Salbutamol

Salbutamol

Salbutamol (top), (R)-(−)-salbutamol (center) and (S)-(+)-salbutamol (bottom)
Clinical data
Trade names	Ventolin, Proventil, others
AHFS/Drugs.com	Monograph
License data	US FDA: Albuterol
Pregnancy category	AU: A US: C (Risk not ruled out)
Routes of administration	by mouth, inhalational, IV
ATC code	R03AC02 (WHO) R03CC02 (WHO)
Legal status
Legal status	AU: S3 (Pharmacist only) CA: F (prescription) UK: POM (Prescription only) US: ℞-only
Pharmacokinetic data
Metabolism	Liver
Onset of action	<15 min (inhaled), <30 min (pill)
Biological half-life	3.8–6 hours
Duration of action	2–6 hrs
Excretion	Kidney
Identifiers
IUPAC name (RS)-4-[2-(tert-Butylamino)-1-hydroxyethyl]-2-(hydroxymethyl)phenol
CAS Number	18559-94-9 Y
PubChem (CID)	2083
IUPHAR/BPS	558
DrugBank	DB01001 N
ChemSpider	1999 Y
UNII	QF8SVZ843E Y
KEGG	D02147 Y
ChEBI	CHEBI:2549 N
ChEMBL	CHEMBL714 Y
ECHA InfoCard	100.038.552
Chemical and physical data
Formula	C13H21NO3
Molar mass	239.311 g/mol
3D model (Jmol)	Interactive image
Chirality	Racemic mixture
SMILES OCc1cc(ccc1O)C(O)CNC(C)(C)C
InChI InChI=1S/C13H21NO3/c1-13(2,3)14-7-12(17)9-4-5-11(16)10(6-9)8-15/h4-6,12,14-17H,7-8H2,1-3H3 Y Key:NDAUXUAQIAJITI-UHFFFAOYSA-N Y
NY (what is this?)

Salbutamol, also known as albuterol and marketed as Ventolin among other names, is a medication that opens up the medium and large airways in the lungs. It is used to treat asthma, exercise-induced bronchospasm, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). It may also be used to treat high blood potassium levels. It is usually used by inhaler or nebulizer but is also available as a pill and intravenous solution. Onset of action of the inhaled version is typically within 15 minutes and lasts for two to six hours.

Common side effects include shakiness, headache, fast heart rate, dizziness, and feeling anxious. Serious side effects may include worsening bronchospasm, irregular heartbeat, and low blood potassium levels. It can be used during pregnancy and breastfeeding, but safety is not entirely clear. Salbutamol is a short-acting β₂ adrenergic receptor agonist which works by causing airway smooth muscles to relax.

Salbutamol was first made in 1967 in Britain. It was approved for medical use in the United States in 1982. It is on the World Health Organization's List of Essential Medicines, the most effective and safe medicines needed in a health system. It is available as a generic medication. The wholesale cost in the developing world of an inhaler which contains 200 doses is between $1.12 and $2.64 (USD) as of 2014. In the United States it is between $25 and $50 for a typical month supply.