Alupent Uses

Alupent uses include treating and preventing bronchospasms due to asthma and similar lung conditions, such as emphysema and chronic bronchitis. Because Alupent is considered a "rescue" asthma inhaler, it can help improve breathing very quickly. However, it is not necessarily the best asthma medication for preventing asthma attacks in general. Alupent is approved for use in children who are at least 12 years old. At this time, there are no universally accepted off-label Alupent uses.

 

An Overview of Alupent Uses

Alupent® (metaproterenol sulfate) is a prescription medication used to treat asthma and other similar lung problems. It is part of a class of asthma drugs known as beta-adrenergic receptor agonists, or beta agonists for short.
 
This article focuses on the Alupent inhaler. Alupent also comes in tablets, syrup, and a solution that is inhaled using a machine called a nebulizer.
 

Alupent for Bronchospasms Due to Asthma or COPD

Asthma is a chronic disease that affects your airways, which are the tubes that carry air into and out of your lungs. When you have asthma, the inside walls of your airways are inflamed (swollen). This inflammation makes the airways very sensitive, and they tend to react strongly to things that you are allergic to or find irritating. When the airways react, they narrow and constrict the airflow to your lungs. This is called a bronchospasm. It causes asthma symptoms like wheezing (a whistling sound when you breathe), coughing, tightness in the chest, and trouble breathing.
 
While there is no asthma cure, asthma can be controlled. There are many different asthma treatments, and Alupent represents one of the most basic and most important types of treatment for asthma. Alupent is a "rescue" asthma inhaler, meaning that it can help improve breathing very quickly. Even if you take asthma controller medications, it is important to always have a rescue asthma medication available to relieve an attack.
 
Alupent is approved to both treat and prevent asthma attacks. Because Alupent is short-acting, it is not necessarily the best asthma medication for preventing asthma attacks in general. However, it is a good medication for treating asthma attacks.
 
Asthma is not the only cause of bronchospasms. Alupent can also treat bronchospasms due to other lung problems, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), which includes emphysema and chronic bronchitis.
 
(Alupent Uses Continued: Page 2)
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Written by/reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD; Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD;