<http://schema.org/articleBody>
" What is it used for? Salbutamol is used to open the airways and make breathing easier in people with breathing problems including:  asthma. chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).   How does it work? Salamol inhaler, easi-breathe inhaler and steri-nebs all contain the active ingredient salbutamol, which is a type of medicine known as a short-acting beta 2 agonist. Salbutamol is also available without a brand name, ie as the generic medicine. Salbutamol works by acting on receptors in the lungs called beta 2 receptors. When salbutamol stimulates these receptors it causes the muscles in the airways to relax. This allows the airways to open.  In conditions where there is narrowing of the airways, such as asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD, eg emphysema and chronic bronchitis), it is difficult for air to get in and out of the lungs. By opening the airways, salbutamol makes it easier to breathe.    How is this medicine taken? Salbutamol is most commonly taken using an inhaler device. Inhaling the medicine allows it to act directly in the lungs where it is needed most. It also reduces the potential for side effects occurring in other parts of the body, as the amount absorbed into the blood through the lungs is lower than if the medicine is taken by mouth. Salbutamol inhalers are known as &amp;#039;relievers&amp;#039;. This is because when salbutamol is breathed into the lungs it works very quickly to relieve asthma attacks, wheezing, coughing, chest tightness or shortness of breath. Salbutamol inhalers can also be used shortly before exercising or exposure to allergens (things that trigger wheezing, such as pet fur or pollen) to open the airways and prevent wheezing.  You should follow the instructions given by your doctor regarding when to use your salbutamol inhaler and how many inhalations you can use each day. Don&amp;#039;t exceed the prescribed dose. It is very important to learn how to use your inhaler correctly, as otherwise you won&amp;#039;t be breathing the right dose of medicine into your lungs. Instructions will be provided with your inhaler. However, your doctor, nurse or pharmacist can also show you how to use your inhaler and can check that you are using it correctly.  Salamol inhaler is a metered dose inhaler (sometimes called an MDI or aerosol inhaler) that delivers the medicine as a fine spray or mist. With this inhaler you co-ordinate pressing down the canister and breathing in the spray. Follow this link for general instructions on how to use a metered dose inhaler. Salamol inhaler can also be used with a spacer device such as a Volumatic. Salamol easi-breathe is a breath actuated inhaler. It automatically releases a dose as you breath in through the mouthpiece. To take a dose you breathe out fully, put the mouthpiece to your lips and breathe in steadily and deeply through your mouth. Don&amp;#039;t stop breathing in when you feel the puff in your mouth, as it is important to keep breathing in after the puff is released. More detailed instructions are provided with the easi-breathe inhaler.  Nebuliser or respirator solutions of salbutamol such as Salamol steri-neb are used to treat acute asthma attacks in hospital. A nebuliser is a machine that converts the liquid medicine inside the nebules into particles that can be inhaled. It is used to deliver higher doses of the medicine than a standard inhaler.  People with severe asthma or COPD who have been shown to benefit from regular use of high doses of salbutamol are sometimes prescribed nebules to be used in a nebuliser at home.    Warning!  Do not exceed the dose of salbutamol that your doctor has prescribed you to use. If your inhaler doesn&amp;#039;t relieve wheezing or chest tightness as well as usual, or for as long as usual (at least three hours), or you need to use it more often than usual, you should consult your doctor as soon as possible. It may be that your asthma or COPD is getting worse and your doctor might need to give you another medicine.  Inhalers may sometimes cause an unexpected increase in wheezing (paradoxical bronchospasm) straight after using them. If this happens, stop using the inhaler immediately and consult your doctor. The medicine should be stopped and an alternative treatment found. People with severe asthma should have regular blood tests to monitor the amount of potassium in their blood. This is because low oxygen levels in the blood (hypoxia) and various asthma medicines, including this one, can lower blood potassium levels.   Use with caution in  Heart disease. Irregular heartbeats (arrhythmias). High blood pressure (hypertension). Overactive thyroid gland (hyperthyroidism). Diabetes.   Not to be used in  People with known sensitivity or allergy to any ingredient.   This medicine should not be used if you are allergic to one or any of its ingredients. Please inform your doctor or pharmacist if you have previously experienced such an allergy. If you feel you have experienced an allergic reaction, stop using this medicine and inform your doctor or pharmacist immediately.   Pregnancy and breastfeeding Certain medicines should not be used during pregnancy or breastfeeding. However, other medicines may be safely used in pregnancy or breastfeeding providing the benefits to the mother outweigh the risks to the unborn baby. Always inform your doctor if you are pregnant or planning a pregnancy, before using any medicine.   It is important that asthma is well controlled in pregnant women because severe asthma attacks can be dangerous to the pregnancy. Wherever possible, asthma medications should be taken by inhaler, as this minimises the amount of medicine that enters the bloodstream and crosses the placenta. Salbutamol inhaler can be taken as usual during pregnancy. For further medical advice talk to your doctor or pharmacist. Salbutamol may pass into breast milk in small amounts. The manufacturer states that this medicine should be used with caution in breastfeeding mothers. However, in general, salbutamol inhalers can be used as normal during breastfeeding, because the amount of medicine that passes into the breast milk after using an inhaler is negligable and unlikely to harm the baby. Seek further medical advice from your doctor.    Side effects Medicines and their possible side effects can affect individual people in different ways. The following are some of the side effects that are known to be associated with this medicine. Just because a side effect is stated here, it does not mean that all people using this medicine will experience that or any side effect.  Common (affect between 1 in 10 and 1 in 100 people)  Shaking, usually of the hands (tremor). Headache. Faster than normal heartbeat (tachycardia).   Uncommon (affect between 1 in 100 and 1 in 1000 people)  Awareness of your heartbeat (heart palpitations). Muscle cramps. Mouth or throat irritation.   Rare (affect between 1 in 1000 and 1 in 10,000 people)  Increased blood flow to your extremities - this may cause flushing. Low level of potassium in your blood (hypokalaemia - see warning section above).   Very rare (affect fewer than 1 in 10,000 people)  Hyperactivity. Irregular heartbeat (arrhythmia). Unexpected narrowing of the airways (paradoxical bronchospasm - see warning section above).  The side effects listed above may not include all of the side effects reported by the medicine&amp;#039;s manufacturer. For more information about any other possible risks associated with this medicine, please read the information provided with the medicine or consult your doctor or pharmacist.   How can this medicine affect other medicines? It is important to tell your doctor or pharmacist what medicines you are already taking, including those bought without a prescription and herbal medicines, before you start treatment with this medicine. Similarly, check with your doctor or pharmacist before taking any new medicines while using this one, to make sure that the combination is safe.  People who are using salbutamol should not take medicines called beta-blockers, such as atenolol, propranolol or timolol. This is because beta-blockers have an opposite action to this medicine and can cause the airways to narrow. This can result in breathing difficulties for people with asthma or COPD. This problem has also sometimes been seen with eye drops containing beta-blockers, eg used for glaucoma. Salbutamol can sometimes cause a serious decrease in the levels of potassium in the blood (hypokalaemia). This effect can be increased by the following medicines, which can also lower levels of potassium in the blood:  corticosteroids, such as beclometasone and prednisolone diuretics, such as bendroflumethiazide and furosemide. other beta 2 agonists, such as salmeterol xanthine derivates, such as theophylline or aminophylline.  Since a low blood potassium level can have serious adverse effects, people with severe asthma or COPD, who may be taking several of these medicines, should have their blood potassium levels monitored regularly. Salamol inhaler and easi-breathe inhaler contain a small amount of ethanol (alcohol) that could theoretically cause a reaction in people taking disulfiram or metronidazole. This reaction is unlikely, but could occur in some sensitive people. Ask your pharmacist for further advice if you are taking one of these medicines.   Other medicines containing the same active ingredient  Airomir inhaler and autohaler. AirSalb inhaler. Asmasal clickhaler. Easyhaler salbutamol. Pulvinal salbutamol inhaler. Salapin syrup. Salbulin novolizer. Ventmax SR capsules. Ventolin. Ventolin infusion.  Salbutamol metered dose inhalers, nebules, tablets and oral solution are also available without a brand name, ie as the generic medicine. NB. Salbutamol is known as albuterol in the USA and some other countries.  Last updated 21.01.2014 "^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<http://www.netdoctor.co.uk/medicines/allergy-and-asthma/a8340/salamol-salbutamol/>