Ventolin - Albuterol Information:

What does Ventolin inhaler do?

Ventolin Inhaler helps you to breathe more easily. When your chest is tight or when you are wheezing, the Ventolin opens up the breathing tubes in your lungs. Your medicine is known as a bronchodilator. Because Ventolin Inhaler gives fast relief from your chest symptoms, it is often called a 'reliever puffer'.

Some people start wheezing or their chest starts to feel tight when they exercise. This is called exercise-induced asthma. If you have exercise-induced asthma, your doctor may tell you to take one or two puffs of your Ventolin Inhaler before you exercise. This can help to prevent the symptoms of exercise-induced asthma.

Before you use your inhaler

Tell your doctor:

• the names of all other medicines you are already taking, including those from the pharmacy and supermarket
• if you have had to stop taking this or any other asthma medicine
• if you are allergic to any medicine, foods, dyes or preservatives
• if you are having treatment for a thyroid problem
• if you are having treatment for high blood pressure
• if you have a heart problem
• if you have a liver problem
• if you have a kidney problem

When you must NOT use your Ventolin inhaler

• Do not use your Ventolin Inhaler if you have ever had an allergic reaction to salbutamol or any of the other ingredients in your inhaler.
• Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or breast feeding. Your doctor will tell you if you should take your medicine. It is important that asthma is managed well during pregnancy and you should not stop your medicine without asking your doctor first.
• Do not use your Ventolin Inhaler to control premature labour.

Using Ventolin inhaler

You will find the instructions on how to use Ventolin Inhaler in the pack. Follow the instructions carefully

The pharmacist's label will usually tell you how many puffs to take and how often to use your Ventolin Inhaler. If you are not sure, ask your doctor or pharmacist. If your chest condition suddenly gets worse, your doctor may tell you to take extra puffs of your Ventolin Inhaler. If you take extra puffs and do not get relief, tell your doctor immediately.

You should visit your doctor or pharmacist regularly to check that you are using your Ventolin Inhaler in the right way. If you are not breathing the medicine in correctly, the medicine may not be helping you as much as it could.

If you find it difficult to breathe in and use your Ventolin Inhaler at the same time, talk to your doctor or pharmacist. It may be better for you to use something called a large volume spacer, such as a VolumaticÔ, with your Ventolin Inhaler. Your doctor or pharmacist will explain to you what this is and how to use it.

IMPORTANT

If your breathing suddenly becomes more difficult just after you have used your Ventolin Inhaler, tell your doctor immediately.

If your Ventolin Inhaler does not help your breathing as much as usual, tell your doctor as soon as possible. If the effect of your Ventolin Inhaler does not last as long as usual or lasts less than 3 hours, tell your doctor as soon as possible. These may be signs that your chest condition is getting worse.

Your doctor may decide to add another medicine to your treatment if your Ventolin Inhaler is not having the same effect as before.

Side-Effects

Like all other medicines, your Ventolin Inhaler may cause some side effects. Most of the side-effects will be minor and temporary, but some may be serious. Your doctor or pharmacist will be able to answer any questions you may have.

If you have any of the following side effects, tell your doctor or pharmacist but do not stop using your Ventolin Inhaler:

Common side-effects:

• headache
• nausea
• shaky or tense feeling
• your heart beats faster than usual
• 'warm' feeling (caused by blood vessels expanding under the skin)
• mouth or throat irritation

Rare side-effects:

• muscle cramps
• hyperactivity in children

If you have a hypersensitivity reaction, for example, skin rash, angioedema (sudden swelling under the skin), shortness of breath or wheeziness or you feel faint or dizzy, you should stop using your Ventolin Inhaler and tell your doctor or pharmacist immediately.

In a few people, the medicine in Ventolin Inhaler may affect their blood potassium levels. Your doctor may do tests to check this.

If you have any other problems after using your Ventolin Inhaler, tell your doctor or pharmacist.

If take too many puffs of Ventolin inhaler (overdose)

You should only take the number of puffs that you have been told.

If you have used too much of your medicine, immediately telephone your doctor or Poisons Centre for advice, even if there are no signs of discomfort or poisoning. You may need urgent medical attention.

Keep telephone numbers for these places handy.

If you are not sure what to do, contact your doctor or pharmacist.

Storage

Keep Ventolin Inhaler in a place where children cannot reach it.

Keep Ventolin Inhaler away from frost. Do not put it in the refrigerator.

Keep Ventolin Inhaler away from bright sunlight.

Keep Ventolin Inhaler away from heat (store below 30°C). Do not leave it in the car on hot days.

In very cold places, your Ventolin Inhaler may become very cold. To warm it, pull out the metal can from its plastic holder and warm it in your hand for a few minutes. Do not warm the can in any other way. Push the can firmly back into its holder before using.

You will find an expiry (or use by) date on the label of the metal can. Do not use your Ventolin Inhaler after this date.

Glaxo Wellcome inhalers are designed to give out a metered dose of medication until they are empty.

You can estimate the number of doses left in the inhaler by shaking it, calculating approximately the number of doses that have been used, or keeping a record of the number of doses you have used up.

On average, Glaxo Wellcome includes 10% more active doses in each inhaler than is specified on the label.

Floating the inhaler in water to estimate the amount of doses left in the inhaler is not recommended. Water may enter the valve in the inhaler, which may affect the accuracy of later doses. The humidity from the water may also encourage bacteria to grow in the valve.

You should always carry a spare inhaler.

If your doctor tells you to stop using your Ventolin inhaler or the product has passed its expiry date, ask your pharmacist what to do with any Ventolin left over.

WARNING: The metal can is pressurised. Do not burn it or puncture it, even when it is empty.

Missed dose?

If you forget a dose, do not worry. Just take the next dose at the normal time or earlier if you become wheezy or feel tight in the chest.

Further Information

If you have any other questions, ask your doctor or pharmacist.

Ingredients

The medicine in your Ventolin Inhaler is called salbutamol. Each puff contains 100 or 200 micrograms of salbutamol. There are 200 puffs in each Ventolin Inhaler and 100 puffs in each Ventolin Forte Inhaler.

Your Ventolin Inhaler also contains dichlorodifluoromethane, trichlorofluoromethane and oleic acid.

This article is for informational purposes only. For further instructions on Ventolin - Albuterol consult with your doctor.