How does it work?
Ventolin
accuhaler, evohaler, nebules, respirator solution, syrup and injection
all contain the active ingredient salbutamol, which is a type of
medicine known as a short-acting beta 2 agonist. (NB. Salbutamol is
also available without a brand name, ie as the generic medicine.)
Salbutamol
works by acting on receptors in the lungs called beta 2 receptors. When
salbutamol stimulates these receptors it causes the muscles in the
airways to relax. This allows the airways to open.
In conditions
where there is narrowing of the airways, such as asthma or chronic
obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD, eg emphysema and chronic
bronchitis), it is difficult for air to get in and out of the lungs. By
opening the airways, salbutamol makes it easier to breathe.
Salbutamol
is most commonly taken using an inhaler device. Inhaling the medicine
allows it to act directly in the lungs where it is needed most. It also
reduces the potential for side effects occurring in other parts of the
body, as the amount absorbed into the blood through the lungs is lower
than if it is taken by mouth.
Salbutamol when used as an inhaler
is known as a reliever. This is because it works very quickly to
relieve asthma attacks, wheezing, chest tightness or shortness of
breath. Salbutamol inhalers can also be used to open the airways
shortly before exercising to prevent wheezing.
Salbutamol is
sometimes prescribed to be taken by mouth for people who cannot use
inhalers very well. It must be taken regularly in this way to help keep
the airways open all the time.
Nebuliser or respirator solutions
of salbutamol are used to treat acute asthma attacks in hospital. A
nebuliser is a machine that converts the liquid medicine inside the
nebules, into particles that can be inhaled. It is used to deliver
higher doses of the medicine than a standard inhaler.
People
with severe asthma or COPD who have been shown to benefit from regular
use of high doses of salbutamol are sometimes prescribed nebules to be
used in a nebuliser at home.
Salbutamol may also be given by injection in hospital to treat severe asthma attacks.
What is it used for?
* Asthma
* Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
Warning!
* Do not exceed the dose of salbutamol that your doctor has prescribed you to use.
*
If your inhaler doesn't relieve wheezing or chest tightness as well as
usual, or for as long as usual, or you need to use it more often than
usual, you should consult your doctor as soon as possible. It may be
that your asthma or COPD is getting worse and your doctor might need to
give you another medicine. The same applies if you are taking
salbutamol by mouth or nebuliser and it doesn't seem to be working as
well.
* Inhalers may cause an unexpected increase in wheezing
(paradoxical bronchospasm) straight after using them. If this happens,
stop using the inhaler immediately and consult your doctor. The
medicine should be stopped and an alternative treatment found.
*
People with severe asthma should have regular blood tests to monitor
the amount of potassium in their blood. This is because low oxygen
levels in the blood (hypoxia) and various asthma medicines, including
this one, can lower blood potassium levels.
Use with caution in
* Diabetes
* Heart disease
* High blood pressure (hypertension)
* Hyperthyroidism
* Irregular heart beats (arrhythmias)
Not to be used in
* Known sensitivity or allergy to any ingredient
This
medicine should not be used if you are allergic to one or any of its
ingredients. Please inform your doctor or pharmacist if you have
previously experienced such an allergy.If you feel you have experienced
an allergic reaction, stop using this medicine and inform your doctor
or pharmacist immediately.
Pregnancy and Breastfeeding
Certain
medicines should not be used during pregnancy or breastfeeding.
However, other medicines may be safely used in pregnancy or
breastfeeding providing the benefits to the mother outweigh the risks
to the unborn baby. Always inform your doctor if you are pregnant or
planning a pregnancy, before using any medicine.
* It is
important that asthma is well controlled in pregnant women. Wherever
possible, asthma medications should be taken by inhaler, as this
minimises the amount of medicine that enters the bloodstream and
crosses the placenta. Seek medical advice from your doctor.
*
Salbutamol passes into breast milk in small amounts. The effect of this
on the breastfed baby is unknown, therefore this medicine should be
used with caution in breastfeeding mothers. However, in general,
salbutamol inhalers can be used as normal during breastfeeding, because
the amount of medicine that passes into the breast milk after using an
inhaler is negligable and unlikely to harm the baby. Seek medical
advice from your doctor.
Side effects
Medicines and their
possible side effects can affect individual people in different ways.
The following are some of the side effects that are known to be
associated with this medicine. Because a side effect is stated here, it
does not mean that all people using this medicine will experience that
or any side effect.
* Shaking, usually of the hands (tremor)
* Nervous tension
* Headache
* Faster than normal heart beat (tachycardia)
* Awareness of your heart beat (heart palpitations)
* Muscle cramps
* Low blood potassium level (hypokalaemia)
* Unexpected narrowing of the airways (paradoxical bronchospasm)
The
side effects listed above may not include all of the side effects
reported by the drug's manufacturer.For more information about any
other possible risks associated with this medicine, please read the
information provided with the medicine or consult your doctor or
pharmacist.
How can this medicine affect other medicines?
It
is important to tell your doctor or pharmacist what medicines you are
already taking, including those bought without a prescription and
herbal medicines, before you start treatment with this medicine.
Similarly, check with your doctor or pharmacist before taking any new
medicines while taking this one, to ensure that the combination is safe.
This
medicine should not be taken with beta-blockers, such as atenolol,
propranolol or timolol. This is because beta-blockers have an opposite
action to this medicine and cause the airways to narrow. This can
result in breathing difficulties for people with asthma or COPD. This
problem has sometimes been seen with eye drops containing
beta-blockers, eg used for glaucoma.
Salbutamol can potentially
cause a serious decrease in the levels of potassium in the blood
(hypokalaemia), which may result in adverse effects. This effect can be
increased by the following medicines, which can also lower potassium in
the blood:
* xanthine derivates, such as theophylline or aminophylline
* corticosteroids, such as beclometasone and prednisolone
* other beta 2 agonists, such as salmeterol
* diuretics, such as bendroflumethiazide and furosemide.
This
is why people with severe asthma or COPD, who may be taking several of
these medicines, should have their blood potassium levels monitored
regularly.