How Long Does an Albuterol Inhaler Last?

If you have asthma, it’s essential to know how long your inhaler medications last, like albuterol, so you have an unexpired one ready to go. Some inhalers have a counter to help you keep track of doses, but others don’t.

If your inhaler doesn’t have a counter, you must calculate how many doses are left and be aware of the expiration date. This can be particularly challenging for as-needed rescue inhalers, such as albuterol inhalers.

There are several different types of inhalers. For example, a preloaded inhaler makes it easier to know when the inhaler’s empty. These inhalers typically contain 50 to 200 doses of medication.

Another type of inhaler, metered-dose inhalers (MDIs or HFCs), contains a chemical called propellant that continues to spray even after you’ve used all the medication. So, if you haven’t been tracking your doses, you may only be inhaling the propellant and not the medicine.

How you store your inhaler also affects how well it works, regardless of the expiration date. While a bit of water or humidity generally won’t affect how long albuterol lasts, it can significantly impact the shelf-life of a dry powder inhaler (DPI).

This article will explain the different types of inhalers and their expiration dates and offer insights into the best way to store them.

Types of Inhalers

There are several different types of inhalers. They generally fall into the category of controller or rescue inhalers.

• Controllers, sometimes known as maintenance inhalers, are used regularly to prevent asthma symptoms.
• Rescue inhalers are what the name suggests—they contain medication to alleviate an asthma attack.

Controller inhalers contain corticosteroids, either alone or in combination with bronchodilators. Corticosteroids can help reduce inflammation over time, and bronchodilators help open the airway.

Albuterol is a short-acting bronchodilator and the most common rescue inhaler.

Inhalers and Counters

Most inhalers have counters to keep track of the amount of medication remaining in the device. If your inhaler does not have a counter, the number of puffs in each canister should be printed on the inhaler’s label.

Controller Inhalers

You can calculate the number of days of use you will get out of a controller inhaler by dividing the total number of doses in the canister by how many doses you are told to use daily. Then, you can use a calendar to determine when your medication will run out.

If you’re unsure when your medication will run out, ask your pharmacist or healthcare provider for help. To keep track of dates, write the start and end dates of the medication on your canister as soon as you pick it up from the pharmacy.

To avoid lapses in treatment, schedule your next refill pick-up in advance so that you have time to get a renewal from your healthcare provider if necessary, the pharmacy has time to fill the script, and you have plenty of time to pick up the medication or have it mailed to your home.

Rescue Inhalers

Albuterol is a common rescue inhaler; most albuterol inhalers have counters. If yours doesn’t have a counter, determining when a rescue inhaler will run out is often more challenging than keeping track of a controller since you typically don’t use the medication regularly. It is unrealistic to expect yourself to remember how many you have used.

Albuterol, a bronchodilator that widens the airways, is supplied in an 8.5-gram canister containing 200 puffs of medication. The manufacturer of albuterol warns against using methods or “tricks” to figure out how much medication is left in the canister, with a notice that the canister should never be immersed in water to determine how full it is (the so-called “float test”).

If there is no counter, the best way to keep track is to log how often you use your rescue inhaler. Aside from helping you determine when you’ll need a refill, this will also help assess how well your controllers work. If you are using a rescue inhaler daily, your healthcare provider might add a controller to your asthma care plan or make changes to your controller medication to reduce the frequency of your asthma symptoms.

When Do You Need an Albuterol Inhaler?

Albuterol inhalers are used as rescue inhalers during an acute asthma attack. Generally, individuals can take two puffs to help relieve symptoms. However, your healthcare provider may recommend taking up to four puffs. If symptoms are not relieved after 20 minutes, the dose can usually be repeated.

Albuterol works when the medication is inhaled to relieve asthma symptoms quickly. Some side effects are associated with albuterol, such as nervousness or excitability. Side effects of albuterol may last for two to six hours. How long the side effects last depends on how many puffs of the medication you took.

Many individuals with asthma will have an asthma action plan from their healthcare provider that outlines steps to take during an asthma attack. The action plan typically explains what doses of medicines to take and when to seek emergency medical help.

If you’ve followed the steps in your asthma action plan or have taken the prescribed doses from your albuterol inhaler and are still experiencing symptoms, seek out medical treatment.

How Long Does an Albuterol Inhaler Last?

Having a rescue inhaler, such as albuterol, with enough doses is essential when you face an asthma attack. If the medication has expired, there’s a chance it might not have retained its strength, quality, and purity. Most albuterol inhalers expire about one year after opening.

Knowing when a medication expires is essential for any medication. However, tracking expiration dates with medications such as rescue inhalers is crucial since their use is often sporadic. While you may feel secure knowing you have an inhaler handy, it may not prove effective once you use it if it’s past its expiration date.

If you use albuterol or other rescue inhaler, plan when you will get a refill. You don’t want to be caught without a safe and effective rescue inhaler when you suddenly need one. Consider adding a reminder in your phone or calendar a month or so before the expiration date so you have time to refill your prescription.

Calculating Doses

It is crucial to know how many doses are left so you do not end up with an empty inhaler. The majority of albuterol inhalers come with a counter. Typically, the number on the inhaler reads 203. The extra doses are because the inhaler must be primed before use. Priming an inhaler means shaking it and then releasing a couple of puffs of the medication into the air before using it as an inhaler.

The general guidance is to watch the dose counter. When it reaches 20, you should contact your pharmacy for a refill. Many albuterol inhalers also have a red flag that will appear as you get closer to zero doses. It is a visual aid to help you remember to refill the inhaler.

If your inhaler does not have a counter, there are several ways you can keep track of the doses used. For example, you could keep a piece of paper with your inhaler and mark it down each time you use it. You can also keep a note on your phone or other electronic device. Remember also to count the puffs of your inhaler used when priming it.

Understanding Expiration Dates

You may run into a situation where you must use your inhaler and realize it’s expired. If you are in an emergent situation and your only option is to use the expired inhaler, then it is okay. An expired albuterol inhaler won’t hurt you. However, the medication may not be as effective as before it expired, and you may require additional medical emergency services if your asthma attack is not alleviated.

How Long Do Other Inhalers Last?

You may use a daily inhaled steroid to help control your asthma. You should also have a rescue inhaler on hand that you use before vigorous activity or during an acute attack. Daily-use controller inhalers contain various steroids and medication combinations. Inhalers vary in how long they last.

So, it’s a good idea to review the expiration date with your pharmacist when you pick up your inhaler. Other factors can contribute to an inhaler losing effectiveness prior to the expiration date, such as forgetting to put the cap back on the inhaler, storing it in a warm, humid place, or accidentally dropping it in water.

Here are a few examples of other commonly used inhalers and how long they last.

• Flovent: Flovent is a controller inhaler containing fluticasone, a steroid. Depending on the dose, it must be replaced every six weeks or two months. The brand name Flovent was discontinued, but the same company that produced the brand name now offers a generic version.
• Advair™ Diskus™: This is another example of a controller medication containing fluticasone and salmeterol. This inhaler expires one month after opening. The medication should be discarded 30 days after opening or when the counter reads zero, whichever comes first.
• Xopenex® HFA: This is a rescue inhaler similar to albuterol. However, it contains levalbuterol, which does not have the shelf life of albuterol. Levalbuterol is light-sensitive and must be stored in a dark location. Once the foil package is opened, all vials must be thrown out after two weeks. Vials removed from the pouch must be used within a week.

Several other inhalers are on the market, and the length each lasts varies depending on the type of inhaler and the medication.

Storage and Disposal

Most medications, including inhalers, need to be kept at optimal temperatures. While you might want to keep your inhaler in your car for convenience, remember that hot or cold temperatures can compromise your medication.

Humidity, such as in a bathroom, can also alter the chemical composition of medications used in an inhaler. Humidity can also make your device slightly wet, interfering with the dose that is delivered with each inhalation.

Each inhaler will have specified temperatures and storage recommendations, so read the labels or ask your pharmacist for advice. It is also essential to clean your inhaler and any other equipment you use, such as a spacer or mask, according to the manufacturer’s instructions.

For example:

• According to the manufacturer, store albuterol at temperatures between 59 and 77 degrees F. The container may burst at very high temperatures.
• Symbicort, a controller inhaler, should be stored at room temperature between 68 and 77 degrees F with the inhaler mouthpiece down.

Don’t throw your inhaler in the trash when you are done with it or it has expired. The inhaler could explode if exposed to high temperatures (say, in a garbage truck) due to residual medication inside the canister. Medication and propellants could also leak out into the environment.

Instead, ask your pharmacist if they can dispose of your inhaler. Some pharmacies have drop-off boxes for drug disposal; others may hold special take-back days or events. Your local health department or police/fire station may do the same occasionally.

Summary

How long your albuterol inhaler will last can vary, but the short answer is generally about a year. If you’re in an emergency and your albuterol inhaler is over a year old, you can still use it. However, it might be less effective if it’s beyond the expiration date.

Most inhalers, including albuterol inhalers, have counters. If yours doesn’t, devise a system for tracking how many doses are left and when you need to refill it.

Several different inhalers are on the market, including rescue and controller inhalers. Remember that your inhalers probably don’t all last the same length of time, and each may have its own storage specifications and expiration dates. Doing so ensures you will have your medication available when you need it.