INFORMATION FOR CONSUMERS
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Please read this leaflet carefully before you start using Ventolin or Ventolin Forte Inhaler.
This leaflet does not have the complete information about your medicine. If you have any questions about your medicine, you should ask your doctor or pharmacist (also known as a chemist).
All medicines have some risks. Sometimes new risks are found even when a medicine has been used for many years.
If there is anything you do not understand, ask your doctor or pharmacist. If you want more information, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
This medicine is only one part of a general plan to help you manage your asthma or other chest condition. You should discuss this plan with your doctor. Ask your doctor to check your treatment regularly.
Keep this information. You may want to read it again.
The name of your medicine is Ventolin or Ventolin Forte Inhaler.
Your Ventolin Inhaler helps you to breathe more easily. When your chest is tight or when you are wheezing, the Ventolin opens up the breathing tubes in your lungs. Your medicine is known as a bronchodilator. Because your Ventolin Inhaler gives fast relief from your chest symptoms, it is often called a 'reliever puffer'.
Some people start wheezing or their chest starts to feel tight when they exercise. This is called exercise-induced asthma. If you have exercise-induced asthma, your doctor may tell you to take one or two puffs of your Ventolin Inhaler before you exercise. This can help to prevent the symptoms of exercise-induced asthma.
Tell your doctor:
You will find the instructions on how to use Ventolin Inhaler in the pack. Follow the instructions carefully
The pharmacist's label will usually tell you how many puffs to take and how often to use your Ventolin Inhaler. If you are not sure, ask your doctor or pharmacist. If your chest condition suddenly gets worse, your doctor may tell you to take extra puffs of your Ventolin Inhaler. If you take extra puffs and do not get relief, tell your doctor immediately.
You should visit your doctor or pharmacist regularly to check that you are using your Ventolin 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 your Ventolin Inhaler at the same time, talk to your doctor or pharmacist. It may be better for you to use something called a large volume spacer, such as a Volumatic™, with your Ventolin Inhaler. Your doctor or pharmacist will explain to you what this is and how to use it.
IMPORTANT: If your breathing suddenly becomes more difficult just after you have used your Ventolin Inhaler, tell your doctor immediately.
If your Ventolin Inhaler does not help your breathing as much as usual, tell your doctor as soon as possible. If the effect of your Ventolin Inhaler does not last as long as usual or lasts less than 3 hours, tell your doctor as soon as possible. These may be signs that your chest condition is getting worse.
Your doctor may decide to add another medicine to your treatment if your Ventolin Inhaler is not having the same effect as before.
Like all other medicines, your Ventolin 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.
If you have any of the following side effects, tell your doctor or pharmacist but do not stop using your Ventolin Inhaler:
If you have a hypersensitivity reaction, for example, skin rash, angioedema (sudden swelling under the skin), shortness of breath or wheeziness or you feel faint or dizzy, you should stop using your Ventolin Inhaler and tell your doctor or pharmacist immediately.
In a few people, the medicine in Ventolin Inhaler may affect their blood potassium levels. Your doctor may do tests to check this.
If you have any other problems after using your Ventolin Inhaler, tell your doctor or pharmacist.
You should only take the number of puffs that you have been told.
If you have used too much of your medicine, immediately telephone your doctor or Poisons Centre for advice (0800 POISON or 0800 764 766), even if there are no signs of discomfort or poisoning. You may need urgent medical attention.
Keep telephone numbers for these places handy.
If you are not sure what to do, contact your doctor or pharmacist.
Keep your Ventolin Inhaler in a place where children cannot reach it.
Keep your Ventolin Inhaler away from frost. Do not put it in the refrigerator.
Keep your Ventolin Inhaler away from bright sunlight.
Keep your Ventolin Inhaler away from heat (store below 30°C). Do not leave it in the car on hot days.
In very cold places, your Ventolin Inhaler may become very cold. 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 will find an expiry (or use by) date on the label of the metal can. Do not use your Ventolin Inhaler after this date.
Glaxo Wellcome inhalers are designed to give out a metered dose of medication until they are empty.
You can estimate the number of doses left in the inhaler by shaking it, calculating approximately the number of doses that have been used, or keeping a record of the number of doses you have used up.
On average, Glaxo Wellcome includes 10% more active doses in each inhaler than is specified on the label.
Floating the inhaler in water to estimate the amount of doses left in the inhaler is not recommended. Water may enter the valve in the inhaler, 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 inhaler.
If your doctor tells you to stop using your Ventolin inhaler or the product has passed its expiry date, ask your pharmacist what to do with any Ventolin left over.
WARNING: The metal can is pressurised. Do not burn it or puncture it, even when it is empty.
If you forget a dose, do not worry. Just take the next dose at the normal time or earlier if you become wheezy or feel tight in the chest.
Your Ventolin Inhaler is only for you. You should not give this medicine to someone else.
Yes. Ventolin Inhaler is called a 'reliever puffer'. There are other types of inhalers that prevent wheezing or chest tightness. These inhalers are called 'preventer' inhalers and must be used every day. Your doctor may tell you to use a 'preventer' inhaler in addition to your Ventolin Inhaler.
You can recycle the plastic holder and cap of your Ventolin Inhaler with other plastic things.
If you have any other questions, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
The medicine in your Ventolin Inhaler is called salbutamol. Each puff contains 100 or 200 micrograms of salbutamol. There are 200 puffs in each Ventolin Inhaler and 100 puffs in each Ventolin Forte Inhaler.
Your Ventolin Inhaler also contains dichlorodifluoromethane, trichlorofluoromethane and oleic acid.
Your Ventolin Inhaler is supplied by:
Allen & Hanburys
Respiratory Care Division
Glaxo Wellcome New Zealand Limited
Quay Tower
Cnr Customs and Albert St
Downtown Auckland
New Zealand
Ventolin and Volumatic are Trademarks owned by the Glaxo Group of Companies.
Do not throw this leaflet away. You may need to read it again
Ventolin™ Inhaler 100 micrograms per metered dose (salbutamol). Ventolin Forte™ Inhaler 200 micrograms per metered dose (salbutamol).
This leaflet is copyrighted to Glaxo Wellcome and may be reproduced but not altered in any way.
Issue 1, February 2000