My pharmacist told me that they are the same medication basically but the Xopenex is a more filtered purer form of the medication.
I have never seen the kids have jitters after a nebulizer treatment with the Xopenex. It is like they had nothing except some better breathing time.
Of course the Xopenex is over $100 for the box and it expires within 2 weeks of the pouch being opened, do not use it after that time, a friend nearly died last year after using a vial that was just opened 2 1/2 weeks prior to being used. The air and sunlight destroy the plastic vial and it starts to decay immediately.
Albuterol gives the same good breathing but does give the kids the jitters. It's $4.00 at box at Walmart and I use it for myself when I am sick. I have a yearly prescription for it.