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Drug Profile

Do NOT stop taking this or any drug without the advice of your physician. Some drugs can cause severe adverse effects when they are stopped suddenly.

Do Not Use [what does this mean?]
Generic drug name: isoetharine (eye soe ETH a reen)
Brand name(s): BETA-2, BRONKOMETER, BRONKOSOL
GENERIC: not available FAMILY: Beta Agonists
Find the drug label by searching at DailyMed.

Safety Warnings For This Drug [top]

Do not stop any asthma medication without first consulting your physician. Abruptly stopping a medication may result in acutely deteriorating asthma control.

Additional Precautions for Asthma

Avoid exposure to things that trigger your allergies or asthma, such as animals, bedding, chemicals, cosmetics, drugs, dust, mold, foods, pollens, or smoke. Wearing a mask reduces inhalation of drugs, pollens, and smoke.

Aspirin can trigger asthma in people who are aspirin-allergic, as can beta-blockers. Infections aggravate lung problems. During epidemics of respiratory illnesses, avoid crowded places and wash your hands frequently to help prevent infection. If you have asthma, get a flu vaccination.

Note: The information in this profile addresses the care of asthma that is not serious enough to need emergency treatment.

Facts About This Drug [top]

Isoetharine is used to treat mild asthma, chronic bronchitis, emphysema, or occasional acute spasms of the airways called bronchospasm. If you have any of these conditions, the best drug to use is either albuterol or pirbuterol, rather than isoetharine.

Isoetharine is an older inhaled drug that lasts for a shorter time than albuterol.[1] It is more likely to cause high blood pressure and an increase in your heart rate than the similar drugs albuterol, metaproterenol, and terbutaline.[2],[3]...

Isoetharine is used to treat mild asthma, chronic bronchitis, emphysema, or occasional acute spasms of the airways called bronchospasm. If you have any of these conditions, the best drug to use is either albuterol or pirbuterol, rather than isoetharine.

Isoetharine is an older inhaled drug that lasts for a shorter time than albuterol.[1] It is more likely to cause high blood pressure and an increase in your heart rate than the similar drugs albuterol, metaproterenol, and terbutaline.[2],[3] If you are using isoetharine and have adverse effects, ask your doctor to change your inhalant to albuterol or pirbuterol.

Whichever drug you take, use only the inhaled forms. Do not use the tablets, capsules, or liquids. Because these forms are swallowed, the drug is distributed throughout the body, increasing the risk of adverse effects. An inhaler deposits most of the drug in the lungs, where it is needed.

last reviewed August 31, 2023