Levolin 1 Mg

Description

Same active ingredient (levalbuterol) as Xopenex®, the US brand. Levolin 1 mg is an Indian brand, made and licensed in India. Compare all Levalbuterol (Generic Xopenex) options.

About Levolin 1 mg Tablet

Levolin 1 mg is a prescription tablet containing 1 mg of levalbuterol (levosalbutamol), made by Cipla Limited, used to relieve wheezing, chest tightness and breathlessness caused by asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). It is the lower of the two Levolin tablet strengths, so it is often chosen when a doctor wants to start with a small oral dose or when someone is sensitive to the shaky, jittery feeling that bronchodilators can cause.

What is levalbuterol?

Standard albuterol (salbutamol) is a 50:50 mixture of two mirror-image molecules, and only one of them, the R-form, opens the airways. Levalbuterol is that active half on its own, so 1 mg of levalbuterol does roughly the same job as 2 mg of regular albuterol. Levalbuterol tablets are made for the Indian market; in the United States the medicine is sold only as an inhaler and as a nebulizer solution.

How does Levolin 1 mg work?

Levalbuterol belongs to the short-acting beta-2 agonist class. It attaches to beta-2 receptors on the smooth muscle that surrounds the bronchial tubes, making that muscle relax so the airways widen and air flows more easily. Swallowed as a tablet, it is absorbed through the gut and carried in the bloodstream, so it starts working more slowly than an inhaler, usually within about half an hour, and the effect lasts several hours.

How to take Levolin 1 mg

• Swallow the tablet whole with water, with or without food, at evenly spaced times of day.
• A typical adult schedule is 1–2 mg three times a day; your prescription tells you exactly how many tablets to take.
• Children’s doses depend on age and weight and must be set by a doctor; very young children are usually given a liquid form instead.
• If you miss a dose, take it when you remember unless the next one is nearly due. Never take two doses together.
• Do not increase the dose on your own if your breathing feels worse; contact your doctor instead.

Can tablets treat an asthma attack?

No. Levolin 1 mg is too slow to rescue you from a sudden attack. Keep a fast-acting inhaled reliever, such as the Levolin Inhaler, for sudden symptoms. Most asthma guidelines favor inhaled bronchodilators over tablets, because an inhaler delivers a tiny dose straight to the lungs and causes fewer whole-body effects. Levalbuterol also leaves the underlying airway inflammation untouched, so many people need a daily inhaled steroid preventer as well, for example Budecort Inhaler.

What are the side effects?

• Common: a fine tremor in the hands, nervousness, headache, a faster heartbeat or palpitations, and muscle cramps.
• Less common: difficulty sleeping, dizziness, nausea, and low potassium levels, particularly with higher doses or diuretics.

Get urgent help if your breathing gets worse instead of better after a dose, if you have chest pain or a very fast or irregular pulse, or if you notice swelling of the face, lips or throat, hives or a widespread rash.

Who should not take Levolin 1 mg?

Avoid it if you are allergic to levalbuterol or albuterol. Tell your doctor beforehand about heart disease, heart rhythm problems, high blood pressure, an overactive thyroid, diabetes (it can raise blood sugar), epilepsy or low potassium. Important interactions include beta-blockers such as propranolol, which can block its effect and tighten the airways; water pills (diuretics); MAO inhibitor and tricyclic antidepressants; and other stimulant medicines, including decongestants. During pregnancy and breastfeeding, a doctor should make the decision, since poorly controlled asthma also carries risks for the baby.

Pack sizes and storage

Supplied in strips of 10 tablets and sold in packs of 30, 60 or 90, from $4. Store below 86°F (30°C) in a dry place, away from direct light and out of children’s reach.

Frequently asked questions

Is there a stronger tablet?

Yes. Levolin 2 mg is the higher strength, used when a doctor decides a larger dose is needed.

How can I tell if my asthma is poorly controlled?

Warning signs include needing a reliever more than twice a week, waking at night with a cough or wheeze, or cutting back on activities. Any of these is a reason to book a review.

Where can I compare other asthma medicines?

Browse the asthma category.

For general information only. Levolin 1 mg is a prescription medicine, so check with your doctor or pharmacist before using it.