Xopenex (Levalbuterol) Drug Information: Description, User Reviews, Drug Side Effects, Interactions

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May 16, 2012

Xopenex

Asthma Complexities »

Unusual symptoms of asthma

Patients suffering from episodes of asthma do not always have the typical symptoms of asthma such as shortness of breath, chest tightness, and wheezing (symptoms of airway narrowing). Instead, patients can have symptoms that may not appear to be related to asthma. These "unusual" asthma symptoms include

rapid breathing,
sighing,
fatigue and inability to exercise properly,
difficulty sleeping,
anxiety and difficulty concentrating,
chronic cough without wheezing,
protracted cough after an upper respiratory illness,
recurrent diagnosis of walking pneumonia, and
noises emanating from the chest usual during exhalation.

To complicate matters, symptoms of asthma are not consistent and often vary from time to time in an individual. In some patients, symptoms are influenced by diurnal factor...

Read the Asthma Complexities article »

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Xopenex®
(levalbuterol HCl) Inhalation Solution, 0.31 mg*, 0.63 mg*, 1.25 mg*

*Potency expressed as levalbuterol

DRUG DESCRIPTION

Xopenex (levalbuterol HCI) Inhalation Solution is a sterile, clear, colorless, preservative-free solution of the hydrochloride salt of levalbuterol, the (R)-enantiomer of the drug substance racemic albuterol. Levalbuterol HCl is a relatively selective beta2-adrenergic receptor agonist (see CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY). The chemical name for levalbuterol HCl is (R)-α1-[[(1,1-dimethylethyl)amino]methyl]-4-hydroxy-1,3-benzenedimethanol hydrochloride, and its established chemical structure is as follows:

Xopenex (levalbuterol HCI) structural formula illustration

The molecular weight of levalbuterol HCl is 275.8, and its empirical formula is C₁₃H₂₁NO₃•HCI. It is a white to off-white, crystalline solid, with a melting point of approximately 187°C and solubility of approximately 180 mg/mL in water.

Levalbuterol HCI is the USAN modified name for (R)-albuterol HCI in the United States.

Xopenex (levalbuterol HCI) Inhalation Solution is supplied in unit-dose vials and requires no dilution before administration by nebulization. Each 3 mL unit- dose vial contains 0.31 mg of levalbuterol (as 0.36 mg of levalbuterol HCI) or 0.63 mg of levalbuterol (as 0.73 mg of levalbuterol HCI) or 1.25 mg of levalbuterol (as 1.44 mg of levalbuterol HCI), sodium chloride to adjust tonicity, and sulfuric acid to adjust the pH to 4.0 (3.3 to 4.5).

What are the possible side effects of levalbuterol inhalation (Xopenex, Xopenex Concentrate, Xopenex HFA)?

Stop using levalbuterol inhalation and seek emergency medical attention if you experience any of the following serious side effects:

an allergic reaction (difficulty breathing; closing of your throat; swelling of your lips, tongue, or face; or hives);
worsening of respiratory symptoms (shortness of breath, wheezing); or
chest pain or irregular heartbeats.

Other, less serious side effects may be more likely to occur. Continue to use levalbuterol...

Read All Potential Side Effects and See Pictures of Xopenex »

What are the precautions when taking levalbuterol (Xopenex)?

Before taking levalbuterol, tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are allergic to it; or to similar bronchodilators (e.g., albuterol, metaproterenol, salmeterol); or to sympathomimetic drugs (e.g., epinephrine, pseudoephedrine); or if you have any other allergies. This product may contain inactive ingredients, which can cause allergic reactions or other problems. Talk to your pharmacist for more details.

Before using this medication, tell your doctor or pharmacist your medical history, especially of: heart disease (e.g., high blood pressure, abnormal heart rhythm, coronary insufficiency), seizures, overactive thyroid (hyperthyroidism), diabetes, kidney disease, low blood potassium level (hypokalemia).

This drug may make you dizzy. Do not drive, use machinery, or do any...

Read All Potential Precautions of Xopenex »

Last reviewed on RxList: 6/4/2008
This monograph has been modified to include the generic and brand name in many instances.