Salbutamol: specs and info

Salbutamol is a drug found in reliever inhalers like Ventolin and Salamol. It can relieve asthma symptoms like a tight chest and shortness of breath quickly. Just like other reliever inhalers, it tends to be blue. People also use preventer inhalers, which are often brown, to prevent and control symptoms. Your doctor will talk to you about whether you need both and which inhaler is best for you.

The reliever inhaler is used for treating chest tightness and shortness of breath. People who have asthma use these for sudden attacks or symptoms, so it’s important to always carry your reliever inhaler with you. But, if you have to use your reliever inhaler a lot, then it could mean that your condition isn’t well-managed and you may need preventative treatment too. If you think you need to start using a preventer inhaler, ask your doctor or asthma nurse.

The brown inhaler will help to prevent more attacks. It works differently from the blue inhaler because it won’t work as a rescue treatment, but instead, you’ll use it regularly. Prevention treatment is used daily if reliever inhalers aren’t enough to control symptoms.

What does Salbutamol do to treat asthma?

Salbutamol treats asthma attacks by quickly widening the airways, this is also known as bronchodilation. When the airways become inflamed they’ll tense, become narrower and stop airflow, making it hard to breathe. Salbutamol relaxes contractions in the muscle wall around the airways, to help the respiratory passages open up so that you can breathe more easily.

When you use a reliever inhaler containing salbutamol, the medicine goes directly into your airways. This means that it treats your lungs without the medicine having to go through the rest of your body. It should start working after a couple of minutes, and the effect should last up to five hours.

Does Salbutamol contain steroids?

No, there are no steroids in a Salbutamol inhaler. Salbutamol is from the medicine group called bronchodilators. Most asthma inhalers contain a bronchodilator or a steroid. But it is possible to get an inhaler that contains both. Steroid inhalers reduce inflammation in the lungs and are used regularly each day rather than just when symptoms occur.

Salbutamol is the active ingredient found in many asthma products. Some contain a mix of different ingredients, and others just have salbutamol.

Other Salbutamol brand names include:

• Ventolin
• Asmalal
• Pulvinal
• Salamol
• Albuterol

Ventolin inhalers

Ventolin is a brand name that contains Salbutamol. It’s a blue inhaler brand that treats asthma symptoms.

There are two types of Ventolin inhalers, the Evohaler contains 100mcg of the active ingredient, but you need to time your breathing when you use the treatment for it to work properly. The other type is the Accuhaler and contains a higher amount of Salbutamol, 200mcg. This one is automated, which means that you don’t have to time your breathing, so you might find it easier to use.

Combination inhalers containing Salbutamol

Combination inhalers have more than one active ingredient, usually a bronchodilator which acts quickly to open-up the airways to make breathing easier and another ingredient, usually a steroid which can help prevent symptoms before they happen. Salbutamol is a fast-acting bronchodilator but it doesn’t last for long so asthma specialists usually recommend a longer acting bronchodilator like salmeterol or formoterol for combination inhalers.

The correct salbutamol dose will depend on each person’s condition and symptoms. Make sure you follow your doctor's instructions and the directions on the medication label. Don’t adjust your dose without talking to your doctor. The amount you need will also depend on how strong the medication is.

When using a salbutamol inhaler the average dose for treatment in adults is usually two puffs every four to six hours as required. This will contain 200 micrograms. Children between two and 12 years old will usually only need up to 100 micrograms.

If the inhaler is being used to prevent asthma during exercise, the average dose is two puffs, 15 to 30 minutes before exercise. But you should always talk to your doctor first.

What is the Salbutamol Easyhaler?

The Easyhaler Salbutamol is a type of inhaler device used to relieve asthma symptoms. It’s known as a dry powder inhaler (DPI) where the medication is in powder form and is breath actuated.

When using this type of inhaler you need to breathe quickly and deeply to allow the active ingredient to reach your lungs effectively. But you shouldn’t have to time your breathing in order to do this, so it can prove easier to use for some asthma patients.

A study found that the Easyhaler Salbutamol was just as effective in treating children as using a nebuliser .

Nebulisers are machines that create a fine mist using liquid asthma medicine. You take in the medicine through a mouthpiece or face mask covering your nose and mouth. It’s simple to use because all you have to do is put the mouthpiece or mask on and breathe in. The disadvantages are that it can take up to 10 minutes for the medicine to reach your lungs, and it’s not easily portable.

You might experience some side effects when using Salbutamol medication, the more puffs of the inhaler you use, the more likely you are to experience these side effects. Not everyone will experience these, and they can be from mild to severe, but if you’re worried discuss your symptoms with your doctor.

The most common side effects can include:

• Headaches
• A faster heartbeat for a short time
• Tremors

Uncommon side effects include:

• Throat or mouth irritation
• Muscle cramps

Rare side effects include:

• Muscle pain or weakness
• An intense headache that won’t stop
• A fast heartbeat with chest pain
• Bronchospasm

What to do if you experience side effects

If your side effects continue and worsen, then speak to your doctor. They might offer you a different dosage or treatment. If you experience any rare side effects listed you should seek immediate medical help.

It’s also recommended to report any side effects to the Yellow Card Scheme. This scheme has been set up by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) to protect public health. It makes sure that any treatments meet the right levels of quality and safety. The scheme collects voluntary information on medicines and medical devices. You can report side effects of asthma treatment on the Yellow Card website, where you’ll be asked questions relating to the reporter, who is experiencing the side effects and what the specific effects are.