Ventolin

What is Ventolin?

How to use Ventolin

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 an 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).

Side effects & precautions

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 “preventer” 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 breastfeeding, 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 an 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 effects 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.

Documentation