What is xopenex used for children

Ask your doctor or pharmacist if you have any questions. Any child using levalbuterol inhalation should be supervised by an adult while using this medicine. Prime the inhaler device before your first use. Pump 4 test sprays into the air, away from your face. Shake the inhaler for at least 5 seconds before each spray. Prime again whenever the inhaler has not been used in longer than 3 days.

Store the levalbuterol inhaler with the mouthpiece down. Keep the inhaler at room temperature away from heat, sunlight, or freezing temperatures. If your inhaler has a dose number indicator on it, throw away the inhaler when the number displays "0" to show that all sprays have been used. Keep the inhaler canister away from open flame or high heat, such as in a car on a hot day. The canister may explode if it gets too hot. Do not puncture or burn an empty inhaler canister. Levalbuterol concentrate solution is given with a nebulizer.

The concentrate must be mixed with a liquid diluent before using it. Ask your pharmacist about which diluent to use and where you can buy it. Be sure you understand how to properly mix the medicine and place it into the nebulizer. Store the levalbuterol concentrate vials in the protective foil pouch at room temperature, away from moisture, heat, and light.

Keep each vial in the foil pouch until you are ready to prepare a dose in the nebulizer. Each single-use plastic vial of levalbuterol concentrate is for one use only.

Throw away after one use, even if there is still some medicine left in it after inhaling your dose. Asthma is often treated with a combination of drugs. Use all medications as directed by your doctor.

Do not change your doses or medication schedule without your doctor's advice. Using too much levalbuterol or using it too often can cause life-threatening side effects. An increased need for medication could be an early sign of a serious asthma attack. Use the missed dose as soon as you remember.

Skip the missed dose if it is almost time for your next scheduled dose. Do not use extra medicine to make up the missed dose. Use this medicine regularly to get the most benefit.

If you have certain heart problems such as blood pressure issues or heart palpitations or you drink large amounts of alcohol, you may be more likely to have side effects from these medications. Xopenex can interact with several other medications.

It can also interact with certain supplements. Different interactions can cause different effects. For instance, some interactions can interfere with how well a drug works. Other interactions can increase side effects or make them more severe. Below are lists of medications that can interact with Xopenex. These lists do not contain all the drugs that may interact with Xopenex.

Before taking Xopenex, talk with your doctor and pharmacist. Tell them about all prescription, over-the-counter, and other drugs you take. Also tell them about any vitamins, herbs, and supplements you use. Sharing this information can help you avoid potential interactions.

If you have questions about drug interactions that may affect you, ask your doctor or pharmacist. This includes heart-related side effects such as chest pain, palpitations feeling fluttering with your heartbeat , or changes in your blood pressure. Interactions with these drugs are described below. Taking these medications together can further increase your risk of having a low potassium level.

Symptoms of low potassium level include muscle cramps, problems with your heart rhythm, dizziness, and fainting. Typically, changes in your potassium level that are caused by taking Xopenex or Xopenex HFA are temporary.

And your potassium level usually returns to normal without being treated. If you need to take a diuretic, your doctor will likely recommend that you use a drug other than Xopenex or Xopenex HFA. Using beta-blockers with either of these drugs can also make you more prone to having bronchospasm tightening of your airways that can make it hard for you to breathe. If you need to take a beta-blocker, your doctor will likely recommend that you use a drug other than Xopenex or Xopenex HFA.

This can make digoxin less effective to treat your condition. In some cases, your doctor may recommend that you use a drug other than Xopenex or Xopenex HFA if you need to take digoxin. Examples of these antidepressant medications include:. These side effects can include fast heart rate, palpitations feeling fluttering with your heartbeat , or changes in your blood pressure.

However, you should still check with your doctor or pharmacist before using any of these products while taking Xopenex. Sometimes severe, life-threatening side effects can occur with overuse or misuse of these drugs. You can also call the American Association of Poison Control Centers at or use their online tool. But if your symptoms are severe, call or go to the nearest emergency room right away.

Studies are currently being done to better understand if these drugs have an effect on pregnant women or on their developing fetuses.

The doses of these drugs given in the studies were higher than typical doses given to humans. No negative effects were seen in fetuses exposed to either drug. More studies are needed to know if these drugs affect human pregnancies. They can discuss with you the risks and benefits of different treatment options. Your doctor can recommend healthy and safe ways to feed your child.

Your insurance plan may require you to get prior authorization before they approve coverage for Xopenex. This means that your doctor will need to send a request to your insurance company asking them to cover the drug. The insurance company will review the request and let you and your doctor know if your plan will cover Xopenex.

If you need financial support to pay for Xopenex HFA, or if you need help understanding your insurance coverage, help is available. Sunovion Pharmaceuticals Inc. For more information, call Xopenex and Xopenex HFA are each used as needed to treat and prevent bronchospasm caused by certain breathing conditions.

With bronchospasm, your airways becomes tight and narrow, which makes it hard for you to breathe. It generally takes about 5 to 15 minutes for each treatment. Instructions for how to use your nebulizer will be specific to your machine. Children or older adults who are taking Xopenex may need help to set up and use their nebulizer.

With an MDI, the drug is released in puffs, which are inhaled. For some people, using an MDI is more difficult than using a nebulizer. Xopenex and Xopenex HFA are short-acting beta-agonists beta agonists. Examples of reversible obstructive airway disease include conditions such as asthma and certain other breathing problems that are related to allergies. Xopenex and Xopenex HFA work by quickly relaxing the muscles in your airways, which makes it easier for you to breathe.

After taking each dose of Xopenex or Xopenex HFA, your breathing symptoms should be noticeably improved within about 15 minutes. Xopenex and Xopenex HFA are considered rescue medications because they work quickly to treat symptoms when they occur. Xopenex may not be right for you if you have certain medical conditions or other factors affecting your health. These include:. When you get Xopenex from the pharmacy, the pharmacist will add an expiration date to the label on the container.

The expiration date helps guarantee the effectiveness of the medication during this time. If you have unused medication that has gone past the expiration date, talk to your pharmacist about whether you might still be able to use it. How long a medication remains good can depend on many factors, including how and where you store the medication. Vials of Xopenex liquid solution come in a foil pouch.

Canisters of Xopenex HFA aerosol spray come in a box. Do not puncture or burn canisters of Xopenex HFA. Also, avoid storing them near heat. This helps prevent others, including children and pets, from taking the drug by accident. It also helps keep the drug from harming the environment. The FDA website provides several useful tips on medication disposal.

You can also ask your pharmacist for information on how to dispose of your medication. Canisters containing Xopenex HFA should never be disposed of in a fire or incinerator.

The medication inside the canisters is stored under pressure. If heated, the canisters may burst open. Xopenex and Xopenex HFA are beta2 adrenergic-agonists, which activate receptors on the smooth muscle tissue of airways.

This in turn activates adenylate cyclase to increase concentrations of cyclic adenosine monophosphate AMP. Increased concentrations of cyclic AMP activates protein kinase A, which interferes with the phosphorylation of myosin and decreases calcium concentrations in smooth muscle cells.

This leads to relaxation in the muscles and provides relief of bronchospasm symptoms. Xopenex and Xopenex HFA relax the airways from the trachea down to the terminal bronchioles. Because beta2-adrenergic receptors are also present in the heart, Xopenex may cause heart-related side effects. Xopenex and Xopenex HFA are metabolized in the gastrointestinal tract via sulfotransferase SULT1A3 and are eliminated primarily in the urine as unchanged drug and metabolite.

The elimination half-life of Xopenex is estimated to be 3 to 4 hours. Xopenex and Xopenex HFA are contraindicated in people with a previous hypersensitivity reaction to levalbuterol or albuterol. Several different precautions exist. Vials containing Xopenex liquid solution are supplied in a foil pouch.

Once a foil pouch is opened, the vials must be used within 2 weeks. If vials are removed from the pouch, they must be protected from light and used within 1 week. Canisters containing Xopenex HFA aerosol spray are supplied in a box. The actuator mouthpiece should be facing down when stored. Do not puncture, burn, or store canisters near heat.

Disclaimer: Medical News Today has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up-to-date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional.

You should always consult your doctor or other healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.

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The Xopenex dosage your doctor prescribes will depend on several factors. Drug forms and strengths Xopenex comes in these two forms: a liquid solution, called Xopenex an aerosol spray, called Xopenex HFA The strengths and dosages for each of these forms are described below. Dosage for bronchospasm Xopenex is used as a rescue medication. Dosage of Xopenex for bronchospasm For people ages 12 years and older, the typical dosage of Xopenex is 0.

Dosage of Xopenex HFA for bronchospasm For people ages 4 years and older, the typical dosage of Xopenex HFA is two puffs a total of 90 mcg taken up to every 4 to 6 hours. Pediatric dosage For Xopenex, the typical dosage in children ages 6 through 11 years is 0.

What if I miss a dose? Will I need to use this drug long term? About Xopenex contains the drug levalbuterol hydrochloride, while Xopenex HFA contains the drug levalbuterol tartrate. Uses Xopenex, Xopenex HFA, and albuterol are each used as needed to treat and prevent bronchospasm in people with reversible obstructive airway disease. Albuterol comes in several different forms. There is also a 1. The recommended dosage varies by age:. As a general rule, the lowest possible dose able to improve breathing restriction should be used.

If Xopenex is unable to provide relief at the prescribed dose, let your healthcare provider know before making a dose adjustment. Never exceed the maximum recommended daily dosage. If Xopenex fails to provide relief at this dose, other medications will likely be needed to sustain long-term control of your asthma or COPD symptoms. Because of its convenience and simpler dosing schedule, Xopenex HFA is often the preferred choice for first-time users. On the other, nebulizers are easier to use with younger children and allow for accurate dosing for people with severe COPD or asthma.

Speak with your healthcare provider about the benefits and drawbacks of each. Both can be stored at room temperature, ideally between 68 degrees F and 77 degrees F. Do not store in direct sunlight or use after the expiration date.

Keep out of reach of children. Using Nebulized Xopenex Solution. Never mix another inhaled medication with Xopenex nebulized solution unless your healthcare provider tells you to. Xopenex is considered safe for long-term use with few intolerable side effects. The risk of side effects is dose-dependent, meaning that it increases in tandem with the dose or the frequency of dosing.

Most of these side effects are mild and tend to resolve without treatment within an hour or so. Many will resolve fully as your body adapts to the medication. There are few severe side effects associated with Xopenex. Of these, some are potentially life-threatening and require immediate medical attention.

One such condition is known as paradoxical bronchospasm in which an inhaled beta-agonist causes an unexpected worsening of symptoms. While the cause is poorly understood, paradoxical bronchospasm often occurs with the first use of a new canister or vial. It can be life-threatening. It is also important to watch for signs of allergy.

While rare, some people have been known to develop rash or hives after using Xopenex. The drug may also cause anaphylaxis which, if left untreated, can lead to shock and death. Likewise, seek emergency medical attention if allergy symptoms develop rapidly and are accompanied by shortness of breath, wheezing, irregular heartbeats, dizziness, and the swelling of the face or throat.

Xopenex can affect potassium levels and, in some cases, lead to hypokalemia—a condition in which low potassium causes weakness, fatigue, muscle cramps and stiffness, and tingling or numbness.

It is important to let your healthcare provider know if you experience these symptoms as hypokalemia can increase the risk of cardiovascular side effects. Do not take a potassium supplement in an effort to avoid hypokalemia unless your healthcare provider tells you to.

Doing so can interfere with other medications you may be taking, including ACE inhibitors. Xopenex is known to interact with certain drugs, either by increasing or decreasing drug concentrations of one or both drugs, or triggering severe side effects.

In some cases, a dose adjustment or separation of doses by one to four hours may be enough to compensate for the interaction. In others, a change of treatment may be indicated. Others still may require no adjustment at all. To avoid drug interactions, let your healthcare provider know about any and all drugs and supplements you take before starting Xopenex.

This includes pharmaceutical, over-the-counter, nutritional, herbal, and recreational drugs. Sign up for our Health Tip of the Day newsletter, and receive daily tips that will help you live your healthiest life.

Food and Drug Administration. FDA listing of authorized generics as of April 1, April 1, Airflow obstruction: is it asthma or is it COPD? Sunovion Pharmaceuticals Inc. Xopenex HFA levalbuterol tartrate inhalation aerosol, for oral inhalation use. Updated February