Serevent

What is Serevent?

Asthma is a lung condition that affects adults and children of all ages. It can be serious, so it’s important to control it with the right treatment. Seeing as it affects so many people, there are a few different medication options, one of them being Serevent.

Serevent is a branded treatment that uses the active ingredient salmeterol xinafoate to treat asthma symptoms. It’s a preventative treatment for asthma that helps you manage your symptoms, and it comes in two forms: the Evohaler and the Accuhaler.

How does Serevent work?

Serevent’s active ingredient is called Salmeterol, a bronchodilator that works by acting on beta-2 receptors. When these receptors are stimulated, the muscles in your airways relax and open, making it easier to breathe and reducing asthma symptoms. It can help to open your airways for 12 hours or more.

What doses of Serevent are there?

Serevent comes in two formats. There’s the Accuhaler, which dispenses 50 micrograms of salmeterol per use, and the Evohaler, which dispenses 25 micrograms of salmeterol per use.

Both the Accuhaler and the Evohaler are limited to one dose, so if the treatment isn’t working for you, you should contact our clinicians to review your treatment. They can advise you on alternative treatments if these options aren’t working the way they should for you.

How to use Serevent

You use the Accuhaler and Evohaler in slightly different ways.

So with the Accuhaler:

• It comes with blister packs that contain the Serevent powder. There will be a countdown at the top of your inhaler which will indicate how many doses are left, so you never run out.
• To open the Accuhaler, you need to hold the device with both hands, one gripping the body, and the other placed on the thumb grip. Slide the grip to the side with your thumb until you hear a click, and a small hole in the mouthpiece becomes exposed.
• You will see a small lever. You need to push it to the side until you hear a click, and one dose of Serevent will be dispensed.
• Exhale as much as you can away from the device, and once you’re ready, put your lips on the mouthpiece, inhale steadily and as much as possible. Hold your breath for about 10 seconds or until it becomes too uncomfortable to hold, and breathe out slowly.

And to use Evohaler:

• Remove the mouthpiece cover from your inhaler and shake it a few times to make sure that the substance is evenly mixed.
• Breathe out as much as possible, and when you’re ready place your lips around the mouthpiece.
• Breathe in through your mouth as much as possible, and start pressing the pressurised canister on top of the device as soon as you start breathing in. Press slowly and steadily at the same time as you breathe. Hold your breath for as long as it is comfortable.

How long does it take Serevent to work?

Serevent is a preventer inhaler that you should use regularly to keep your asthma under control. If you need treatment for an asthma attack, use Serevent along with a short acting beta agonist like Salbutamol.

What should I do if I make a mistake when using Serevent?

Taking too much Serevent can cause dizziness, high blood pressure, tremors, a headache and tachycardia. If you took too much by accident and experience any of those symptoms you should contact our clinician as soon as possible.

Medically reviewed by

Dr Daniel Atkinson

GP Clinical Lead

on August 02, 2022.

Meet Daniel