Can You Use Primatene And Albuterol Together?

Hello!

In your question, you mention wanting to know if you can use epinephrine along with your albuterol inhaler, so I am assuming you mean inhaled epinephrine (i.e. epinephrine oral inhalation, Primatene Mist).

You shouldn't be using them at the same time, or within a few hours of each other, as they essentially work the same way to treat asthma symptoms like shortness of breath.

Since inhaled albuterol and epinephrine work the same way, they have similar side effects. Using both together can, therefore, increases the risk of these side effects occurring, and their severity.

How Both Drugs Work To Treat Asthma Symptoms

Both albuterol and epinephrine are classified as 'sympathomimetics'.

While epinephrine (another word for 'adrenalin') has much broader actions overall than albuterol, they both work the same way to help us breathe better and that is by stimulating beta-2 receptors, which are found in the smooth muscle in our airways.

Stimulating beta-2 receptors relaxes smooth muscle, opening our airway, and making it easier to breathe.

Stimulation of these receptors also stops the release of certain molecules from our mast cells (the same cells that release histamine), further decreasing inflammation and airway constriction.

Using albuterol and epinephrine together would really be just using two drugs that work by the same mechanism to treat your shortness of breath.

Side Effects

Since inhaled albuterol and epinephrine work the same way, they will share many of the same side effects.

Using both together, or within a short period of time, can cause:

• Increased heart rate
• Nausea
• Headache
• Nervousness
• Anxiety
• Tremor

If any of these side effects occur, they would be relatively short-lived as both drugs don't last more than a few hours but, again, using albuterol and epinephrine together increases the risk they will happen.

Separating The Drugs

Both drugs are short-acting, but albuterol (the active ingredient in several brand-name inhalers such as Proair, Ventolin, and Proventil) still tends to last longer than inhaled epinephrine (the active ingredient in Primatene).

Each dose of albuterol lasts around 4 to 6 hours while each dose of epinephrine lasts for slightly shorter in most individuals.

Again, they shouldn't be used together, but they could safely be used if you separate dosing by at least 4 to 6 hours.

Final Words

If you find yourself needing to use a short-acting inhaler like albuterol or Primatene often, you should talk to your doctor.

Your asthma may not be well controlled, and other, longer-acting preventative medications are probably better long-term options.

Thanks again for your question!