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.

Question

Can my child take Zarbee's Nighttime cough syrup and albuterol treatment?

Asked by Dee On Jul 19, 2022

Answered by
Medical Content Reviewed By HelloPharmacist Staff

Published Jul 19, 2022
Last updated Apr 27, 2024

Key points

  • There are no known drug interactions between any of the ingredients in Zarbee's Nighttime Cough syrup and albuterol.
  • Unless an individual has a specific allergy to a component of Zarbee's Nighttime Cough syrup, none of the ingredients in the product are known to worsen asthma symptoms.

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

About the Pharmacist

Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD

Dr. Brian has been practicing pharmacy for over 13 years and has wide-ranging experiences in many different areas of the profession. From retail, clinical, program development, and administrative responsibilities, he's your knowledgeable and go-to source for all your pharmacy and medication-related questions! Dr. Brian Staiger also has herbalist training and educational certificates in the field of medical ethnobotany. Feel free to send him an email at [email protected]! You can also connect with Dr. Brian Staiger on LinkedIn.

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