Caffeine and Inhalers

heidi94 · Feb 7, 2015

I'm only a student myself..but the first thing that comes to mind is that tachycardia is a side effect of albuterol, and taking caffeine would worsen that.

inthecosmos, BSN, MSN, RN, APRN · Feb 7, 2015

I'm only a student myself..but the first thing that comes to mind is that tachycardia is a side effect of albuterol, and taking caffeine would worsen that.

It's not a side-effect of all inhalers though. That's the only thing, it is not recommended with ANY type of bronchodilator.

Palpitations are also a side effect of some of the inhalers, and would increase with the use of caffeine. But, I don't think every inhaler has these issues?

I'm not sure, but your guess is as good as mine. :)

klone, MSN, RN · Feb 7, 2015

"Inhaler" is a very broad, generic term. Are you talking about a bronchodilator, such as albuterol? A steroid, such as fluticasone?

GrannyRRT · Feb 7, 2015

There are over 80 inhalers commonly used so you need to be more specific.

I am going to take a guess and answer as if you mean a SABA or LABA (Short or Long Acting Beta Agonist) which are used for breathing problems.

Caffeine belongs in the same chemical class of Xanthines as albuterol, salbutamol, levalbuterol (Xopenex) and aminophylline.

Combinations of two things in the same class could potentially enhance their affects to the negative especially if someone is sensitive. This could go either way by either over stimulating or over depressing the body.

Albuterol, salbutamol and levalbuterol usually will not affect people using these as much. If they did we would have a lot more COPDers who would be considered noncompliant because they would refuse to give up coffee and chocolate if they were told it interfered with their bronchodilator.

Besides the chemical class of Xanthine, you need to look up the type of adrenergic receptor that drug acts on, Beta or Alpha. There are 5 types and each one has different properties.

Unless the patient is highly sensitive, I usually don't see an issue with SABA and LABA use with everyday caffeine containing products like coffee. That is, unless they are using the inhaler incorrectly by over use without consulting their physician.

I do find a problem with OTC medications and SABA/LABA use. Many of these contain strong Alpha properties which can increase blood pressure and HR, sometimes to a fatal level.

Asthmanefrin (which replaced Primatene Mist) OTC inhaler contains 11.25 mg Racemic Epinephrine per puff.

Reference for this OTC inhaler:

New OTC Inhaler on Store Shelves

Other medications include Sudafed and weight loss products including those which contain ephedra and pseudoephedrine.

If your local drug or grocery store is locking up some OTC cold medications in fear someone will use them to make meth, they probably contain pseudoephedrine which has strong alpha 1 properties which stimulate.

This was a well know tragedy over 20 years ago which some have wondered if the inhaler was used for diet or breathing problems.

Krissy Taylor Funeral | Young model's death stirs many questions - Baltimore Sun

The "anxiety attack" described is the alpha properties of the drug stimulating the nervous system as a sympathomimetic (fight or flight).

Since this is in the student section, pay close attention in pharmacology class and you will be able to decipher how a medication (prescribed or OTC) will affect the body by its class or the ingredients you read on the OTC label.

inthecosmos, BSN, MSN, RN, APRN · Feb 8, 2015

There are over 80 inhalers commonly used so you need to be more specific.
I am going to take a guess and answer as if you mean a SABA or LABA (Short or Long Acting Beta Agonist) which are used for breathing problems.
Caffeine belongs in the same chemical class of Xanthines as albuterol, salbutamol, levalbuterol (Xopenex) and aminophylline.
Combinations of two things in the same class could potentially enhance their affects to the negative especially if someone is sensitive. This could go either way by either over stimulating or over depressing the body.
Albuterol, salbutamol and levalbuterol usually will not affect people using these as much. If they did we would have a lot more COPDers who would be considered noncompliant because they would refuse to give up coffee and chocolate if they were told it interfered with their bronchodilator.
Besides the chemical class of Xanthine, you need to look up the type of adrenergic receptor that drug acts on, Beta or Alpha. There are 5 types and each one has different properties.
Unless the patient is highly sensitive, I usually don't see an issue with SABA and LABA use with everyday caffeine containing products like coffee. That is, unless they are using the inhaler incorrectly by over use without consulting their physician.
I do find a problem with OTC medications and SABA/LABA use. Many of these contain strong Alpha properties which can increase blood pressure and HR, sometimes to a fatal level.
Asthmanefrin (which replaced Primatene Mist) OTC inhaler contains 11.25 mg Racemic Epinephrine per puff.
Reference for this OTC inhaler:
New OTC Inhaler on Store Shelves
Other medications include Sudafed and weight loss products including those which contain ephedra and pseudoephedrine.
If your local drug or grocery store is locking up some OTC cold medications in fear someone will use them to make meth, they probably contain pseudoephedrine which has strong alpha 1 properties which stimulate.
This was a well know tragedy over 20 years ago which some have wondered if the inhaler was used for diet or breathing problems.
Krissy Taylor Funeral | Young model's death stirs many questions - Baltimore Sun
The "anxiety attack" described is the alpha properties of the drug stimulating the nervous system as a sympathomimetic (fight or flight).
Since this is in the student section, pay close attention in pharmacology class and you will be able to decipher how a medication (prescribed or OTC) will affect the body by its class or the ingredients you read on the OTC label.

Bronchodilator was what I was referring to. I eventually found it in my book. Thank you.

Also, not everyone has to take a pharmacology class in their nursing program. I do not have a pharmacology class, we learn medications briefly and they are not covered well in some of our required texts. Hence, me coming here.

GrannyRRT · Feb 8, 2015

Bronchodilator was what I was referring to. I eventually found it in my book. Thank you.

Just remember there are also different classes of bronchodilators such as Beta Agonists (long and short term) and anticholinergics.

Also, not everyone has to take a pharmacology class in their nursing program. I do not have a pharmacology class, we learn medications briefly and they are not covered well in some of our required texts. Hence, me coming here.

Wow! Nursing programs aren't teaching basic pharmacology?

caliotter3 · Feb 8, 2015

Just remember there are also different classes of bronchodilators such as Beta Agonists (long and short term) and anticholinergics.
Wow! Nursing programs aren't teaching basic pharmacology?

More than 20 years ago my BSN program did not teach pharmacology. They said it was "integrated" throughout the program, which meant we did not get pharmacology content beyond the drug cards that were required for clinicals. When they changed curriculum, a separate pharm course was introduced. I tried to sign up for the course and got told off by the instructor. That incident has remained with me to this day.

inthecosmos, BSN, MSN, RN, APRN · Feb 8, 2015

Just remember there are also different classes of bronchodilators such as Beta Agonists (long and short term) and anticholinergics.
Wow! Nursing programs aren't teaching basic pharmacology?

Yes, I was looking up different types of bronchodilators. It's an oxygenation section and I was doing my notes for my test. I take a lot of time on the medications because they are the hardest for me, and my books weren't much help!

My program is an 18 month program where I get my ADN, and they "integrate" pharmacology into my program.

More than 20 years ago my BSN program did not teach pharmacology. They said it was "integrated" throughout the program, which meant we did not get pharmacology content beyond the drug cards that were required for clinicals. When they changed curriculum, a separate pharm course was introduced. I tried to sign up for the course and got told off by the instructor. That incident has remained with me to this day.

Ours is better than that. Each test we have a list of medications we need to know, but all of our resources poorly tell us what we need to know as the nurse. I'm so huge on knowing what the nurse needs to know, but get lost in the plethora of information my drug book has. I would say that I will get better with time, but it is very discouraging to not cover medications more.

LadyFree28, BSN, LPN, RN · Feb 8, 2015

Yes, I was looking up different types of bronchodilators. It's an oxygenation section and I was doing my notes for my test. I take a lot of time on the medications because they are the hardest for me, and my books weren't much help!
My program is an 18 month program where I get my ADN, and they "integrate" pharmacology into my program.
Ours is better than that. Each test we have a list of medications we need to know, but all of our resources poorly tell us what we need to know as the nurse. I'm so huge on knowing what the nurse needs to know, but get lost in the plethora of information my drug book has. I would say that I will get better with time, but it is very discouraging to not cover medications more.

This information makes me so grateful that I have been taught pharmacology as a dedicated course in my BSN program, and in my PN program we spent a percentage of module on pharm; we had to successfully pass pharm in order to go to clinical, so although our program was a 13 month program, we needed to know pharmacology and pass first, then it was integrated into the program.

In order to understand pharmacology fully, one of our members here has pharm flash cards that are pretty good; do a search her and find those cards; I also used PharmPhlash cards as a great resource and still use them when needed; I also have the epocrates app as a content resource.

HouTx, BSN, MSN, EdD · Feb 9, 2015

Asthmatic here - When I have an acute exacerbation, I actually take advantage of the caffeine 'kick' so that I am not sucking on an inhaler so much. A nice cuppa is so much better & not so off-putting to colleagues who give me the old "wonder what her sat is today?" look.