Salbutamol

My drug of choice : Salbutamol
Probably the most commonly used beta 2 agonist bronchodilator.

- It was the first selective Β2-receptor agonist to be marketed — in 1968
- First sold by Allen & Hanburys under the brand name: .... "Ventolin"
- Salbutamol can also be given orally as an inhalant or even intravenously.

USES:

1 Acute asthma
2 Symptom relief in attacks of asthma or COPD
3 Protection against exercise induced asthma

Also used ......

4 Subtypes of "Congenital Myasthenic Syndromes"
Congenital myasthenic syndrome (CMS) is an inherited neuromuscular disorder similar to Lambert-Eaton syndrome and Myasthenia gravis; however unlike the later two it is not an auto immune disease but an inherited disease of the NMJ. Oral salbutamol 2mg TID is effective in treating symptoms of some subtypes of CMS.

5 Intra venous salbutamol can also be used (in addition to status asthmaticus) to relax the uterine smooth muscle to delay premature labour.


MORE FACTS: (If you didnt know already !!)

Tachycardia is a well known side effects but other SE include arrrhythmia, myocardial ischaemia and sleep/behavioural changes.

Scary but rarely: allergic reactions result in paradoxycal bronchospasm (may be with urticaria, angioedema, hypotension etc)

DOPING:
Salbutamol can increase performance of non-asthmatics. SO it finds itself a place in the WADA's prohibited list. However therapeutic use of upto 1800micrograms/24hours is allowed and urine levels shouls be under 1000micrograms ... Otherwise the athlete will be banned.