It must be remembered that the later adrenergic agents (albuterol, bitolterol,
pirbuterol, levalbuterol, salmeterol, formoterol, and arformoterol) are much more beta 2 specific than previous agents such as epinephrine and isoetherine.
The asthma drugs are formoterol (Foradil, Perforomist, Symbicort, Dulera), albuterol, levalbuterol, metaproterenol,
pirbuterol (Maxair), and terbutaline.
Quick relief inhalers for asthmatic symptoms with expiratory wheezing and shortness of breath are beta agonists such as albuterol and
pirbuterol. These medications act within minutes and last several hours.
Other short-acting beta agonists used for asthma include levalbuterol (Xopenex HFA) and
pirbuterol (Maxair Autohaler).
For intermittent asthma, reliever medications such as short-acting beta agonists (albuterol and
pirbuterol are examples) may be prescribed.
Prophylaxis for EIB usually starts with an inhaled short-acting [beta]2 agonist (SABA) such as albuterol or
pirbuterol, taken 15 minutes before starting to exercise.
Other CFC-based medications include the corticosteroids triamcinolone and flunisolide, the mast cell stabilizers cromolyn and nedocromil, and the [beta]-agonists metaproterenol,
pirbuterol, and combined albuterol-ipratropium.
(e) Albuterol, salmeterol,
pirbuterol, ipratropium bromide and albuterol, and ipratropium bromide.
For mild exercise-induced asthma, you can take two or three puffs of a bronchodilator like albuterol or
pirbuterol about 15 to 20 minutes prior to exercise.
Pirbuterol (Maxair Autohaler[R]) is a short-acting selective beta-2 adrenergic agonist.