i don't think that four year old should be using albuterol (or pulmicort) from a siblings prescription unless it was specifically prescribed by a medical professional. coughs due to cold are not the same a a reactive airway requiring a potent bronchiodilator or steroid. the cough due to a cold is simply the way the body clears the airway of irritating mucous -- it does not need albuterol. just because the four year old asks for an inhaler in no way implies she needs it. four year old know very little about pulmonology. they are really soliciting attention so the cough should be addressed in a safer way. perhaps with a teaspoonful of honey. not albuterol.
what can happen by giving a 4 year old child albuterol because she coughs and is not prescribed to this medication. my son yes who is 3 years old does from time to time have to use albuterol and is also on pulmicort because of bronchial tube infection when was an infant and done through nebulizer treatments. my daughter who is 4 years old come to me begging for a puff of albuterol because she had a chest cold with a little cough here and there but nothing bad at all. my ex wife is playing dr. and giving her the albuterol for a simple cough and is definitely not been prescribed to her by the pediatrician. help