Salbutamol Syrup Dosage Recommendations
The recommended dosage of salbutamol (albuterol) syrup for children 2-12 years of age is 2.5 mg administered three to four times daily, while for children weighing less than 15 kg, a reduced dose using 0.5% solution should be used instead of the 0.083% solution. 1
Dosage Guidelines by Age Group
Children (2-12 years):
- Standard dose: 2.5 mg three to four times daily 1
- For children weighing <15 kg: Use 0.5% solution at reduced dose 1
- For very young children (2-6 years): 1-2 mg every 8 hours has been shown to be safe in clinical studies 2
Adults:
- Standard dose: 2.5 mg three to four times daily (same as children) 1
- More frequent administration or higher doses are not recommended 1
Administration Considerations
- For optimal bronchodilation with fewer side effects, 3 mg of salbutamol solution may be an optimal dose 3
- Higher doses (>3 mg) show dose-related increases in systemic absorption and side effects including tremor and palpitations 3
- For most patients with mild to moderate asthma, higher doses will not significantly improve bronchodilation 4
Clinical Pearls and Caveats
- If a previously effective dosage regimen fails to provide usual relief, seek medical advice immediately as this may indicate worsening asthma requiring reassessment of therapy 1
- For acute asthma exacerbations, nebulized salbutamol is more effective than oral administration 5
- In acute asthma of moderate severity, combination therapy with ipratropium bromide may provide better results than salbutamol alone 6
- Inhaled salbutamol provides superior bronchodilation compared to oral administration for treating bronchial asthma 5
Monitoring and Follow-up
- Monitor for side effects, particularly at higher doses (>2 mg in young children) 2
- For patients with acute exacerbations requiring emergency treatment, follow-up with primary care provider should be arranged within 1 week 7
- Patients should be monitored for pulse rate changes, tremor, and palpitations, which can increase in a dose-dependent manner 3
Special Considerations
- For children, ensure proper dose calculation based on weight when using syrup formulation 1
- The use of salbutamol syrup can be continued as medically indicated to control recurring bouts of bronchospasm 1
- For very young children (2-6 years), careful dose titration starting at 1 mg every 8 hours is recommended 2