Ventolin (Salbutamol)

Description

Ventolin contains salbutamol, a short-acting beta-2 agonist. It relaxes the muscle around the airways to ease wheeze, chest tightness and breathlessness, so it is the inhaler used when symptoms come on rather than one taken to prevent them. It may also be used before exercise where that is what triggers symptoms. The Evohaler is a pressurised inhaler that you shake, then press as you breathe in slowly and deeply; a spacer can help with this and is often used for children.

Use it only when you need it, unless your prescriber has told you otherwise. Needing it more often than usual, using more than one inhaler a month, or finding it less helpful than before all mean your asthma needs review, so contact your prescriber. Tell them if you have heart disease, an irregular heartbeat, an overactive thyroid or diabetes.

• Short-acting beta-2 agonist reliever inhaler, salbutamol
• Used for wheeze, chest tightness and breathlessness as they occur
• Shake before use; a spacer can help with technique
• Needing it more often than usual means your treatment needs review
• Tell your prescriber about heart or thyroid problems