Salbutamol (salbutamol sulfate)

What is Salbutamol?

Salbutamol is a bronchodilator that relaxes muscles in the airways and increases air flow to the lungs.

Salbutamol is used to treat or prevent bronchospasm in people with reversible obstructive airway disease. Salbutamol is also used to prevent exercise-induced bronchospasm.

Salbutamol may also be used for other purposes not listed in this medication guide.

Important information about Salbutamol?

It is important to keep Salbutamol on hand at all times. Get your prescription refilled before you run out of medicine completely. Keep using all of your other medications as prescribed by your doctor.

Call your doctor right away if you feel that Salbutamol is not working as well as usual, or if it makes your condition worse. If it seems like you need to use more of any of your medications in a 24-hour period, talk with your doctor.

Extreme heat can cause the medicine canister to burst. Do not store your inhaler in your car on hot days. Do not throw an empty canister into open flame.

Before using Salbutamol

You should not use this medication if you are allergic to Salbutamol.

If you have certain conditions, you may need a dose adjustment or special tests to safely use this medication.

Before using Salbutamol, tell your doctor if you have:

• heart disease, high blood pressure, or congestive heart failure;
• a heart rhythm disorder;
• a seizure disorder such as epilepsy;
• diabetes; or
• overactive thyroid.

If you have any of these conditions, you may not be able to use Salbutamol, or you may need a dose adjustment or special tests during treatment.

This medication may be harmful to an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant during treatment. It is not known whether Salbutamol passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing baby. Do not use Salbutamol without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.

How should I use Salbutamol?

Use Salbutamol exactly as it was prescribed for you. Do not use the medication in larger amounts, or use it for longer than recommended by your doctor. Follow the instructions on your prescription label.

Salbutamol may increase the risk of asthma-related death. Use only the prescribed dose of this medicine and follow all patient instructions for safe use. Talk with your doctor about your individual risks and benefits of using Salbutamol.

When using the inhaler device for the first time, prime it by spraying 4 test sprays into the air, away from your face. Shake well before priming. Also prime the inhaler if you have not used it for 2 weeks or longer, or if you have dropped the inhaler.

The instructions below are for standard use of Salbutamol inhaler and nebulizer devices. Your doctor may want you to use your device differently. Use only the inhaler device provided with your medicine or you may not get the correct dose.

What happens if I miss a dose?

Use the medication as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed dose and use the medicine at the next regularly scheduled time. Do not use extra medicine to make up the missed dose.

What happens if I overdose?

Seek emergency medical attention if you think you have used too much of this medicine. An overdose of Salbutamol can be fatal. Overdose symptoms may include nervousness, headache, tremor, dry mouth, chest pain or heavy feeling, rapid or uneven heart rate, pain spreading to the arm or shoulder, nausea, sweating, dizziness, seizure (convulsions), feeling light-headed or fainting.

What should I avoid while using Salbutamol?

Avoid getting Salbutamol in your eyes. If this does happen, rinse the eyes with water and seek medical attention.

Salbutamol side effects

Stop using Salbutamol and get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Call your doctor at once if you have a serious side effect such as:

• bronchospasm (wheezing, chest tightness, trouble breathing), especially after starting a new canister of this medicine;
• chest pain and fast, pounding, or uneven heart beats;
• tremor, nervousness;
• low potassium (confusion, uneven heart rate, extreme thirst, increased urination, leg discomfort, muscle weakness or limp feeling); or
• dangerously high blood pressure (severe headache, blurred vision, buzzing in your ears, anxiety, confusion, chest pain, shortness of breath, uneven heartbeats, seizure).

Less serious Salbutamol side effects may include:

• headache, dizziness, nervousness;
• sleep problems (insomnia);
• cough, hoarseness, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose;
• dry mouth and throat;
• muscle pain; or
• diarrhea.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Tell your doctor about any unusual or bothersome side effect.

What other drugs will affect Salbutamol?

Before using Salbutamol, tell your doctor if you are taking any of the following medicines:

• a diuretic (water pill);
• digoxin (digitalis, Lanoxin);
• a beta-blocker such as atenolol (Tenormin), metoprolol (Lopressor), propranolol (Inderal), and others;
• an antidepressant such as amitriptyline (Elavil, Etrafon), doxepin (Sinequan), imipramine (Janimine, Tofranil), nortriptyline (Pamelor), and others;
• a MAO inhibitor such as isocarboxazid (Marplan), phenelzine (Nardil), rasagiline (Azilect), selegiline (Eldepryl, Emsam), or tranylcypromine (Parnate); or
• other bronchodilators such as levalbuterol (Xopenex), bitolterol (Tornalate), pirbuterol (Maxair), terbutaline (Brethine, Bricanyl), salmeterol (Serevent), isoetherine (Bronkometer), metaproterenol (Alupent, Metaprel), or isoproterenol (Isuprel Mistometer).

This list is not complete and there may be other drugs that can interact with Salbutamol. Tell your doctor about all the prescription and over-the-counter medications you use. This includes vitamins, minerals, herbal products, and drugs prescribed by other doctors. Do not start using a new medication without telling your doctor.

Where can I get more information?

• Your pharmacist can provide more information about Salbutamol.
• Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use this medication only for the indication prescribed.
• The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.