About Salbutamol 100 mcg/dose Inhaler
Salbutamol 100 mcg/dose Inhaler contains Salbutamol 100 mcg/dose. Salbutamol inhaler is a reliever medicine. It quickly opens the airways to ease wheezing, coughing and breathlessness in asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). It works within minutes and its effect lasts a few hours.
Uses of Salbutamol 100 mcg/dose Inhaler
- Quick relief of asthma symptoms such as wheezing and breathlessness
- Prevention of wheezing before exercise or contact with a known trigger
- Relief of breathlessness in COPD
Benefits
In asthma and COPD
It relaxes the muscles around the airways within minutes, making breathing easier during an attack. It relieves symptoms but does not treat the swelling in the airways, so you may also need a preventer inhaler.
Side effects
Shakiness and a fast heartbeat are common and usually wear off within a short time.
Common
- Shaking (tremor), usually of the hands
- Fast heartbeat or palpitations
- Headache
- Feeling nervous
- Muscle cramps
Get medical help if you notice
- Wheezing or breathlessness that gets worse straight after using it — use another reliever if you have one and get medical help straight away
- Chest pain or a very fast, irregular heartbeat — seek medical help
- Muscle weakness or cramps with an irregular heartbeat (possible low potassium) — contact your doctor
- Allergic reaction: rash, swelling of the face or lips, difficulty breathing — seek emergency care
How to use
Remove the cap and shake the inhaler well. Breathe out gently, away from the inhaler. Put the mouthpiece in your mouth and close your lips around it. Start to breathe in slowly and press the canister once, while continuing to breathe in deeply. Hold your breath for about 10 seconds, or as long as is comfortable, then breathe out slowly. If another puff is needed, wait about a minute and repeat. Use a spacer if you find it hard to time your breathing. Test-spray into the air if the inhaler is new or has not been used for a while, and clean the plastic mouthpiece regularly as the leaflet explains.
How it works
It stimulates beta-2 receptors in the muscles around the airways. This makes the muscles relax, so the airways open and air flows more easily.
Safety advice
Alcohol Safe
No interaction with alcohol is known. Alcohol can trigger asthma in some people.
Pregnancy Consult your doctor
Use only if your doctor advises it. Keeping asthma controlled in pregnancy is important, so do not stop your inhalers without advice.
Breastfeeding Consult your doctor
Ask your doctor before using it while breastfeeding.
Driving Safe
It is not expected to affect your ability to drive.
Kidney Consult your doctor
There is no specific advice for inhaled use in kidney disease. Tell your doctor about any kidney problems.
Liver Consult your doctor
There is no specific advice for inhaled use in liver disease. Tell your doctor about any liver problems.
If you miss a dose
It is used when needed for symptoms. If your doctor has asked you to use it regularly and you miss a dose, use it when you remember, but do not double up.
Quick tips
- Carry your reliever inhaler with you at all times.
- If you need it more often than usual, your asthma may be getting worse — see your doctor.
- If it does not help during an attack, get emergency help.
- Tell your doctor if you have heart disease, an overactive thyroid, diabetes or high blood pressure.
Substitutes
Same salts in the same strength from other makers. Only switch brands on your doctor's or pharmacist's advice; our pharmacist checks every order against the prescription.
Fact box
- Chemical class
- Saligenin derivative (phenylethanolamine)
- Therapeutic class
- Respiratory / bronchodilator
- Action class
- Short-acting beta-2 agonist (SABA)
- Habit forming
- No
- Prescription
- Required
Interactions with other medicines
Tell your doctor and pharmacist about every medicine, vitamin and herbal product you take.
| Medicine | What can happen |
|---|---|
| Non-selective beta-blockers such as propranolol (including some eye drops) | Can block the effect of salbutamol and may cause airway narrowing |
| Water tablets (diuretics), steroids and theophylline | Can add to the lowering of potassium levels |
| MAO inhibitors and tricyclic antidepressants | May increase effects on the heart and blood vessels |
This page is general information to help you understand your medicine. It is not a substitute for advice from your doctor or pharmacist. Do not start, stop or change a medicine on your own.
Written by the Asthra Health Care team from the approved prescribing information (Salbutamol inhaler prescribing information (CDSCO-approved labelling); EMC SmPC: salbutamol pressurised inhaler; NICE BNF: salbutamol). Pharmacist review pending.