Epinephrine belongs to a class of drugs known as bronchodilators. It works by relaxing the muscles around the airways so that they open up and you can breathe more easily. Use this medication only if you have been told by your doctor that you have asthma.

Are epinephrine inhalers bad for you?

The medication in Primatene Mist, inhaled epinephrine, has side effects such as increased heart rate and blood pressure, and is not listed as a recommended treatment in the National Institute of Health's Guidelines for the Diagnosis and Management of Asthma.

Is Primatene Mist same as albuterol?

The new Primatene Mist HFA (Amphastar Pharmaceuticals) contains hydrofluoroalkane (HFA) propellants, which are permitted under current international and U.S. law. This puts Primatene in the same category with other inhalers, including albuterol and levalbuterol, which also use HFAs as propellants.