A patient experiencing an asthma attack treated with albuterol may show which side effect?

A patient experiencing an asthma attack treated with albuterol may show which side effect?

• A. Bradycardia
• B. Nervousness and tremor
• C. Hypotension
• D. Blurred vision

Answer: (B)

Albuterol is a short-acting beta-2 agonist that relaxes airway smooth muscle to relieve an asthma attack. Because it activates adrenergic receptors beyond the lungs, it can cause systemic sympathetic effects. The most characteristic and commonly observed side effects are nervousness and tremor, which come from increased adrenergic stimulation of skeletal muscles and the nervous system. Bradycardia and hypotension are not typical, since beta-adrenergic stimulation usually increases heart rate and can cause some vasodilation, not a drop in blood pressure. Blurred vision is not a common effect of inhaled albuterol at therapeutic doses. So nervousness and tremor best fits the expected side effects.

Albuterol is a short-acting beta-2 agonist that relaxes airway smooth muscle to relieve an asthma attack. Because it activates adrenergic receptors beyond the lungs, it can cause systemic sympathetic effects. The most characteristic and commonly observed side effects are nervousness and tremor, which come from increased adrenergic stimulation of skeletal muscles and the nervous system.

Bradycardia and hypotension are not typical, since beta-adrenergic stimulation usually increases heart rate and can cause some vasodilation, not a drop in blood pressure. Blurred vision is not a common effect of inhaled albuterol at therapeutic doses. So nervousness and tremor best fits the expected side effects.