How do I keep an albuterol diary?
Albuterol is intended to be used “as needed” for asthma exacerbations. If asthma is well-controlled, albuterol shouldn’t need to be used very often. We ask for an albuterol diary to get an idea of how often a patient requires it. Tracking albuterol use is both helpful to the healthcare provider and the patient to identify patterns of use and triggers and can help determine other treatment options such as the need for a daily preventive medicine.
Record the following things each time you use your albuterol:
- Date and time
- Symptoms (cough, difficulty breathing)
- Events leading up to albuterol use (exercise, allergen exposure)
- Number of puffs (if using an inhaler)
- If you’re using a nebulizer, document each treatment
For example:
| Date |
Time |
Symptoms |
Precipitating events |
Use of Inhaler/neb (how many puffs?) |
| 7/1/12 |
2:15pm |
Short of breath, coughing, tight chest |
Playing tag at recess |
Used 2 puffs on inhaler |
| 7/4/12 |
3:10am |
Coughing, felt like someone was pressing on my chest |
Sleeping, symptoms woke me up |
Used 2 puffs on inhaler |
| 7/9/12 |
6:30pm |
Coughing, chest tightness |
I was eating dinner at grandma’s and she smokes in the house. | Didn’t have inhaler with me |
| 7/9/12 |
8:00pm |
Continued coughing, chest tightness |
Had previously been at grandma’s and she smokes in the house. | Used 2 puffs on inhaler. No relief; used albuterol neb |
| 7/10/12 | 9:15am | Shortness of breath | Running in PE | Used 2 puffs on inhaler |
Albuterol Diary Worksheet
