Albuterol Syrup Dosing

For most adults and children over age 14 who are taking albuterol syrup, dosing typically starts at 2 mg to 4 mg three or four times daily. The recommended dosage for children ages 6 to 14 is 2 mg three or four times a day. Young children under the age of five generally start with an albuterol syrup dosage of 0.1 mg per kg of body weight three times per day. If needed, your healthcare provider can increase you or your child's daily dose of albuterol syrup.

 

Albuterol Syrup Dosing: An Introduction

The dose of albuterol syrup (albuterol sulfate) that your healthcare provider recommends will vary depending on a number of factors, including:
 
  • Your age
  • The severity of your asthma or other respiratory problems
  • Other medications you may be taking.
    •  
As is always the case, do not adjust your albuterol syrup dose unless your healthcare provider specifically instructs you to do so.
 
Albuterol Syrup Dosage for Young Children
For young children (age two to five), the recommended starting albuterol syrup dose is 0.1 mg per kg of weight (about 0.045 mg per pound) three times a day. The starting dose should not be greater than 2 mg (equal to 5 mL or one teaspoonful) three times per day. If needed to control asthma symptoms, your child's healthcare provider can increase the dose up to 0.2 mg per kg of weight (about 0.09 mg per pound) three times per day, not to exceed 4 mg three times daily.
 
Albuterol Syrup Dosage for Children
For children age 6 to 14, the recommended starting albuterol syrup dose is 2 mg (equal to 5 mL or one teaspoonful) three or four times per day. If needed to control asthma symptoms, your child's healthcare provider can increase the dose up to a maximum of 24 mg total per day (equal to 120 mL or 12 teaspoonfuls).
(Albuterol Syrup Dosing Continued: Page 2)
Add this article to your Favorites     Email this article     Print
Written by/reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD; Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD;