Cardiac Side Effects of Albuterol & Xopenex

Xopenex and albuterol are common drugs known as bronchodilators used to relax your airway muscles to increase air flow and help you breathe better. Each has numerous common side effects including those that may adversely affect the heart.

Warning

• Both medications are supplied as inhalers and both also carry a warning that they should not be used if you have a history of heart disease or high blood pressure.

Albuterol Serious Side Effects

• A potentially serious side effect of albuterol use is chest pain. You may also experience your heart pounding or uneven heartbeats.

Xopenex Serious Side Effects

• Like albuterol, Xopenex can cause serious heart-related side effects including chest pain and irregular heartbeats.

Albuterol's Effect on Blood Pressure

• Albuterol may also cause a potentially serious increase in blood pressure. Symptoms of this may include severe headache, blurred vision, dizziness and fainting.

Xopenex Effect on Blood Pressure

• Xopenex can also cause an increase in blood pressure. Contact your prescribing physician immediately if you begin to experience a severe headache, blurred vision, dizziness and/or fainting.