Ventolin

Ventolin Evohaler is a “reliever” inhaler. The active ingredient is salbutamol, an asthma medicine, which opens up the airways. Salbutamol has a quick effect and a short duration of action (4 to 6 hours).

Ventolin Evohaler (Salbutamol) is used to relieve symptoms of asthma and other asthma-like conditions such as chest tightness, wheezing and coughing in adults and children aged 4 years and over. It is also used for prevention of asthma symptoms brought on by exercise or a known allergen exposure that cannot be avoided.

See “Instructions for using your Ventolin inhaler at the end of the patient Information Leaflet, available for download.

IMPORTANT-contact your doctor immediately if:

• you need to use this “reliever” inhaler more often than usual
• you need to use your “reliever” more than twice a week
• your wheeziness or chest tightness is worse than usual.

The recommended dose for Ventolin Evohaler 100 mcg is:

Adults, Older people and Adolescents aged 12 years and over:

For the relief of symptoms of acute asthma attack and intermittent asthma the starting dose is one puff (100mcg) that may be increased to two puffs (200mcg).

To prevent symptoms before exercise or contact with whatever triggers your asthma attack the starting dose is two puffs (200mcg) that may be increased to four puffs (400mcg).

Warnings and precautions

Talk to your doctor, if you have any of the following:

• any diseases affecting the heart or blood vessels
• any infection in your lungs
• overactivity of the thyroid gland
• low levels of potassium in your blood
• diabetes
• hereditary problems of galactose intolerance, the Lapp lactase deficiency or glucose-galactose malabsorption, you should not take this medicine.

Other medicines and Ventolin Evohaler

It is important to tell your doctor if you are currently taking any of the following medicines:

• medicines for your breathing problems for example theophylline or aminophylline (xanthines)
• corticosteroids
• beta-blockers for your blood pressure e.g. propranolol
• medicines for depression
• water tablets (diuretics) and other medicines for heart problems

If you already use “preventor” medication e.g. inhaled corticosteroid, it is important to continue using it regularly, even if you feel better.

Pregnancy and breast-feeding

Ventolin Evohaler should not be used if you are pregnant or breast-feeding, think you may be pregnant or are planning to have a baby, unless you are advised to do so by your doctor. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice before taking this medicine.

Ventolin Evohaler contains lactose

Lactose contains small amounts of milk proteins, which may cause allergic reaction. If you have been told that you do not tolerate certain kinds of sugars, contact your doctor before taking this medicine. The amount of lactose in Ventolin Evohaler (less than 10 mg per dose) does not normally cause problems in lactose intolerant people.

Side effects

Like all medicines, this medicine can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them.

Common side effects

• feeling a bit shaky
• increased or uneven heart rate
• increased blood flow to your extremities

Uncommon side effects

• headache.

Rare side effects

• cough, mouth and throat irritation (these may be prevented by rinsing the mouth with water and spitting it out after inhalation)
• decrease in the level of potassium in your blood
• muscle cramps
• restlessness, dizziness, behavioural difficulties.

Reporting of side effects

If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor or pharmacist. This includes any possible side effects not listed in this leaflet. You can also report side effect directly via the Yellow Card Scheme at: www.mhra.gov.uk/yellowcard. By reporting side effects you can help provide more information on the safety of this medicine.

Ventolin inhaler is used during medical conditions like asthma. When a person has breathing difficulty or a short term asthma attack, Ventolin inhaler can be helpful to ease these symptoms. This asthma inhaler compromises the active ingredient known as Salbutamol. 

Salbutamol works effectively when the affected person inhales it through their airways. It relaxed small and medium airway structures from spasm, thereby opening them up.

Ventolin Evohaler is a well-known brand. The inhaler  is used to cure asthmatic episodes. It is a blue inhaler, after each squeeze of the pump a certain amount of its active ingredient Salbutamol is released as an aerosol. 

The prescribed dose for Ventolin is one or two puffs, depending on the intensity of asthma episode. One dose of inhaler can be effective for 6 hours. The direct action into the airways and the immediate effects of salbutamol bring rapid relief.

Salbutamol should be inhaled on the “as required” basis. It is usually taken during the asthma episode and it should not be taken regularly.

Other names:

Ventolin Evohaler  is also named as  the ‘blue inhaler’ It is also called as ‘Albuterol’ and ‘Salbutamol’. Blue inhaler is also identified as a reliever inhaler.

Ventolin should not be used without a doctor’s or health professional’ prescription. The amount of dosage will vary between patients and should be adjusted according to your response.

This inhaler has a blue case packaging and that is why it is commonly called the blue inhaler among users.

You can buy Ventolin inhaler easily from AccessDoctor. It can be shipped to you most days of the week. It is important to provide a prescription but if you do not have a prescription you can be contacted with our prescriber service that can help you find the right direction.

Before using the inhaler, shake the canister and then breathe out before putting the mouthpiece in your mouth. Slowly breathe while pushing the canister down and hold your breath for 10 seconds. After that you can slowly exhale. It is only for inhalation purpose and should not be taken otherwise. 

It is important to clean the inhaler and avoid any residues from entering it. Before using it, run warm water on the outside and shake it well. Always store by putting on the mouthpiece cap. When running the warm water outside the canister, do not forget to remove the excessive amount of water. The canister should be completely dry before you put the inhaler back.

If the inhaler is not in use for a long time, it is important to shake it and then release a few puffs of drug into air. This process is known as priming. It is important to maintain a regular time difference between two doses. In case one dose is missed, it can be taken anytime. But if you remember the missed dose near the time of second dose, it should be skipped or otherwise it can double the amount of dose intake and can be harmful.

Ventolin and Salbutamol are a same drug. But there is a price difference because Salbutamol is a generic drug and Ventolin is branded, like all things, Branded products are dearer.

On the basis of medical and chemical composition, there are no differences between the inhalers. Ventolin is more expensive than Salbutamol. It is because Ventolin is branded and Salbutamol is a generic drug.

The Salbutamol inhaler is sold in different sizes and the amount of doses depends on the size of inhaler. AccessDoctor sell the size of inhaler that contains 200 doses. It means a total of 200 puffs can be inhaled from one inhaler.

A Salbutamol inhaler should be used only during an asthma attack or episode. It is not suggested to take it on a regular basis. It should be inhaled when asthma symptoms appear. Exercise induced patients can take it before any sporting activities. If any asthma triggers are present,  it is safe to take a dose of Salbutamol inhaler. All the dosages should be taken according to doctor’s prescription.