Levosalbutamol

Indications

Levosalbutamol is used for: Asthma, Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)

Adult Dose

Oral Adults: 1-2 mg, three times daily. Inhaler: 1-2 puffs as required Nebuliser Solutions Adults: The recommended starting dosage is 0.63 mg administered three to four times a day, every 6 to 8 hours, by nebulization. Patients 12 years of age and older with more severe asthma or patients who do not respond adequately to a dose of 0.63 mg of Levosalbutamol Nebuliser Solution, may benefit from a dosage of 1.25 mg three times a day. Levosalbutamol Nebuliser Solution is supplied in unit-dose ampoules and requires no dilution before administration by nebulization.

Child Dose

Oral Children above 12 years: 1-2 mg, three times daily. Children (6 -11 years): 5 ml (1 mg), three times daily. Children (2 -5 years): Up to 0.1 mg/kg body weight (not more than 1 mg) three times daily. Inhaler: 1-2 puffs as required Nebuliser Solutions Child above 12 years old: The recommended starting dosage is 0.63 mg administered three to four times a day, every 6 to 8 hours, by nebulization. Patients 12 years of age and older with more severe asthma or patients who do not respond adequately to a dose of 0.63 mg of Levosalbutamol Nebuliser Solution, may benefit from a dosage of 1.25 mg three times a day. Children (6 months-11 years): The recommended dosage is 0.31 mg administered three times a day, by nebulization. Routine dosing should not exceed 0.63 mg three times a day. Levosalbutamol Nebuliser Solution is supplied in unit-dose ampoules and requires no dilution before administration by nebulization.

Renal Dose

Administration

Contra Indications

Levosalbutamol is contraindicated in patients with a history of hypersensitivity to Levosalbutamol or any of its components.

Precautions

Particular caution is advised in acute severe asthma as this effect may be potentiated by hypoxia and by concomitant treatment with xanthine derivatives, steroids and diuretics. Serum potassium levels should be monitored in such situations.

Pregnancy-Lactation

Interactions

Adverse Effects

Side effects of Levosalbutamol : Hypocalcaemia, palpitation, fine tremors of the skeletal muscle and muscle cramps may occur. The other likely side effects are nausea, vomiting, burning substernal or epigastric pain and diarrhoea.

Mechanism of Action

Levosalbutamol is a single isomer beta-2 agonist that differs from racemic salbutamol by elimination of (S)-salbutamol. Levosalbutamol is an effective bronchodilator whose primary mechanism of action is unimpeded by (S)-salbutamol.Thus, when compared with racemic salbutamol, clinically comparable bronchodilation can be achieved with doses that substantially lessen beta-mediated side effects. Levosalbutamol produces bronchodilatation through stimulation of beta-2-adrenergic receptors in bronchial smooth muscles, thereby causing relaxation of bronchial muscle fibres.