediatrician turned to Albuterol as a means to battle my nearly 2 year old daughter's pneumonia. By taking the Albuterol inhalations 3 times daily, my daughter finally experienced relief when breathing, often times within 15 minutes of inhalation. Albuterol dilates the bronchial airways by relaxing the surrounding muscles, preventing her from wheezing and coughing throughout the night. Unfortunately, because of her age, my daughter was unable to communicate the relief she experienced from Albuterol, although it was apparent in her sleep patterns and energy levels. On the same note, I had the luxury of discovering the side effects of Albuterol inhalations by observation alone. Some of the side effects that I observed were:

• Vomiting and diarrhea
• Rapid heartbeat
• Nervousness
• Change in appetite

The list of potential side effects may appear short, but the severity of them is nothing to take lightly. Around 15-20 minutes following a treatment, my daughter's energy level would spike to an abnormal high. Her mind seemed to race from one activity to another and her body followed close behind. Initially, I found this to be charming and entertaining. That was until it was time for the 3^rd treatment of the day, conveniently falling in the same time slot as bedtime. For the entire span of her Albuterol inhalations, my daughter's 8:30pm bedtime was moved to 10:30pm. Her energy levels were accompanied with restlessness from not knowing where to channel this extra energy. After building up for a few days, it was released in an angry and destructive manner. To top it off, any caffeine or sugar she consumed throughout the day only added to her frustrations. Another significant change in my daughter's behavior was her insatiable appetite. On one particular night, she inhaled 3 bananas as an appetizer to dinner. Having sympathy towards the fact that she was unable to comprehend, much less control, these side effects, I allowed her to eat to her stomach's satisfaction.

Although the side effects of Albuterol were nerve-fraying at the time, the end result greatly outweighed the troubles. After 4 sleepless months of suffering through bronchitis and pneumonia, my daughter was finally breathing through healthy lungs.