What It Is
Levosalbutamol, also known as levalbuterol, belongs to a class of medicines called short-acting beta-2 agonists. It is the active form of salbutamol and is used as an inhaler, a nebuliser solution, and a syrup.
What It's Used For
Levosalbutamol is generally used for quick relief of wheezing, cough, and breathlessness in asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
How It Works
Levosalbutamol stimulates beta-2 receptors in the airway muscles, causing them to relax and the airways to widen within minutes. Salbutamol contains two mirror-image forms of the same molecule. Levosalbutamol contains only the active one, and it was developed in the hope of causing fewer side effects such as a fast heartbeat and tremor, although studies have shown only a small difference between the two in practice.
History and Regulatory Status
Levosalbutamol came into medical use in the late 1990s and is widely prescribed in countries such as India. It is available as a generic prescription medicine under many brand names.