albuterol vs atomoxetine
Side-by-side comparison of albuterol and atomoxetine. Data from FDA drug databases (Orange Book, NDC Directory, recalls, shortages) covering 20,000+ approved drugs, plus CMS pricing; see our methodology.
moderate Known Drug Interaction
( 7.3 ) • Albuterol (or other beta 2 agonists) - Action of albuterol on cardiovascular system can be potentiated. 7.4 Albuterol Atomoxetine should be administered with caution to patients being treated with systemically-administered (oral or intravenous) albuterol (or other beta 2 agonists) because the action of albuterol on the cardiovascular system can be potentiated resulting in increases in heart rate and blood pressure. Albuterol (600 mcg iv over 2 hours) induced increases in heart rate and blood pressure.
Recommendation: Use these medications together with caution and under a doctor's supervision. Your provider should regularly check your heart rate and blood pressure.
Ventolin, ProAir, Proventil
Strattera
Albuterol is a drug that helps you breathe easier. It opens up your airways when they get too narrow.
Atomoxetine (Strattera) is a medicine that can help people with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). It works by affecting a chemical in the brain called norepinephrine.
This medicine treats or prevents bronchospasm in adults and kids 4 years and older who have reversible obstructive airway disease. This means it helps when your airways narrow, making it hard to breathe. It can also prevent bronchospasm caused by exercise in adults and kids 4 years and older.
Atomoxetine is used to treat Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). ADHD can cause you to be hyperactive, impulsive, and have trouble paying attention. This medicine can help you focus, be less impulsive, and feel calmer. It is for both kids and adults.
Albuterol is a beta-2 agonist. It works by relaxing the muscles in your airways. This allows more air to flow in and out of your lungs.
Atomoxetine works by increasing the amount of norepinephrine in your brain. Norepinephrine is a chemical that helps you pay attention and control your impulses. By increasing norepinephrine, atomoxetine can improve ADHD symptoms.
- • Throat irritation
- • Viral respiratory infections
- • Upper respiratory inflammation
- • Cough
- • Muscle or bone pain
- • Feeling sick to your stomach
- • Throwing up
- • Feeling tired
- • Not feeling hungry
- • Belly pain
- Difficulty breathing 15,966
- Asthma 9,278
- Cough 7,340
- Pneumonia 6,990
- Nausea 6,757
- Feeling sick to your stomach 431
- Head pain 407
- Feeling tired 401
- The health problem got worse 395
- High blood pressure 388
In rare cases, this medicine can make your bronchospasm worse. If this happens, stop using it right away and get medical help. Using too much albuterol can be fatal. If you need more albuterol than usual, your asthma may be getting worse.
Atomoxetine can increase the risk of suicidal thoughts in children and teenagers. Watch carefully for worsening mood or any unusual changes in behavior. Tell your doctor right away if you have any suicidal thoughts or feelings.
Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known if albuterol will harm your unborn baby. Talk to your doctor about the risks and benefits of using albuterol while pregnant or breastfeeding.
Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known if atomoxetine will harm your unborn baby. There is a pregnancy registry for women who take ADHD medicines during pregnancy. Talk to your doctor about how to register.
How to Read This albuterol vs atomoxetine Comparison
albuterol is classified in the Short-Acting Beta-2 Agonist drug class, while atomoxetine sits within the Selective Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitor class. Drugs from different classes work through distinct mechanisms, so a head-to-head comparison illustrates trade-offs rather than equivalence. Both drugs are prescription-only, so a licensed provider must authorize use.
Adverse event totals above are pulled from the FDA's Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). For these top-ranked reactions alone, albuterol has 46,331 submissions while atomoxetine has 2,022. Those figures reflect cumulative reporting volume, not per-patient risk, so older, widely dispensed drugs typically look worse on count alone. These two drugs have a known moderate interaction flagged in FDA labeling, attributed to atomoxetine can make the effects of albuterol on your heart and blood vessels much stronger. this can cause your heart to beat faster and your blood pressure to rise.. Serious warnings, pregnancy guidance, and contraindications can differ even when indications overlap.
A table cannot substitute for clinical judgment. Effectiveness, tolerability, drug-drug interactions with your other medications, kidney and liver function, pregnancy status, insurance formulary, and price all feed into a decision that only a licensed prescriber can make responsibly. Data here is sourced from FDA Structured Product Labels (SPL) and FAERS, both of which update as manufacturers and clinicians submit new information. This page is for educational purposes only, is not medical advice, and should not be used to self-switch between albuterol and atomoxetine - always consult your physician or pharmacist first.
Important: This comparison is for informational purposes only. Drug effects vary between individuals. Always consult your doctor or pharmacist for personalized medical advice.