


SABA binds to beta2-adrenergic receptors and signals the smooth muscle tissue of the lungs to relax and dilate the bronchi and bronchioles, relieving bronchospasm that causes chest tightness and coughing.Įpinephrine is an alpha and beta adrenergic agonist that works similarly to SABA, making breathing easier, but less effective.

Not effective for chronic obstructive pulmonary diseaseĪlthough SABA and Primatene Mist are short-acting bronchodilators, they are not the same. Using over-the-counter respiratory treatments for COPD can cause the following problems, and you should not use one without first consulting your healthcare provider. Primatene Mist is FDA-approved for temporary relief of symptoms of mild, intermittent asthma and should not be used as a substitute for prescription inhalers. Primatene Mist returned to drugstore shelves in 2018 after switching to hydrofluoroalkanes (HFA). In 2011, Primatene Mist was withdrawn from the market for the use of chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) as propellants, and the product was banned for environmental reasons. Proventil HFA, Ventolin HFA, ProAir HFA (salbutamol).It contains epinephrine, a pharmaceutical form of the hormone epinephrine commonly used to treat allergic reactions.Įpinephrine is not recommended as a substitute for prescription SABAs, which are the gold standard for COPD exacerbations. The OTC inhaler Primatene Mist is also a short-acting bronchodilator.

Prescription rescue inhalers provide a class of drugs called short-acting beta2-agonists (SABAs). Short-acting bronchodilators are used as rescue inhalers to treat acute COPD symptoms of dyspnea (shortness of breath), chest tightness, wheezing, and coughing. The condition is managed by combining short-acting bronchodilators such as albuterol for acute symptoms with long-acting maintenance medications to prevent exacerbations. There are no over-the-counter medicines approved to treat COPD. Over-the-counter vs prescription inhalers Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of mild, acute asthma symptoms, but not for COPD. Primatene Mist (epinephrine inhalation aerosol) is the only over-the-counter inhaler available in the U.S. If you have chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), you may be wondering if you can replace the short-acting bronchodilator prescribed by your healthcare provider with an over-the-counter (OTC) inhaler.
