The following dosages of albuterol extended-release tablets are expressed in terms of albuterol base:
Usual Dosage
Adults and Children Over 12 Years of Age
The usual recommended dosage for adults and pediatric patients over 12 years of age is 8 mg every 12 hours. In some patients, 4 mg every 12 hours may be sufficient.
Children 6 to 12 Years of Age
The usual recommended dosage for children 6 through 12 years of age is 4 mg every 12 hours.
Dosage Adjustment in Adults and Children Over 12 Years of Age
In unusual circumstances, such as adults of low body weight, it may be desirable to use a starting dosage of 4 mg every 12 hours and progress to 8 mg every 12 hours according to response.
If control of reversible airway obstruction is not achieved with the recommended doses in patients on otherwise optimized asthma therapy, the doses may be cautiously increased stepwise under the control of the supervising physician to a maximum dose of 32 mg per day in divided doses (i.e., every 12 hours).
Dosage Adjustment in Children 6 to 12 Years of Age
If control of reversible airway obstruction is not achieved with the recommended doses in patients on otherwise optimized asthma therapy, the doses may be cautiously increased stepwise under the control of the supervising physician to a maximum dose of 24 mg per day in divided doses (i.e., every 12 hours).
Switching From Oral Albuterol, USP Products
Patients currently maintained on albuterol tablets or albuterol sulfate syrup can be switched to albuterol extended-release tablets. For example, the administration of one 4 mg albuterol extended-release tablet every 12 hours is comparable to one 2 mg albuterol tablet every 6 hours. Multiples of this regimen up to the maximum recommended daily dose also apply.
Albuterol extended-release tablets must be swallowed whole with the aid of liquids. DO NOT CHEW OR CRUSH THESE TABLETS.
