Ventolin
albuterol
Ventolin inhaler eases the breathing difficulty. The drug is mainly used when you have tight chest or suffering from wheezing.
Drug Action
Ventolin inhaler helps in opening the breathing tubes in the lungs, hence the name bronchodilator. As the drug provides instant relief from chest tightness, the drug is mainly used as a reliever puff. Ventolin inhaler is also of great use in exercise-induced asthma. In this case 1 or puffs of ventolin inhaler eases breathing trouble.
Precautions
Before you start using Ventolin inhaler, it is recommended telling your doctor,
- If you are allergic to one or more ingredients of the drug
- The medicines, which you are already taking for different illnesses
- If you had to stop any medications for asthma
- If you are suffering from food or drug allergy
- If you are under thyroid treatment, or blood pressure treatment
- If you suffer from heart, kidney or liver dysfunction
- The drug also must not be used if you are allergic to salbutamol
- It is wise to mention your doctor if your are breast feeding
- Ventolin inhaler should not be used to control premature labor pain
Drug Administration
Ventolin inhaler should be used exactly as instructed by the doctor or as mentioned in the drug leaflet. The leaflet provides all the information regarding the number of puffs you have to take for different ailments. However, it is wise to consult doctor if your symptoms get worse even after administering the recommended puffs.
Safety Information
It is wise to immediately contact the doctor if you find it difficult to breathe after puffing with the inhaler or if the effect of the inhaler does not last for more than 3 hours, or if the inhaler does not help you in breathing as it usually will.
Ventolin inhaler Side Effects
Some of the side effects of Ventolin inhaler include:
- Headache
- Nausea
- Shaking or tensed feeling
- Fast heart beats than usual
- Feeling of warm due to expanding blood vessels under the skin
- Irritation of mouth or throat
Some of the rare side-effects include:
- Muscle cramps
- Hyperactive children
- Skin rashes
- Angioedema occurs due to sudden swelling under the skin
- Breath shortness
- Wheezing
- Faint or dizzy feeling
- Changes in blood potassium level
In such cases, you should stop using your Ventolin inhaler and tell your doctor or pharmacist immediately.
Drug Overdose
In case of drug overdose or too many puffs, contact your nearest emergency care center.
Drug Storage
Ventolin inhaler is stored at temperatures between 20 to 25 degree Celsius. Storage temperature between 15 to 30 degree Celsius is also broadly accepted. The drug should be stored away from direct heat, sunlight and moisture. Keep away from pets and children.
In some cases, when the inhaler becomes very cold, the metal can can be pulled from the plastic holder and warmed in the palms before using it for puffing. The can should not be warmed directly.
Expired inhaler cans should be disposed off carefully.
Glaxo Wellcome Inhaler
Glaxo Wellcome inhalers are designed to puff only a metered dose of the medication till the cans are completely empty.
The remaining dose in the can be calculated by approximating the number of doses used in the can. Galxo welcome inhaler cans have approximately 10%more active doses than other brands.
Inhaler floating in water is not the correct method to determine the number of left doses in the can, as water could enter the canister and affect the dose accuracy.
The can also should not be punctured or heated as they are pressurizes and can lead to accidents.
Missed Dose
If you happen to miss a dose, then take it next time when you have wheezing trouble ot chest tightness.
Additional Information
The active drug in Ventolin inhaler is salbutamol. One puff releases approximately 100 to 200 micrograms of the drug. The inhaler is available in the form of 200 puffs and 100 puffs can. The inhaler also contains dichlorodifluoromethane, trichlorofluoromethane, oleic acid.
