Drug Name

Ventolin (Albuterol/Salbutamol)

Drug Uses

Ventolin is used to treat people with asthma as well as other chest illnesses. It is particularly prescribed to relieve asthma symptoms, as well as to halt asthma symptoms brought on by exercise or other triggers.

How Taken

To treat asthma symptoms such as wheezing, breathlessness as well as tightness in your chest, a usual dose is:

• Adults: One or two puffs to relieve symptoms or two puffs 10-15 minutes before exercise or exposure to a trigger.
• Children: One or two puffs to relieve symptoms or 10-15 minutes before exercise or exposure to a trigger.

Usually the most you would take in a 24-hour period is 8 puffs.

For normal treatment:

• Adults as well as children: Two puffs up to 4 times a day.

Drug Class as well as Mechanism

Ventolin contains the active ingredient Salbutamol, which is a type of medicine known as a short-acting beta 2 agonist. It works by acting on receptors in the lungs called beta 2 receptors. Stimulation of these receptors causes the muscles in the airways to relax, allowing the airways to unfastened.

Missed Dose

Incase you miss a dose, take it as soon as you can. Incase it is almost time for your next dose, take only that dose. Do not take double or extra doses.

Storage

Store at the room temperature away from moisture as well as sunlight. Keep out of the reach of children.

Warnings/Precautions

Do not exceed the dose of Ventolin that your doctor has prescribed you to take.

Incase your inhaler doesn't relieve wheezing or chest tightness as well as usual, or for as extended as usual, or you need to take it more often than usual, you should consult your doctor as soon as likely. It may be that your asthma or COPD is getting worse as well as your doctor may need to give you another medicine. The alike applies incase you are using Ventolin by mouth or nebuliser as well as it doesn't seem to be working as well.

Inhalers may cause an unexpected increase in wheezing (paradoxical bronchospasm) aligned after using them. Incase this happens, halt using the inhaler immediately as well as consult your doctor. The medicine should be stopped as well as an alternative treatment found.

People with very bad asthma should possess normal blood tests to monitor the amount of potassium in their blood. This is because abridged oxygen levels in the blood (hypoxia) as well as various asthma medicines, including this one, can lower blood potassium levels.

Likely Side Effects

Most people do not possess any problems when using this medicine.

• Some people may feel a bit shaky or possess a headache.
• Some people who are unusually sensitive may notice that their heart is beating faster and/or more forcefully than usual. This awareness of their heart beating is called palpitations, is normally harmless, as well as usually passes off as treatment continues. Some may notice that their heartbeat becomes uneven or their heart gives an extra beat. Tell your doctor as soon as likely, but do not halt using this medicine unless told to do so.
• Mouth or throat irritation sometimes occurs with inhaled Ventolin.
• Muscle cramps possess as well as been reported, although uncommon.
• Very rarely Ventolin may cause allergic reactions.
• Ventolin may affect the salt balance of the body, although this is rare.
• Patients using this medicine may become restless or excitable although this is very rare.

Incase you feel unwell or notice anything unusual or which you do not understand, tell your doctor as soon as likely.

More Information

Ventolin should not be used with beta-blockers, such as atenolol, propranolol or timolol. This is because beta-blockers possess an unlike action to this medicine as well as cause the airways to close. 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.