What Salamol (salbutamol) is, how it compares with Ventolin, how many puffs to take, how to use it with a spacer, side effects, the Easi-Breathe version, and when to get your asthma reviewed.
Part of our asthma guide: symptoms, triggers and treatment.
Asthma attack? Get help now. Call 999 if your reliever isn’t helping, you’re too breathless to speak, eat or sleep, your breathing is getting faster, or your lips or fingertips are turning blue or grey. While you wait, sit up straight and take 1 puff of your blue reliever every 30 to 60 seconds, up to 10 puffs, through a spacer if you have one. If the ambulance hasn’t arrived after 10 minutes, repeat. Don’t complete an online consultation in an emergency.
Quick answer: Salamol is a blue reliever inhaler containing salbutamol, 100 micrograms per puff, the same medicine and dose as Ventolin. It opens the airways within about 5 minutes and lasts 4 to 6 hours. The usual dose is 1 or 2 puffs when needed, no more than 8 in 24 hours, ideally through a spacer. There’s also a breath-actuated version, Salamol Easi-Breathe. Needing a reliever more than twice a week means your asthma needs a review.
Already prescribed Salamol? See our Salamol inhaler or all our asthma inhalers online.
Order Your Usual Reliever Inhaler
Access Doctor is a GPhC-registered pharmacy (#9011198). If you’re an adult with diagnosed asthma or COPD, a pharmacist independent prescriber reviews your online consultation and supplies your usual inhaler if it’s safe, and we let your GP know. Approved before 3pm, Monday to Friday? Dispatched the same day, by Royal Mail Tracked 48, Tracked 24 or Special Delivery guaranteed by 1pm next working day: you choose. Delivery is free on orders over £40.
Start Asthma Consultation →Who our online service is for. Access Doctor supplies asthma and COPD inhalers to adults aged 18 and over who already have a diagnosis, for the same inhaler, strength and dose they’re prescribed now, and we share the consultation with your GP. We can’t diagnose asthma or start or change treatment online. Children’s inhalers are managed by their GP or asthma nurse.
What Is Salamol?
Salamol is a blue reliever inhaler made by Teva (formerly Ivax). It contains salbutamol, a short-acting beta-2 agonist (SABA) that relaxes the muscle around the airways so they open up and you can breathe more easily. It starts working within about 5 minutes and lasts 4 to 6 hours.
The standard Salamol inhaler is a pressurised aerosol (metered-dose) inhaler, CFC-free, giving 100 micrograms per puff, with 200 puffs per inhaler. On prescriptions it’s often written as “Salamol 100micrograms/dose inhaler CFC free”; older labels may say Ivax, the company that used to make it.
Salamol is a reliever, not a preventer. It relieves symptoms quickly but doesn’t treat the inflammation behind asthma. Since 2024, UK guidance says no one with asthma should rely on a blue reliever alone; most adults also need a preventer inhaler or a combination inhaler.
Salamol vs Ventolin: Key Differences
| Salamol inhaler | Ventolin Evohaler | Salamol Easi-Breathe | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Medicine and dose | Salbutamol 100mcg per puff | Salbutamol 100mcg per puff | Salbutamol 100mcg per puff |
| Puffs per inhaler | 200 | 200 | 200 |
| Made by | Teva | GSK | Teva |
| Device | Aerosol: press as you breathe in | Aerosol: press as you breathe in | Breath-actuated: fires as you breathe in |
| Use with a spacer | Yes (recommended) | Yes (recommended) | No |
| Dose counter | No | No | No |
| How well it works | The same: the medicine and dose are identical | ||
Salamol also has a lower carbon footprint than Ventolin, because it contains less propellant. If you’d like to switch, ask your GP or asthma nurse at your next review. Our guide to what Ventolin is used for covers Ventolin in detail.
Reliever · Rx
Salamol 100mcg inhaler
Salbutamol aerosol (CFC-free), 200 puffs. From £13.99.
View product →Reliever · Rx
Ventolin Evohaler 100mcg
The same medicine, salbutamol, from GSK. 200 puffs. From £8.99.
View product →Device
AeroChamber Plus adult spacer
Fits Salamol and Ventolin; gets more of each puff to your lungs. £9.99.
View product →Combination · Rx
Symbicort Turbohaler
Steroid and formoterol in one; used as AIR or MART instead of a blue reliever.
View product →Salamol Easi-Breathe
Salamol Easi-Breathe contains the same medicine and dose in a breath-actuated device: it fires automatically when you breathe in, so there’s no canister to press. It can help people who find it hard to time a press with their breath, or who have weak hands. It can’t be used with a spacer.
Access Doctor supplies the standard Salamol aerosol inhaler. If you’re prescribed the Easi-Breathe, your GP or local pharmacy can supply it; don’t switch between the two without checking your technique with a pharmacist or asthma nurse.
How Does a Breath-Actuated Inhaler Work?
Inside a breath-actuated inhaler, a spring-loaded mechanism is primed when you open the cap (Easi-Breathe) or lift the lever (Autohaler). When you breathe in through the mouthpiece, the airflow releases the mechanism and the canister fires a puff into your breath. Most people, even when breathless, can breathe in hard enough to trigger it.
Key point: with a breath-actuated inhaler you don’t press the canister; you breathe in steadily and keep going after the click. With the standard Salamol inhaler, you do press, as you start to breathe in, or use a spacer so timing doesn’t matter.
Salamol Dosage
How many puffs of Salamol can I take? Usually 1 or 2 puffs when you have symptoms, up to 8 puffs in 24 hours. In an asthma attack, follow the NHS steps below or your action plan.
| Use | Dose | How often |
|---|---|---|
| Relief of symptoms | 1 or 2 puffs | When needed; no more than 8 puffs in 24 hours |
| Before exercise or a known trigger | 2 puffs | 10 to 15 minutes beforehand, if your GP or asthma nurse has advised it |
| Asthma attack | 1 puff every 30 to 60 seconds, up to 10 puffs | Through a spacer if you have one; call 999 if not better or worse at any point (NHS) |
If you need Salamol more than twice a week (apart from before exercise), wake at night with asthma, or use 3 or more reliever inhalers a year, your asthma isn’t controlled. See your GP or asthma nurse about a preventer or combination inhaler; our asthma inhalers guide explains the options.
In an asthma attack, a standard aerosol reliever such as Salamol or Ventolin through a spacer gets the most medicine into your lungs. Keep your spacer with your inhaler. Our asthma attack guide explains the steps.
How to Use Salamol Correctly
The standard Salamol inhaler, ideally with a spacer:
1
Remove the cap and shake
Shake the inhaler well. If it’s new or hasn’t been used for a while, test-spray it into the air as the leaflet describes.
2
Breathe out gently
Breathe out away from the mouthpiece.
3
Seal and press as you breathe in
Close your lips around the mouthpiece (or the spacer). Start breathing in slowly and steadily, and press the canister once as you do. With a spacer, press once, then breathe in slowly, or take 4 or 5 normal breaths through it.
4
Hold your breath
Hold for up to 10 seconds, or as long as is comfortable, then breathe out slowly.
5
Wait before a second puff
Wait about 30 seconds, shake again and repeat. Put the cap back on, and clean the mouthpiece at least once a week as the leaflet describes.
Using a Salamol Easi-Breathe? Shake it, open the cap, breathe out away from the mouthpiece, then breathe in slowly and deeply, keeping going after the click; hold your breath for up to 10 seconds, then close the cap. Our guide to how to use an asthma inhaler shows each device step by step.
Who Is Salamol For?
Salamol and Ventolin are interchangeable medicines, so the choice is mostly about the device and preference:
- The standard Salamol inhaler suits anyone who uses an aerosol reliever, especially with a spacer, and has a lower carbon footprint than Ventolin
- Salamol Easi-Breathe may suit people who struggle to time a press with their breath, including some older people or people with arthritis, and don’t want to carry a spacer
- An aerosol with a spacer is preferred when someone is very breathless or during an attack
- A combination inhaler used as AIR or MART is now the first choice for most adults with asthma under UK guidance, instead of a blue reliever on its own
Side Effects and Cautions
Salamol’s side effects are the same as Ventolin’s. The most common are shaking (usually in the hands), headache and a faster heartbeat, which usually wear off within minutes. Less often, people get palpitations or muscle cramps. They’re more noticeable after several puffs, for example in an attack.
- Stop and get urgent help if your wheezing gets worse straight after a puff, or you get chest pain or a very irregular heartbeat
- Tell the prescriber if you have heart disease, an overactive thyroid, diabetes or low potassium, or take beta-blockers (including some eye drops), which can block salbutamol
- Pregnancy and breastfeeding: the NHS says salbutamol can be used in pregnancy and while breastfeeding; see our asthma in pregnancy guide
You can report side effects to the MHRA through the Yellow Card scheme.
Getting Salamol Online
Can you buy Salamol over the counter? No. Salamol is a prescription-only medicine in the UK. Access Doctor is a GPhC-registered pharmacy (registration number 9011198). If you’re an adult with diagnosed asthma or COPD and already use Salamol, you can order the same inhaler after an online consultation; a pharmacist independent prescriber checks it’s safe, and we share the consultation with your GP. Approved before 3pm, Monday to Friday? Dispatched the same day, by Royal Mail Tracked 48, Tracked 24 or Special Delivery guaranteed by 1pm next working day: you choose. Delivery is free on orders over £40.
See our guide to ordering an asthma inhaler online for how the service works.
Safety, your GP and free NHS options
Salamol and other asthma inhalers are prescription-only medicines in the UK. Before anything is supplied, a GPhC-registered pharmacist independent prescriber reviews your consultation, including the other medicines you take; some, such as beta-blockers, can make asthma worse.
- Relievers on their own: since 2024, UK guidance (NICE, BTS and SIGN) says no one with asthma should be treated with a reliever alone, and in April 2025 the MHRA told prescribers not to prescribe one without an inhaled steroid to people of any age with asthma. If you don’t use a preventer, we can supply a reliever once and will ask you to see your GP or asthma nurse.
- How many: up to 2 reliever inhalers per order. If you’ve needed 3 or more in the last 12 months, we’ll ask you to have an asthma review first; needing that many is linked to a higher risk of severe attacks.
- Read the leaflet in the pack, and ask a pharmacist or asthma nurse to check your technique.
- Report side effects to a pharmacist or doctor. You can also report them to the MHRA through the Yellow Card scheme.
We share your consultation with your GP because asthma needs ongoing care. Access Doctor is a private service, and there are free NHS options:
- Your GP practice: asthma reviews (at least once a year) and repeat prescriptions; many practices let you order repeats through the NHS App.
- Prescription charges: NHS prescriptions are free in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. In England a charge applies unless you’re exempt, and a prepayment certificate can save money if you need several items.
- Urgent advice: NHS 111 (NHS 24 on 111 in Scotland), or 999 in an emergency.
Need Your Usual Inhaler?
Access Doctor is a GPhC-registered pharmacy (#9011198). If you’re an adult with diagnosed asthma or COPD, a pharmacist independent prescriber reviews your online consultation and supplies your usual inhaler if it’s safe, and we let your GP know. Approved before 3pm, Monday to Friday? Dispatched the same day, by Royal Mail Tracked 48, Tracked 24 or Special Delivery guaranteed by 1pm next working day: you choose. Delivery is free on orders over £40.
Start Asthma Consultation →Frequently Asked Questions
What is Salamol Easi-Breathe?
Salamol Easi-Breathe is a breath-actuated version of Salamol. It contains the same medicine, 100 micrograms of salbutamol per puff, but the inhaler fires automatically when you breathe in, so you don’t have to press the canister and time your breath. Access Doctor supplies the standard Salamol inhaler (an aerosol you press, usually used with a spacer). If you’re prescribed the Easi-Breathe, your GP or pharmacy can supply it.
What is the difference between Salamol and Ventolin?
Both contain 100 micrograms of salbutamol per puff, work in the same way and at the same speed, and hold 200 puffs. Salamol is made by Teva and Ventolin Evohaler by GSK; the inhalers look and feel slightly different, and Salamol has a lower carbon footprint because it contains less propellant. Neither has a dose counter. If you want to switch, ask a prescriber to check the inhaler suits you.
How does a breath-actuated inhaler work?
A breath-actuated inhaler, such as Salamol Easi-Breathe or the Qvar Autohaler, has a mechanism that senses when you start to breathe in and releases the puff automatically. That removes the need to press the canister at exactly the right moment, the most common mistake with a standard aerosol. They can’t be used with a spacer. Our guide to how to use an asthma inhaler covers every type.
What is the dose of Salamol Easi-Breathe?
The dose is the same for Salamol Easi-Breathe and the standard Salamol inhaler: 1 or 2 puffs when you have symptoms, and no more than 8 puffs in 24 hours. Before exercise, 2 puffs 10 to 15 minutes beforehand if your GP has advised it. In an asthma attack, follow your action plan or the NHS steps: 1 puff every 30 to 60 seconds, up to 10 puffs, and call 999 if you’re not better or feel worse. Needing it more than twice a week means your asthma needs a review.
Can I use a spacer with Salamol Easi-Breathe?
No. The Easi-Breathe fires as you breathe in, so it isn’t used with a spacer. The standard Salamol inhaler, which Access Doctor supplies, can be used with a spacer such as the AeroChamber Plus, and that’s recommended, especially during an asthma attack.
Is Salamol available on the NHS?
Yes. Salamol is available on NHS prescription from your GP. Access Doctor (GPhC reg. no. 9011198) can also supply it to adults with diagnosed asthma or COPD who already use it, after an online consultation with a pharmacist independent prescriber, and we share it with your GP. NHS prescriptions are free in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Is Salamol the same as Ivax Salamol?
Yes. Salamol used to be made by Ivax, which is now part of Teva, so older prescriptions and labels may say Ivax. The medicine and dose, 100 micrograms of salbutamol per puff, are the same. On prescriptions it’s often written as “Salamol 100micrograms/dose inhaler CFC free”.
How do I know when my Salamol inhaler is running out?
The Salamol inhaler has no dose counter. It holds 200 puffs, so keep a note of how many you use and order a new one in good time. Shaking it, judging its weight or floating the canister in water aren’t reliable ways to check. If you’re getting through inhalers quickly, your asthma needs a review.
For symptoms, triggers and how asthma is diagnosed, see our asthma guide.
References
- Electronic Medicines Compendium. Salamol 100 micrograms CFC-free pressurised inhalation suspension: Summary of Product Characteristics. medicines.org.uk
- Electronic Medicines Compendium. Salamol Easi-Breathe: Summary of Product Characteristics. medicines.org.uk
- NICE, BTS and SIGN. Asthma: diagnosis, monitoring and chronic asthma management (NG245), November 2024. nice.org.uk
- MHRA Drug Safety Update. Short-acting beta-2 agonists (SABA): reminder of the risks from overuse in asthma and changes in the SABA prescribing guidelines, April 2025. gov.uk
- NHS. Asthma attack. nhs.uk
- NHS. Salbutamol inhaler. nhs.uk
Medical disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional for diagnosis and treatment. In a medical emergency, call 999.