Is Zarbee's Nighttime Cough Safe With Albuterol?
In our latest question and answer, the pharmacist discusses whether or not albuterol is safe to use with Zarbee's Nighttime Cough syrup.
Can my child take Zarbee's Nighttime cough syrup and albuterol treatment?
Jul 19, 2022- There are no known interactions between albuterol and any of the ingredients in Zarbee's Nighttime Cough syrup.
- None of the ingredients in Zarbee's Nighttime Cough are known to worsen asthma symptoms or cause an exacerbation.
- You can use Zarbee's Nighttime Cough with albuterol unless you have an allergy or sensitivity to any component of the product.
Answer
Hello and thanks for reaching out to us! It's always a good idea to look into potential drug interactions and we are honored you trust us to provide some guidance here.
The first thing we want to do is look at all the ingredients contained in the product you asked about, Zarbee's Nighttime Cough.
What Is In Zarbee's Nighttime Cough?
According to Zarbee's website, the product contains, among several vitamins and minerals, the following ingredients:
- Dark Honey
- English Ivy Leaf
- Melatonin
- Grapefruit Seed Extract
Some of Zarbee's Nighttime Cough products also contain elderberry.
Dark honey is commonly used in children's and 'natural' cough medications for its antitussive effects. Although more data is needed to know just how well honey works to control cough, several studies show that works quite well, and some report that it is as effective as conventional cough medicines, such as dextromethorphan.
English ivy leaf is used for its expectorant and anti-inflammatory effects. An expectorant works to thin out mucus secretions, which aids in being able to clear the airways of phlegm. This is similar to how Mucinex (guaifenesin) works.
Melatonin is very well known and commonly used as a sleep aid. It is an endogenous hormone (i.e. our bodies produce it) and it is used in dietary supplements to aid the treatment of insomnia.
What Is Albuterol?
Albuterol is used to prevent and treat wheezing, difficulty breathing, chest tightness, and coughing caused by lung diseases such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD; a group of diseases that affect the lungs and airways). It is in a class of medications called bronchodilators. It works by relaxing and opening the air passages to the lungs to make breathing easier.
Does Zarbee's Cough Interact With Albuterol?
There are no known interactions between albuterol and any of the ingredients contained in Zarbee's Nighttime Cough syrup.
Now, you don't mention which dosage form of albuterol you are referring to, as it comes as an inhaler, a syrup, a nebulizer solution, and an oral tablet. Regardless, there is no interaction with any of these.
Additionally, none of the ingredients in Zarbee's are known to worsen asthma symptoms or cause an exacerbation. Outside someone having an allergy or sensitivity to any component of Zarbee's Nighttime Cough syrup, there are no problems using it with an albuterol treatment.
Final Words
Thanks again for your question! We truly appreciate you reaching out!
References & sources
- Albuterol Monograph — PubChem
- Zarbee's Manufacturer Website — Zarbee's
- Honey for treatment of cough in children — PubMed
- Melatonin Monograph — Natural Standard (Subscription Required)
- English Ivy Monograph — Natural Standard (Subscription Required)
Glossary — Terms in This Answer
- Antitussive
- A substance that helps suppress or reduce coughing.
- Expectorant
- A medication that thins out mucus to help clear it from the airways and lungs.
- Anti-inflammatory
- Something that reduces swelling and inflammation in the body.
- Endogenous
- Something produced naturally within the body rather than from an external source.
- Insomnia
- A sleep disorder characterized by difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep.
- Bronchodilators
- Medications that relax and widen the airways in the lungs to improve breathing.
- COPD
- Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, a group of lung diseases that make it difficult to breathe.
- Exacerbation
- A sudden worsening of symptoms or a disease flare-up.
Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD
Doctor of Pharmacy, board certified clinical pharmacist (BCPS), American Herbalist Guild, Medication Therapy Management certified
Brian Staiger, PharmD, BCPS, is a licensed pharmacist with more than 13 years of experience across retail pharmacy, clinical pharmacy, medication safety, pharmacy program development, and healthcare administration. He is the founder of HelloPharmacist.com, where he helps patients...
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