Ventolin Respirator Solution 5 mg/ml
salbutamol sulphate
Read all of this leaflet carefully before you start taking this medicine.
- Keep this leaflet. You may need to read it again.
- If you have any further questions, ask your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.
- This medicine has been prescribed for you. Do not pass it on to others. It may harm them, even if their symptoms are the same as yours.
- If any of the side effects get serious, or if you notice any side effects not listed in this leaflet, please tell your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.
In this leaflet:
- 1 What Ventolin Respirator Solution is and what it is used for
- 2 Before you take Ventolin Respirator Solution
- 3 How to take Ventolin Respirator Solution
- 4 Possible side effects
- 5 How to store Ventolin Respirator Solution
- 6 Further information
What Ventolin Respirator Solution is and what it is used for
Ventolin Respirator Solution contains a medicine called salbutamol. This belongs to a group of medicines called bronchodilators.
- Bronchodilators help the airways in your lungs to stay open. This makes it easier for air to get in and out.
- They help to relieve chest tightness, wheezing and cough.
Ventolin Respirator Solution is used to treat breathing problems in people with asthma and other chest illnesses. It is usually given to people who suffer quite badly from these conditions when other forms of treatment do not help enough. Ventolin Respirator Solution is also used to treat severe attacks of asthma.
Ventolin Respirator Solution must only be used by inhalation from a nebuliser and must not be injected or swallowed.
Before you take Ventolin Respirator Solution
Do not take Ventolin Respirator Solution if:
- you are allergic (hypersensitive) to salbutamol sulphate or any of the other ingredients of Ventolin Respirator Solution (listed in Section 6).
Take special care with Ventolin Respirator Solution
Check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist before taking your medicine if:
- you have high blood pressure
- you are diabetic
- you have an overactive thyroid gland
- you have a history of heart problems such as an irregular or fast heartbeat or angina.
- you use another nebuliser solution e.g. ipratropium bromide, make sure the mist does not get in your eyes. This can be prevented by using a mouthpiece instead of a face mask or goggles.
Taking other medicines
Please tell your doctor, nurse or pharmacist if you are taking or have recently taken any other medicines, including medicines obtained without a prescription. This includes herbal medicines. Remember to take this medicine with you if you go to hospital.
In particular tell your doctor, nurse or pharmacist if you are taking:
- medicines for an irregular or fast heartbeat
- other medicines for your asthma.
Taking Ventolin Respirator Solution with food and drink
You can take Ventolin Respirator Solution at any time of day, with or without food.
Pregnancy and breast-feeding
Tell your doctor before taking this medicine if you are pregnant, might become pregnant or are breast-feeding.
Driving and using machines
Ventolin is not likely to affect you being able to drive or use any tools or machines.
How to take Ventolin Respirator Solution
- Ventolin Respirator Solution must only be used by inhalation from a nebuliser, and must not be injected or swallowed. The nebuliser produces a fine mist which you breathe in through a face mask or a mouthpiece. Make sure that you know how to use it properly. If you have problems ask your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.
- Do not let the Ventolin Respirator Solution, or the mist produced by the nebuliser, get into your eyes.
- Use your nebuliser in a well ventilated room as some of the mist will be released into the air and may be breathed in by others.
- Make sure you know how, when and how much solution you should use. Follow your doctor’s instructions carefully. If you are not sure, ask your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.
Your doctor may have prescribed either intermittent (occasional short bursts) or continuous treatment with Ventolin Respirator Solution.
Intermittent treatment
- Adults - The usual dose is 0.5 ml to 1 ml of Ventolin Respirator Solution (2.5 to 5 mg salbutamol). Some patients may require up to 2 ml (10 mg salbutamol).
- Children under 12 - The usual dose is 0.5 ml to 1 ml (2.5 to 5 mg salbutamol) of Ventolin Respirator Solution.
- This is usually given four times a day.
Your doctor may have told you to dilute the Ventolin Respirator Solution with a sterile normal saline solution before using it in the nebuliser. Remember to follow the instructions for dilution.
Continuous treatment
- The usual dose is 1 to 2 mg of salbutamol per hour.
- This dose can be obtained by diluting 1 or 2 ml of Ventolin Respirator Solution to 100 ml with sterile normal saline solution to produce a solution containing 50 or 100 micrograms/ml of salbutamol, and inhaling the mist from a suitable nebuliser.
How to use your Ventolin Respirator Solution
- 1 Prepare the nebuliser for filling.
- 2 Measure out the right quantity of Ventolin Respirator Solution and put it in the nebuliser bowl.
- 3 Add the right amount of sterile normal saline solution (make sure your doctor has told you how much to use).
- 4 Put the top on the nebuliser bowl and shake it gently to mix the contents.
- 5 Assemble the nebuliser and use it as directed.
- 6 After use throw away any solution remaining in the nebuliser bowl. Clean your nebuliser in the recommended way.
If you take more Ventolin Respirator Solution than you should
If you take more than you should, talk to a doctor as soon as possible. The following effects may happen:
- your heart beating faster than usual
- you feel shaky.
These effects usually wear off in a few hours.
If you forget to take Ventolin Respirator Solution
- If you forget a dose, take it as soon as you remember it.
- However, if it is time for the next dose, skip the missed dose.
- Do not take a double dose to make up for a forgotten dose.
If you stop taking Ventolin Respirator Solution
Do not stop taking Ventolin Respirator Solution without talking to your doctor.
If you have any further questions on the use of this product, ask your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.
Possible side effects
If your breathing or wheezing gets worse straight after taking this medicine, stop using it immediately, and tell your doctor as soon as possible.
Like all medicines, Ventolin Respirator Solution can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them. The following side effects may happen with this medicine:
Allergic Reactions (affects less than 1 in 10,000 people)
If you have an allergic reaction, stop taking Ventolin and see a doctor straight away. Signs of an allergic reaction include: swelling of the face, lips, mouth, tongue or throat which may cause difficulty in swallowing or breathing, itchy rash, feeling faint and light headed, and collapse.
Talk to your doctor as soon as possible if:
- you feel your heart is beating faster or stronger than usual (palpitations). This is usually harmless, and usually stops after you have used the medicine for a while
- you may feel your heartbeat is uneven or it gives an extra beat
- these affect less than 1 in 10 people.
If any of these happen to you, talk to your doctor as soon as possible. Do not stop using this medicine unless told to do so.
Tell your doctor if you have any of the following side effects which may also happen with this medicine:
Common (affects less than 1 in 10 people)
- feeling shaky
- headache.
Uncommon (affects less than 1 in 100 people)
- mouth and throat irritation
- muscle cramps.
Rare (affects less than 1 in 1,000 people)
- a low level of potassium in your blood
- increased blood flow to your extremities (peripheral dilatation).
Very rare (affects less than 1 in 10,000 people)
- changes in sleep patterns and changes in behaviour, such as restlessness and excitability.
The following side effects can also happen but the frequency of these are not known:
- chest pain, due to heart problems such as angina. Tell your doctor, nurse or pharmacist if this occurs. Do not stop using this medicine unless told to do so.
- a condition known as lactic acidosis which may cause stomach pain, hyperventilation, shortness of breath, cold feet and hands, irregular heartbeat or thirst.
If any of the side effects gets serious, or if you notice any side effects not listed in this leaflet, please tell your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.
If you think this medicine is not working well enough for you
If your medicine does not seem to be working as well as usual, talk to your doctor as soon as possible. Your chest problem may be getting worse and you may need a different medicine. Do not take extra Ventolin unless your doctor tells you to.
How to store Ventolin Respirator Solution
- Keep out of the reach and sight of children.
- Do not store above 25°C. Keep the bottle in the outer carton in order to protect from light.
- Do not leave solution in your nebuliser once you have finished a treatment.
- After opening the bottle:
- note the day of opening.
- add 4 weeks to this date. This will be the ‘discard after’ date.
- write the ‘discard after’ date in the space provided on the label.
- do not use any unused Ventolin Respirator Solution after the ‘discard after’ date but return it to your pharmacist for destruction.
- If the bottle has not been opened, do not use the solution after the expiry date which is stated on the bottle label and carton after ‘EXP’. The date refers to the last day of that month.
- If you are told to stop taking this medicine return any unused Ventolin Respirator Solution to your pharmacist to be destroyed.
Medicines should not be disposed of via wastewater or household waste. Ask your pharmacist how to dispose of medicines no longer required. These measures will help protect the environment.
Further information
What Ventolin Respirator Solution contains
- The active substance is salbutamol sulphate.
- The other ingredients are water, benzalkonium chloride and sulphuric acid.
- Each 20 ml bottle contains 100 mg of salbutamol sulphate.
What Ventolin Respirator Solution looks like and contents of the pack
Ventolin Respirator Solution comes in an amber coloured glass bottle containing 20 ml. The solution is colourless to light yellow in colour.
Marketing Authorisation Holder
Manufacturer
Other formats:
To listen to or request a copy of this leaflet in Braille, large print or audio please call, free of charge:
0800 198 5000 (UK only)
Please be ready to give the following information:
Product Name Ventolin Respirator Solution
Reference number 10949/0244
This is a service provided by the Royal National Institute of Blind People.
Leaflet date: January 2008
Ventolin is a trademark of the GlaxoSmithKline group of companies
© 2008 GlaxoSmithKline group of companies
10000000060896
No comments:
Post a Comment