Buy Ventolin inhaler online to ease asthma symptoms

What is Ventolin?

A Ventolin inhaler is the most common type of inhaler given to asthma sufferers. It is a reliever inhaler that eases the symptoms of asthma. These include coughing, wheezing, tightness in the chest and breathlessness.

What is Ventolin used for?

Ventolin helps you to manage your asthma. It prevents an asthma attack from happening and eases symptoms as they occur after coming into contact with a trigger. It’s a short term treatment that soothes irritated airways allowing you to breathe more easily.

How does Ventolin work?

Ventolin contains the active ingredient salbutamol. This is a fast-acting bronchodilator drug, also known as a  short-acting beta2 agonist (SABA). This drug functions to relax the smooth muscle surrounding your airways, keeping the airways open and allowing air to flow more freely. It also relieves symptoms such as breathlessness, chest tightness, wheeze and cough.

How long does Ventolin take to work?

Ventolin is a quick-relief medicine that will take effect right away. You should feel your symptoms ease off after a few minutes.

Will Ventolin prevent an asthma attack?

Ventolin will help to manage symptoms as they occur. Often prior to an asthma attack, you may notice a mild increase in symptoms, such as shortness of breath or wheeze. Taking your Ventolin inhaler at this time can help prevent an asthma attack. 

An asthma attack is characterised by being too breathless to speak, eat or sleep, your breathing becoming faster and other symptoms such as cough or wheeze getting worse. If you feel these symptoms coming on, take one or two puffs of your Ventolin inhaler. If this does not resolve your symptoms, you can take up to ten puffs of your Ventolin inhaler, leaving 30–60 seconds between each one. If you don’t feel better after this, then call 999 for an ambulance right away. Don’t feel afraid to seek emergency help if you are worried about your breathing.
 

Is Ventolin a cure?

There is no cure for asthma. It’s a long-term condition but with the right treatment, it can be managed well so that you can lead a normal and fulfilling life. Ventolin helps you to manage your symptoms and prevent an asthma attack from occurring.

Is long-term use of Ventolin safe?

Ventolin is designed for short term relief of asthma symptoms. It’s safe to use in the long term, however, if you find yourself using it more than three times per week, it’s important to speak to your doctor to see if other medications, such as. a preventer inhaler, that may help you manage your symptoms better.

What are reliever inhalers?

A reliever inhaler is used to provide immediate relief of asthma symptoms such as wheezing, coughing, breathlessness and chest tightness.

How many puffs does each Ventolin Evohaler contain?

Each Ventolin Evohaler canister contains 200 puffs of Ventolin.

Ventolin summary

Active ingredients

The active ingredient in Ventolin is salbutamol sulphate.

Inactive ingredients

The inactive ingredient in a Ventolin Evohaler is HFA 134a (1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane), which is used as a propellant to release the medication.

How to use a Ventolin inhaler

Before using it for the first time, test your inhaler by taking the cap off, shaking the canister and pressing down on the button to release a puff into the air with the mouthpiece pointing away from you. 

When you’re ready, repeat the shaking action and sit or stand with your back straight and chin slightly tilted upwards. Seal your lips around the mouthpiece of the inhaler and start to breathe in. As you do so, press down once on the canister and keep breathing in as long as comfortable. Hold your breath for ten seconds or as long as comfortable, before gently breathing out. If you need to take a second puff, wait 30 seconds before repeating the steps and then replacing the cap.

What is the recommended dose of Ventolin?

The recommended dose for adults and adolescents over 12:

• To relieve asthma: one or two puffs
• To prevent asthma: two puffs 10–15 minutes before exposure to trigger or exercise

The recommended dose for children under 12:

• To relieve asthma: one puff (two puffs if required)
• To prevent asthma: one puff 10–15 minutes before exposure to a trigger (two puffs if required)

Ventolin can also be used by adult and children regularly if directed by a doctor, at a dose of two puffs up to 4 times a day (maximum dose is 8 puffs in a 24 hour period)

Do I need to use Ventolin regularly?

You should use your Ventolin inhaler anytime you feel your symptoms flare up e.g. if you are coughing, wheezing, feeling breathless or have a tight feeling in your chest. If you find you are using Ventolin three times a week or more, then report this to your doctor as you may need to have an additional inhaler prescribed to prevent symptoms from occurring.

What is a spacer?

A spacer is a device shaped like a plastic tube that you can attach to an asthma inhaler to help you use it. It eliminates the need to press the canister whilst simultaneously breathing in, which some people, particularly children, can find tricky. Once attached, you push down on the canister of the inhaler to release the medicine into the spacer before you breathe it in.

Do I need to keep a Ventolin diary?

It’s useful to keep a diary to record how often you take your Ventolin medicine. You should include where and when you take it and any other factors you think are important such as if you were exposed to a trigger such as cold air or smoke. This can help you to identify triggers and allow your doctor to get an accurate picture of how well managed your asthma is. 

How to look after your inhaler

When you’re not using your inhaler, you should always keep the cap on to prevent any dirt or small objects from getting lodged inside it. This could prove dangerous for your health if you were to breathe them in. Also ensure your inhaler is kept at a reasonable temperature, not too hot or cold. You should clean your inhaler as instructed once a week to prevent a buildup of medicine and keep it in good working condition.

How to help someone use their asthma inhaler

To help someone use their asthma inhaler, you should consult their individual treatment plan which will have the details of which types of inhaler they need and what dose to take. Locate their inhaler and assist them to sit up straight in a comfortable position. Take the cap off the inhaler, shake it and place the mouthpiece between their lips, guiding them to seal their lips around it. They need to breathe in at the same time you press down on the canister, holding their breath for up to ten seconds or as long as is comfortable afterwards before releasing the breath slowly. If they are very breathless, their inhaler isn’t helping and you are unsure what to do then call for emergency help right away.

How to deal with someone having an asthma attack

If someone is having an asthma attack try to remain calm to avoid causing them any further panic. Locate their inhaler and help them to use it. If the asthma attack does not ease with the use of their reliever inhaler, or if the person doesn’t have their inhaler then call 999 right away and stay with them until assistance arrives.

Ventolin side effects

Common side effects that may affect up to 1 in 10 people using Ventolin Evohaler include:

• Headache
• Shakiness

Uncommon side effects that may affect up to 1 in 100 people using Ventolin Evohaler include:

• Mouth and throat irritation
• Muscle cramps

Rare or very rare side effects that may affect up to 1 in 1,000 people using Ventolin Evohaler include:

• Low potassium levels in the blood
• Increased blood flow to the extremities
• Sleep disturbances
• Behavioural changes such as excitability or restlessness

Other side effects, of which the frequency is not known include: 

• Chest pain

How to cope with Ventolin side effects

After taking Ventolin you may experience a shaky feeling or an increased heart rate. This is not serious and should subside within a couple of minutes, or hours at most. Make sure you are taking the correct dose and drink plenty of fluids. If you experience dizziness, headaches, a dry mouth or throat, a cough or nausea on a persistent basis then report these side effects to your GP. 

Contraindications

You should not use a Ventolin inhaler if you are allergic to salbutamol sulphate or any of the other ingredients contained in this medicine. Consult a doctor or pharmacist if you have high blood pressure, an overactive thyroid gland, a history of heart problems, or are taking Xanthine derivatives or steroids to treat asthma before starting to use a Ventolin inhaler. 

Drug interactions

There may be an interaction between the salbutamol in your Ventolin inhaler and other bronchodilator drugs or beta-blockers such as propranolol. Always tell your doctor if you are taking any other medications, including over the counter treatments, supplements and herbal remedies.

Ventolin and pregnancy/breastfeeding

Ventolin is completely safe to use during your pregnancy and while breastfeeding. You should continue to take your asthma medication as usual and report any changes to your symptoms to your doctor.

Can Ventolin cause thrush?

Ventolin does not cause oral thrush, however, if you do not clean your inhaler regularly, you can allow the candida albicans fungus (the cause of thrush) to grow on the surface of the inhaler. Then when you use your inhaler, you also expose yourself to the fungus that causes thrush. Therefore, it is recommended that you wash the plastic part of your inhaler after each use to avoid oral thrush.

Ventolin alternatives

There are several other brands of salbutamol inhaler available e.g. Salamol or Easyhalor, which contain the same active ingredient. Aside from medication, complementary therapies have been suggested to help to manage your asthma. These include breathing techniques such as the Buteyko method, which has been shown to relieve symptoms in some people, however should not be used in place of your reliever inhaler. Other therapies such as acupuncture and herbal remedies have little evidence to demonstrate their usefulness.

Are Ventolin and salbutamol the same?

Ventolin and salbutamol are fundamentally the same thing. Salbutamol is the name of the medication, whereas Ventolin is a brand of salbutamol manufactured by GSK. ‘Salbutamol’ may be used to refer to the active ingredient inside the inhaler, or to the inhaler itself. Whereas Ventolin only refers to a specific brand of inhaler. Salamol is another brand of salbutamol inhaler.

Ventolin vs. combination inhalers

A combination inhaler may be prescribed if using both a preventer and reliever (e.g. Ventolin) inhaler is not keeping your asthma under control. A combination inhaler contains two types of preventer medication, typically a steroid and a long acting bronchodilator. These act together to reduce inflammation and to widen the airways and help the flow of breathing. Combination inhalers should be taken regularly as prescribed, with a Ventolin inhaler reserved for when symptoms become troublesome or an asthma attack occurs.

Ventolin vs. steroid inhalers

Ventolin is a reliever inhaler, designed to be used only when symptoms become troublesome. Ventolin is fast-acting and acts straight away to improve breathing. Preventer inhalers typically contain steroids and should be used every day to prevent asthma symptoms from occurring. Preventer inhalers do not treat an asthma attack.

Ventolin vs. Salamol

Ventolin and Salamol are different brands of the same medicine and both contain the same active ingredient; salbutamol. Some users find that the Salamol inhaler is smaller and there is a difference in taste but otherwise there is little difference between the two. Both brands will treat your asthma in the same way.

Can you recycle Ventolin inhalers?

Asthma inhalers cannot be recycled along with your household recycling, and should not be disposed of in household waste. You should return your used inhalers to your local pharmacy for them to be disposed of in an environmentally friendly way.

What is Ventolin HFA?

Ventolin HFA is a brand name inhaler containing the active ingredient salbutamol (also known as albuterol), used to treat asthma. The inhaler is usually blue in appearance.

Can I buy Ventolin over the counter?

Asthma is a serious condition that requires regular monitoring. Therefore, Ventolin is only available on prescription so you cannot buy it over the counter. If you have an asthma diagnosis and have used a Ventolin inhaler in the past, then you may be eligible to order one online with Dr Felix. Simply fill out our online consultation so one of our doctors can assess it.

Can I take Ventolin on a plane?

You can take your Ventolin inhaler on a plane provided you follow airport regulations. You’ll need to place your inhaler in a sealed plastic bag, as you would with any other liquids under 100ml. It’s best to keep your inhaler inside your hand luggage in case your checked in baggage is delayed or goes missing. This also means that you have your inhaler to hand in case you need it. You should also take a copy of your prescription or a letter from your doctor to confirm which medicines you are taking in case this gets checked at security.

What does Ventolin taste like?

If the medicine hits the back of your throat instead of going straight into your lungs then you may be able to taste it. Some users report that Ventolin has a bitter taste.

Will Ventolin help other chest or throat symptoms?

Ventolin opens up the airways by relaxing the muscles around them to allow air to move in and out of the lungs with greater ease. If you have a feeling of tightness in the chest, coughing or wheezing as a result of asthma, Ventolin is likely to help. It cannot treat the symptoms of a cold or chest infection, and will not help a sore throat. If you experience additional symptoms or need to use your Ventolin inhaler more than twice a week, see your GP for advice.

Does Ventolin become less effective over time?

Ventolin should not become less effective over time. If you find yourself needing to use your Ventolin inhaler more often, or it’s not relieving your symptoms, then you should see your doctor for a review of your asthma management. If your asthma is managed correctly then your Ventolin inhaler will remain effective. If your inhaler has passed the expiration date then it may not work as well and should be discarded.

Is Ventolin a steroid?

Ventolin is not a steroid. Steroids are drugs within preventer inhalers which act to reduce inflammation in the airways when taken regularly.