Consumer Medicine Information
Serevent™ Inhaler
Salmeterol xinafoate 25µg per actuation
Please read all of this leaflet carefully before you take your medicine
What is in this leaflet
This leaflet answers some common questions about Serevent Inhaler. It does not contain all of the available information.
It does not take the place of talking to your doctor or pharmacist (also known as a chemist).
All medicines have benefits and risks. Sometimes new risks are found even when a medicine has been used for many years. Your doctor has weighed the risks of you using Serevent Inhaler against the expected benefits it will have for you.
If you have any concerns about taking this medicine, or experience any difficulties during or after using this medicine, tell your doctor or pharmacist.
This medicine is only one part of a general plan to help you manage your asthma. You should discuss this plan with your doctor. Your doctor should check the treatment of your asthma regularly.
Keep this leaflet with your Serevent Inhaler. You may need to read it again.
What Serevent Inhaler is used for
The medicine in Serevent Inhaler is known as a bronchodilator. A bronchodilator keeps the breathing tubes in your lungs open and relieves the symptoms of asthma and other chest conditions. When used as your doctor has told you, Serevent Inhaler helps you to breathe more easily. Serevent gives relief, for up to twelve hours, from chest tightness or wheeze due to asthma, or other chest conditions in adults namely chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). You should use Serevent Inhaler regularly every day, twice daily, in the morning and in the evening.
The medicine in Serevent Inhaler does not start working as quickly as a 'reliever puffer' such as Ventolin. You should always carry a 'reliever puffer' with you. If you have an asthma attack, use your 'reliever puffer', not your Serevent Inhaler.
If you have asthma, your doctor will tell you to use a 'preventer' medicine regularly every day as well as Serevent Inhaler. If you have COPD, your doctor will advise you what other medicines to take.
The medicine in Serevent Inhaler is not addictive.
Before you use Serevent Inhaler
When you must NOT use it
- Do not use Serevent Inhaler if you are allergic to salmeterol xinafoate or any of the other ingredients listed at the end of this leaflet.
- Do not use Serevent Inhaler if you are pregnant, trying to become pregnant or breast feeding, unless your doctor says you should. It is important that your asthma or chest condition is managed well during pregnancy and you should not stop your medicine without asking your doctor.
- Do not use your Serevent Inhaler after the expiry or "use by" date (EXP) printed on the pack.
- Do not use Serevent Inhaler to treat any other complaints unless your doctor says it is safe to do so.
- Do not give Serevent Inhaler to anyone else, even though their symptoms may sound similar to yours.
Before you start to use it
Tell your doctor:
- if you are allergic to any medicine
- if you are having treatment for a thyroid problem
- if you are having treatment for high blood pressure
- if you have a heart problem
- the names of all medicines you are already taking including those you have bought from a supermarket, pharmacy or alternative practitioner
- if you have had to stop taking other asthma medicines
- if you feel your asthma is not stable, or is getting worse.
Using Serevent Inhaler
How to use it
- You will find the instructions on how to use Serevent Inhaler in the pack. Follow the instructions carefully.
- Your doctor will tell you how many puffs to take and how often to use Serevent Inhaler. You should also find this information on the pharmacist's label. If you are not sure, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
- For adults: The usual dose for asthma and COPD is two puffs twice daily. If you have asthma, your doctor may tell you to take four puffs twice daily if necessary.
- For children 4 years or older: Two puffs twice daily for asthma.
- You must take your dose of Serevent regularly, twice daily, in the morning and evening, to get its full benefit.
- Do not take extra puffs or use Serevent Inhaler more often than your doctor has told you.
- You should visit your doctor or pharmacist regularly to check that you are using Serevent Inhaler in the right way. If you are not breathing the medicine in correctly, the medicine may not be helping you as much as it could.
- If you find it difficult to breathe in and use Serevent Inhaler at the same time, talk to your doctor or pharmacist. It may be better for you to use something called a 'spacer device' with your Serevent Inhaler. Your doctor or pharmacist will explain to you what this is and how to use it.
- Do not stop, or change the dose of, any other medicine unless your doctor has told you.
If you miss a dose
If you forget a dose, do not worry. Just take the next dose at the normal time. Do not take a double dose. If you become wheezy or feel tight in the chest before the next dose is due, use a 'reliever puffer' in the usual way. You should get relief from your 'reliever puffer' within a few minutes.
Overdose
It is important not to take more than the dose on the label of your medicine.
If you take more puffs by mistake, your heart may beat faster than usual, you may get a headache, you may experience muscle weakness and aching joints or you may feel shaky and tense. You should contact your nearest Poisons Information Centre (0800 POISON or 0800 764 766), doctor or hospital emergency department without delay.
What if your Serevent Inhaler does not have the usual effect?
Important: If you have an asthma attack, use your "reliever puffer" not your Serevent inhaler.
If your Serevent Inhaler
- does not help your breathing as much as usual
- does not last as long as usual
you will need to use a 'reliever puffer' and tell your doctor as soon as possible. These may be signs that your asthma or chest condition is getting worse.
Remember, if you have asthma, you should also use your 'preventer' medicine regularly every day as your doctor has told you.
Side-effects
Like other medicines, Serevent Inhaler may cause some side effects. Most of the side effects will be minor and temporary, but some may be serious. Your doctor or pharmacist will be able to answer any questions you may have.
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you notice any of the following and they worry you:
- 'shaky' feeling
- headache
- fast heart rate
- muscle cramps
- pain in the joints
- irritation in the nose and throat
These are usually mild side effects. Do not stop using Serevent Inhaler.
Some people are allergic to medicines. If you have any of the following symptoms soon after using Serevent Inhaler, stop taking this medicine and tell your doctor immediately or go to the emergency department at your nearest hospital:
- sudden wheeziness or chest tightness
- feel faint
- swelling of the eyelids, face or lips
- lumpy skin rash or "hives" anywhere on the body
Very rarely there may be an increase in sugar (glucose) in the blood.
Tell your doctor if you notice anything that makes you feel unwell. Some people may get other side effects while using Serevent Inhaler. If you are concerned, talk to your doctor or pharmacist.
Storage
Straight after use, replace the mouthpiece cover firmly and click it into position. Do not use excessive force.
Keep Serevent Inhaler in a place where children cannot reach it.
Keep Serevent Inhaler:
- Away from frost. Do not put it in the refrigerator.
- Away from bright sunlight.
- In a dry place away from heat (store below 30°C). Do not leave it in the car on hot days.
If Serevent Inhaler becomes very cold, it may not work properly. To warm it, pull out the metal can from its plastic holder and warm it in your hand for a few minutes. Do not warm the can in any other way. Push the can firmly back into its holder before using.
You can estimate the number of doses left in your puffer by shaking it or by calculating approximately the number of doses that have been used.
Floating the puffer in water to estimate the amount of doses left in the puffer is not recommended. Water may enter the valve in your puffer, which may affect the accuracy of later doses. The humidity from the water may also encourage bacteria to grow in the valve.
You should always carry a spare puffer.
WARNING: The metal can is pressurised. Do not burn it or puncture it, even when it is empty.
You can recycle the plastic holder and cap of your Serevent Inhaler with other plastic waste.
Product description
The Serevent Inhaler consists of a green plastic holder which contains a small metal can. The holder has a mouthpiece which is covered by a light green cap. The holder has "Serevent Inhaler" written on it.
The medicine in Serevent Inhaler is called salmeterol xinafoate. Each puff contains 25 micrograms of salmeterol xinafoate. The Inhalers contain 120 puffs per canister.
Serevent Inhaler also contains dichlorodifluoromethane, trichlorofluoromethane and lecithin.
Other types of asthma inhalers
Besides Serevent Inhaler, there are two other main types of asthma inhalers. A 'reliever puffer' gives fast relief from wheezing and chest tightness. A 'preventer' medicine prevents chest symptoms and must be used every day. If you have asthma, your doctor will tell you to use a 'preventer' medicine as well as Serevent Inhaler.
If you have COPD your doctor will advise you what other medicines to take.
Supplier
Serevent Inhaler is supplied by:
GlaxoSmithKline NZ Ltd
Quay Tower
Cnr Albert and Customs St
Downtown Auckland
New Zealand
Ph: (09) 367 2900
Fax (09) 367 2910
Further information
This is not all the information that is available on Serevent Inhaler. If you have any more questions or are not sure about anything, ask your doctor or pharmacist. You may also be able to find out more information about your condition from books, for example in public libraries.
Do not throw this leaflet away. You may want or need to read it again.
The information provided applies only to Serevent™ Inhaler.
™ Serevent and Ventolin are trademarks of the GlaxoSmithKline Group of Companies.
This leaflet is copyrighted to GlaxoSmithKline and may be reproduced but not altered in any way.
Issue No. 6
19 January 2007