Drug Details

Levalbuterol Tartrate HFA

( Xopenex Hfa )

Medically Reviewed by Dr. Harshi Dhingra, M.D.

Last Reviewed: Jul 02, 2024

Levalbuterol Tartrate HFA Drug Details

Generic Name:

Levalbuterol tartrate

Common Brands:

Xopenex HFA

Availability:

Prescription only

Therapeutic Class:

Short-acting beta-adrenergic agonists

Forms:

Metered dose inhaler, solution for use with a nebulizer

Administration:

Inhalation through an inhaler or nebulizer

Therapeutic Uses:

Treatment and prevention of symptoms of lung conditions such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)

Controlled Status:

Not a controlled substance

Levalbuterol Tartrate (Xopenex HFA) Drug Class

Levalbuterol tartrate (lev-al-byoo-ter-ohl tar-tray-t) belongs to a group called short-acting beta-adrenergic agonist medications or inhaled beta-agonists.

Levalbuterol Tartrate (Xopenex HFA) Age Range

Levalbuterol tartrate is approved for use in adults and children 4 years of age and older.

Levalbuterol Tartrate HFA Uses

Levalbuterol Tartrate (Xopenex HFA) Uses

Levalbuterol tartrate is a beta adrenergic bronchodilator. It is used to treat and prevent coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath, and chest tightness associated with lung conditions such as asthma and chronic obstructive lung disease (COPD).

There may be other uses of levalbuterol tartrate—your doctor or pharmacist can give you further drug information.

Levalbuterol Tartrate (Xopenex HFA) Mechanism of Action

Levalbuterol tartrate works by relaxing the airways in the lungs. Relaxation of the airway smooth muscle leads to opening up of the airways, making it easier for people with reversible obstructive airway disease to breathe.

Levalbuterol Tartrate (Xopenex HFA) Doses

Levalbuterol tartrate comes as an aerosol to inhale by mouth using a metered dose inhaler. Each inhalation delivers 45 mcg of levalbuterol free base equivalent to 59 mcg of levalbuterol tartrate. The recommended dose of the HFA (metered dose inhaler) is 1-2 puffs every 4-6 hours.

This medication also comes as a solution and concentrated solution (to be mixed with normal saline). The levalbuterol tartrate solution is for inhalation via a nebulizer machine. The 3-mL vials of nebulizer solution come in three strengths: 0.31 mg, 0.63 mg, and 1.25 mg. The usual dose of the nebulizer solution is three times a day (every 6-8 hours).

Levalbuterol Tartrate HFA Directions

How To Use Levalbuterol Tartrate (Xopenex HFA)

Levalbuterol tartrate comes as a solution to inhale by mouth using a nebulizer and an aerosol to inhale by mouth using an inhaler.

Read the prescription label carefully and use the medication exactly as prescribed. Do not change the dose or dosage frequency without your doctor’s approval. The dose may be different for pediatric patients, adolescent and adult patients, elderly patients, and those with impaired renal function. Follow your doctor’s dosing instructions carefully. Administering high doses or using more than the recommended doses can be fatal.

The nebulizer machine turns the levalbuterol inhalation solution into a fine mist which you inhale with the help of a mouth piece. Make sure the mouthpiece fits snugly. Avoid getting levalbuterol tartrate into your eyes.

The inhaler dispenses a fixed dose of the medicine and has 200 actuations (inhalations) in each canister. Keep track of how many doses you have used and discard the inhaler afterward, even if some medicine remains (the remaining inhalations may not contain the correct amount of medicine). Floating the canister in water is not an accurate way to find out the remaining doses.

Shake the inhaler well before use. Ask your healthcare provider to show you how to prime the inhaler before you use it for the first time or after a gap of more than 3 days.

Do not use inhalers that came with other medications to take your levalbuterol tartrate. Also, do not use your levalbuterol tartrate inhaler to inhale other medicines. Use only the inhaler that comes with the levalbuterol tartrate canister.

Do not use the inhaler near fire or sources of heat, as this can cause it to explode.

Poor asthma control on a previously effective dosage regimen could indicate your condition is worsening. You may require a change in your treatment regimen. Tell your doctor if you have worsening symptoms or if you need more medicine to control your symptoms. Do not increase the dose of levalbuterol tartrate without talking to your doctor.

Your doctor, pharmacist, or respiratory therapist will show you how to properly use the inhaler and nebulizer. You can also refer to the patient information leaflet and manufacturer’s directions that came with your medicine. Ask your doctor or pharmacist to explain the instructions again if you don’t understand.

To get the full benefits of levalbuterol tartrate, use the medicine as prescribed. This medication can help to control your symptoms, but it will not cure your condition. Do not stop using levalbuterol tartrate without talking to your doctor.

Missed dose: If you miss a dose of levalbuterol tartrate, take it as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and take the next dose according to your regular dosing schedule. Do not take a double dose or extra medicine to make up for a missed dose.

Storage: Store levalbuterol tartrate at room temperature (between 15-30° C or 59-86° F) away from moisture, heat, and direct light in its original container, tightly closed. Do not store medications in the bathroom where they can be exposed to moisture and heat. Keep all medications safely out of reach of children and pets. Keep unused vials of the levalbuterol inhalation solution in the foil pack to protect the medicine from light until you’re ready to use it. Discard any unused vials 2 weeks after opening a pouch. After removing a vial from the pouch, protect it from light and use it within 1 week.

Unused medicine: Unused levalbuterol tartrate should be disposed of in a way that other people, children, and pets cannot get to them. Do not throw levalbuterol tartrate in the trash or flush it down the toilet. Do not puncture the inhaler canister or discard it in a fire or incinerator. The best way to properly discard expired or unneeded levalbuterol tartrate is through a drug take-back program or your local waste disposal company. Learn more about proper medication disposal.

NOTE: This medication guide is a summary and may not contain all possible drug information on levalbuterol tartrate. The information contained here may not be up-to-date. This sheet is for information purposes only. If you have questions about levalbuterol tartrate, talk to your doctor or pharmacist for medical advice.

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Levalbuterol Tartrate HFA Side Effects

Levalbuterol Tartrate (Xopenex HFA) Side Effects

Possible side effects of levalbuterol tartrate are listed below. Call your doctor for medical advice if they are severe or last more than a few days.

Headache
Dizziness
Weakness
Heartburn
Vomiting
Diarrhea
Fever
Nervousness
Uncontrolled shaking
Leg cramps
Muscle pain

Rarely, levalbuterol tartrate can cause more serious adverse reactions. Call your doctor right away or seek emergency medical attention if you develop:

Signs and symptoms of allergic reactions (skin rash, hives, itching)
Swelling of the eyes, face, lips, tongue, throat, hands, lower legs, ankles, or feet
Difficulty breathing or swallowing
Fast or pounding heartbeat
Chest pain
Hoarseness

The above list may not include all the potential side effects of levalbuterol tartrate. Contact your healthcare provider if your side effects are unusual or severe or they do not get better over time. You can also report adverse events to the Food and Drug Administration at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Levalbuterol tartrate (Xopenex HFA) Overdose: In case of an overdose of levalbuterol tartrate, call your doctor immediately. You can also call the National Poison Control Center at 1-800-222-1222. Call 911 if a person has collapsed, cannot breathe, has had a seizure, or cannot be awakened. Symptoms of an overdose may include fast or irregular heartbeat, chest pain, dry mouth, dizziness, headache, nervousness, uncontrolled shaking, seizures, nausea, tiredness, weakness, and sleep problems.

Source: FDA

Levalbuterol Tartrate HFA Warnings

Levalbuterol Tartrate (Xopenex HFA) Risks, Warnings, and Complications

Levalbuterol tartrate may cause or worsen health problems in some people. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist about other treatments for your lung condition if you are at an increased risk of adverse effects from this medication. Some of the risks of taking levalbuterol tartrate include:

Paradoxical Bronchospasm: Levalbuterol tartrate (Xopenex HFA) can sometimes cause paradoxical bronchospasm (narrowing of the airways and a severe acute asthmatic crisis), which can be life-threatening. If paradoxical bronchospasm occurs (if you develop wheezing or difficulty breathing after taking a dose), stop using levalbuterol tartrate immediately. Do not use the medicine again until you’ve spoken to your healthcare provider. This risk of this happening is greatest when you first use a new canister of the medicine.
Worsening Asthma: Asthma can worsen rapidly over a few hours or more slowly over several days to weeks. When a previously effective dosage regimen is no longer controlling symptoms, a reevaluation of the patient and treatment regimen is required. Tell your doctor if you have worsening asthma control on the prescribed dose of levalbuterol tartrate. You may need to take anti-inflammatory medications such as corticosteroids or other appropriate symptomatic therapy.
Cardiovascular Effects: Levalbuterol tartrate and other beta-adrenergic agonists can cause clinically significant cardiovascular effects in some people, including effects on heart rate and blood pressure and electrocardiogram (ECG) changes. A significant cardiovascular effect is rare when this medicine is used at the recommended doses. However, if it occurs, you may need to discontinue using levalbuterol tartrate. Levalbuterol tartrate and other inhaled sympathomimetic drugs should be used with caution in people with cardiovascular disease, especially coronary artery disease, cardiac arrhythmias, and hypertension in order to avoid deleterious cardiovascular effects,
Drug Interactions: Certain other drugs can block the pulmonary effects of beta-adrenergic agonists, such as levalbuterol tartrate and/or produce adverse cardiovascular effects. For example, beta-adrenergic blocking agents, diuretics, digoxin, monoamine oxidase inhibitors, or tricyclic antidepressants should be avoided or used with caution in patients taking levalbuterol tartrate. When it is necessary to use beta blockers, a cardioselective beta receptor blocker should be chosen. Give your doctor a complete list of your medications before starting levalbuterol tartrate treatment to prevent potentially dangerous drug-drug interactions.
Severe Allergic Reactions: Immediate hypersensitivity reactions have been reported after administration of racemic albuterol. Signs and symptoms may include skin rash, hives, swelling, difficulty breathing, and throat closing. Seek emergency medical attention if you develop these symptoms after taking levalbuterol tartrate.
Coexisting Conditions: Levalbuterol tartrate and other sympathomimetic amines should be used with caution in people with medical conditions such as cardiovascular disease, hypertension, cardiac arrhythmias, epilepsy, hyperthyroidism, and diabetes mellitus. These conditions may worsen if levalbuterol tartrate is prescribed. For example, experiments with large doses of intravenous racemic albuterol sulfate demonstrated that they can aggravate preexisting diabetes mellitus and ketoacidosis.
Hypokalemia: Levalbuterol tartrate and other beta-adrenergic agonist medications can produce significant hypokalemia (low potassium levels) in some people. This can have deleterious cardiovascular effects. The decrease in potassium levels is usually temporary and does not typically require potassium supplementation. However, significant laboratory abnormalities observed may require discontinuation of treatment with this medicine.

Precautions Before Starting Levalbuterol Tartrate (Xopenex HFA)

Tell your doctor if you have ever had an allergic reaction to levalbuterol tartrate, albuterol (Ventolin, Proventil, others), any of the active or inactive ingredients in levalbuterol tartrate formulations, or any other drugs. Your pharmacy can give you a list of ingredients.

Give your doctor and pharmacist a list of all your medications, including prescription medications, over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, supplements, and herbal remedies. This can help avoid possible interactions between levalbuterol tartrate and your other medications.

Levalbuterol tartrate may not be safe for people with certain medical conditions. Tell your doctor if you have high blood pressure, cardiac arrhythmias, heart disease, diabetes, hyperthyroidism, seizures, or decreased renal function (kidney disease).

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant, could be pregnant, plan to get pregnant soon, or are breast-feeding. Fertility studies in animals showed a significant dose-related increase in congenital abnormalities with racemic albuterol sulfate. Post-marketing experience with racemic albuterol sulfate showed rare instances of various congenital anomalies. However, since the pregnant women were taking multiple medications, no consistent pattern or direct relationship has been established between the marketed albuterol HFA inhaler and congenital anomalies.

Precautions During Use of Levalbuterol Tartrate (Xopenex HFA)

Keep all your medical and laboratory appointments during levalbuterol tartrate therapy.

If you are taking other inhaled medications, ask your healthcare provider if you need to take them away from your levalbuterol tartrate.

Call your doctor if you become pregnant while on levalbuterol tartrate.

Tell all your providers you are on levalbuterol tartrate, especially before any surgery, including dental procedures.

Sometimes, levalbuterol tartrate can paradoxically produce severe bronchospasm (wheezing and difficulty breathing). Stop using the medicine and call your doctor right away if you develop asthma-related adverse reactions.

Levalbuterol Tartrate (Xopenex HFA) Drug Interactions

Certain other drugs can affect how levalbuterol tartrate works. Possible drug interactions with other medicines can increase the risk of severe adverse reactions. The following medications can have interactions with levalbuterol tartrate:

Beta-adrenergic blocking agents (beta blockers) such as metoprolol (Lopressor, Toprol XL), atenolol (Tenormin), nadolol (Corgard), labetalol (Normodyne), and propranolol (Inderal)
Epinephrine (Epipen, Primatene Mist)
Heart medications such as digoxin (Digitek, Lanoxin)
Water pills or diuretics
Medications used to treat colds
Other inhaled medications used to open up the air passages, such as pirbuterol (Maxair) or metaproterenol (Alupent)

Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are currently taking or have taken the following medications within the past 2 weeks:

Monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitors such as tranylcypromine (Parnate), phenelzine (Nardil), isocarboxazid (Marplan), and selegiline (Eldepryl, Emsam, Zelapar)
Tricyclic antidepressants such as amitriptyline (Elavil), imipramine (Tofranil), nortriptyline (Aventyl, Pamelor), doxepin (Sinequan), clomipramine (Anafranil), amoxapine (Asendin), desipramine (Norpramin), protriptyline (Vivactil), and trimipramine (Surmontil)

Give your doctor or pharmacist a complete list of your medications, including prescription drugs, nonprescription drugs, dietary supplements, and herbal remedies. Also, tell your healthcare professional if you smoke, drink alcohol, or use recreational drugs because some of these substances can cause serious health complications when used with prescription medications.

Levalbuterol Tartrate HFA Pros & Cons

Levalbuterol Tartrate (Xopenex HFA) Pros and Cons

pros header.svg

Levalbuterol tartrate (Xopenex HFA) works fast and is effective as a rescue inhaler.
You can use it on schedule or only when needed.
There is a lower-cost generic available.
It is safe for children 4 years of age and older.

cons header.svg

Levalbuterol tartrate is a short-acting medication that you need to take multiple times a day.
It may not be the best choice for people with allergic reactions to albuterol.
Some people find the inhaler difficult to use.
Use of the levalbuterol inhalation solution in a nebulizer can be time-consuming.

Levalbuterol Tartrate HFA Pharmacist Tips

Levalbuterol Tartrate (Xopenex HFA) Tips from Pharmacists

Make sure you understand how to use the inhaler and nebulizer solution correctly.
Shake the inhaler well before use.
Before using your inhaler for the first time or for the first time after more than 3 days, you should prime it by spraying it into the air 4 times.
If you are having a hard time using the inhaler, talk to your healthcare professional about using a spacer (this device attaches to the inhaler and makes it easier to use).
If your asthma or COPD symptoms are not well controlled on the prescribed dose of levalbuterol tartrate, tell your doctor. Do not increase the dose without consulting your doctor.
This medication will control your symptoms but it won’t cure your condition. Use levalbuterol tartrate regularly as prescribed. Do not stop using the medicine without talking to your doctor.

Levalbuterol Tartrate HFA Rx Savings Tips

Levalbuterol Tartrate (Xopenex HFA) Rx Savings Tips

Levalbuterol tartrate is a generic medication and is available at significantly lower prices than the brand name. Brand name Xopenex HFA and generic levalbuterol tartrate contain the same medicine and are equally effective and safe. Like with most medications, the generic version offers better value. A BuzzRx levalbuterol tartrate coupon can result in big savings on the drug. With a BuzzRx discount card, savings card, or discount coupons, the medication could cost you a fraction of retail prices. Levalbuterol tartrate may be under $30.00 for one HFA inhaler of the 15 g of Mcg dose at Walmart, Walgreens, Rite Aid, CVS Pharmacy, and other participating pharmacies with a BuzzRx discount card or free coupon. For the biggest discounts on levalbuterol tartrate, give the checkout clerk your BuzzRx levalbuterol tartrate discount coupon when you drop off your prescriptions.

Lowest Price for Levalbuterol Tartrate (Xopenex HFA)

Brand
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Levalbuterol Tartrate HFA Common Questions

Common Questions about Levalbuterol Tartrate (Xopenex HFA)

Is levalbuterol tartrate the same as albuterol?

Levalbuterol tartrate and albuterol are similar but not the same. Levalbuterol contains only the active R-albuterol enantiomer. Albuterol is a racemic mixture of equal parts R- and S-enantiomers.

Is levalbuterol tartrate a rescue inhaler?

Yes, levalbuterol tartrate is a rescue inhaler. It can be used for quick relief from symptoms of asthma and other breathing conditions, such as sudden wheezing or shortness of breath.

Is levalbuterol tartrate a beta blocker?

No, levalbuterol tartrate is not a beta blocker. It is a beta adrenergic agonist. Beta-adrenergic blockers block beta receptors. Beta-adrenergic agonists have the opposite effect and activate these receptors.

Does levalbuterol tartrate raise heart rate?

Levalbuterol tartrate may raise heart rate in some people, although this is not a common side effect. Be sure to tell your doctor if you have heart rhythm abnormalities (arrhythmias) before starting treatment.

How quickly does levalbuterol tartrate start working?

Levalbuterol tartrate starts working within minutes, and its effects can last for 4-6 hours.

What is the price of levalbuterol tartrate without insurance?

Without insurance, levalbuterol tartrate can be as high as $77.14, but with a free BuzzRx prescription discount coupon, you could pay as low as $29.86 for the most common version of this medication. Use the BuzzRx drug price look-up tool to find the lowest discounted price, and be sure to enter the correct dosage, form, and quantity for the most accurate pricing. While generics tend to have the best savings, you can also use your BuzzRx card and coupons to purchase brand-name versions. It never hurts to ask your pharmacist to try BuzzRx when filling or refilling any of your prescription drugs—whether you have insurance or not.

What is the price of levalbuterol tartrate with insurance?

Ask your pharmacist or insurance provider for your copay price on levalbuterol tartrate—Copay amounts vary depending on the type of insurance plan you have and if there is a deductible to reach before prescription drug coverage begins.

You could save up to 80% on your prescription medication with a free BuzzRx discount coupon for levalbuterol tartrate. When using the BuzzRx lookup tool to find the price of your medicine, be sure to enter the correct dosage, form, and quantity to receive the most accurate discounted pricing. It never hurts to ask your pharmacist to try BuzzRx when filling or refilling any of your prescriptions—whether you have insurance or not.

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