Salbutamol sulfate
Consumer Medicine Information
What is in this leaflet?
This leaflet answers some common questions about Ventolin Injection. It does not contain all of the available information. It does not take the place of talking to your doctor or pharmacist.
All medicines have risks and benefits. Your doctor has weighed the risks of you taking Ventolin Injection against the benefits they expect it will have for you.
If you have any concerns about taking this medicine, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
Keep this leaflet with the medicine.
You may need to read it again.
What is Ventolin Injection used for?
Ventolin Injection helps you to breathe more easily. When your chest is tight or when you are wheezing, Ventolin opens up the breathing tubes in your lungs.
Ventolin Injection belongs to a group of medicines called bronchodilators. Because the medicine in Ventolin Injection gives fast relief from your chest symptoms, it is often called a 'reliever'.
There are other types of medicines that prevent wheezing or chest tightness. These medicines are called 'preventers' and must be used every day. Your doctor may tell you to use a 'preventer' in addition to your Ventolin Injection. Ventolin Injection is not the only form of Ventolin available. Your doctor will decide which form of Ventolin is right for you.
Your doctor may have prescribed Ventolin Injection for another reason.
Ventolin Injection is not addictive.
Before you are given Ventolin Injection
When you must not have it:
if you have ever had an allergic reaction to salbutamol sulfate or any of the ingredients listed toward the end of this leaflet. (See "Ingredients")
Some of the symptoms of an allergic reaction may include:
Shortness of breath
Wheezing or difficulty in breathing
Swelling of the face, lips, tongue or other parts of the body
Rash, itching or hives on the skin.
after the expiry date (EXP) printed on the pack
if the packaging is torn or shows signs of tampering.
Tell your doctor if:
You must tell your doctor if:
you are allergic to foods, dyes, preservatives or any other medicines
you are taking any other medicines, including medicines you buy without a prescription
you have had to stop taking this or any other asthma medicine for any reason
you have been diagnosed with a thyroid condition
you have been diagnosed with high blood pressure
you have a heart problem such as an irregular or fast heart beat or angina
you have diabetes
you are breastfeeding, pregnant or trying to become pregnant.
How do I use Ventolin Injection?
How to take it
Ventolin Injection must only be given by a doctor, or a nurse acting on a doctor's instruction. It may be injected into muscle tissue or into a vein.
Sometimes it is injected under the skin. When it is injected into a vein, it may be given directly or through a 'drip'.
Initial doses in the elderly may be lower than the recommended adult dosage.
Do not try to use Ventolin Injection on your own.
Do not use Ventolin Injection in the same syringe or 'drip' as any other medicine.
How long to take it for
Your doctor will decide how often and for how long you have to use Ventolin Injection.
What do I do if I have too much? (Overdose)
Immediately telephone your doctor or Poisons Information Centre (telephone 131126) for advice, if you think you or anyone else may have taken too much Ventolin Injection, even if there are no signs of discomfort or poisoning.
If you are not sure what to do, contact your doctor or pharmacist.
Symptoms of an overdose may include:
your heart beating significantly faster than normal
significant muscle tremors
an increased rate of breathing due to increased acid in the blood
nausea
vomiting.
Some side effects, for example changes in blood sugar (glucose) level or changes in blood potassium level can only be found when your doctor does tests from time to time to check your progress.
While you are using Ventolin Injection
Things you must do
If you are about to be started on any new medicine, remind your doctor or pharmacist that you are using Ventolin Injection.
Tell any other doctors, dentists, and pharmacists who treat you that you are taking this medicine.
If you are going to have surgery, tell the surgeon or anaesthetist that you are taking this medicine.
It may affect other medicines used during the surgery.
Keep all of your doctor's appointments so that your progress can be checked.
Tell your doctor if you become pregnant or are breast-feeding.
Your doctor will tell you which medicine you should take. It is important that asthma is managed well during pregnancy and you should not stop your medicine without asking your doctor.
Things you must not do
Do not use Ventolin Injection to treat any other complaints unless your doctor tells you to.
Do not give this medicine to anyone else, even if their symptoms seem similar to yours.
What are the side effects?
Check with your doctor as soon as possible if you think you are experiencing any side effects or allergic reactions due to taking Ventolin Injection, even if the problem is not listed below.
Like other medicines, Ventolin Injection can cause some side effects. If they occur, they are most likely to be minor and temporary. However, some may be serious and need medical attention. Your doctor, pharmacist or nurse will be able to answer any questions you may have.
The most commonly reported side effects are:
shaky or tense feeling
your heart beats faster than normal.
Rare side effects are:
excitability in children
shortness of breath
abnormally fast or deep breathing.
Very rare side effects:
muscle cramps.
The following side effects may also happen but the frequency of these is unknown:
stinging or pain when the injection is given directly into the muscle
nausea
'warm' feeling
headache
irregular heartbeat
increased blood flow to the extremities (peripheral vasodilation)
low blood pressure.
Tell your doctor or nurse immediately if you notice any of the following:
skin rash
angioedema (sudden swelling under the skin)
faint or dizzy feeling
wheezing, swelling of the lips/mouth, difficulty in breathing, hayfever, lumpy rash (hives) or fainting. These could be a symptom of an allergic reaction.
You should stop having your Ventolin Injection immediately.
Very rarely, in people receiving high dose treatment with this medicine and in patients with an acute exacerbation of asthma, a serious condition called acidosis, which affects the blood may occur because of build up of lactic acid. Your doctor may do tests to check this.
In a few people, the medicine in Ventolin Injection may affect their blood potassium levels. Your doctor may do tests to check this.
This is not a complete list of all possible side effects. Others may occur in some people and there may be some side effects not yet known.
Do not be alarmed by this list of possible side effects. You may not experience any of them.
How do I store Ventolin Injection?
Keep this medicine where children cannot reach it, such as in a locked cupboard.
A locked cupboard at least one-and-a-half metres above ground is a good place to store medicines.
Keep Ventolin Injection in a cool, dry place where it stays below 25°C.
Do not leave in a car, on a window sill or in a bathroom.
Heat and dampness can destroy some medicines.
Product description
What Ventolin Injection looks like
Ventolin Injection is stored in clear glass ampoules. Each ampoule of Ventolin Injection contains 1 mL of liquid and provides 500 micrograms of salbutamol sulfate.
Ingredients
Ventolin Injection contains the active ingredient salbutamol sulfate.
Ventolin Injection also contains the inactive ingredients sodium chloride, water and dilute sulphuric acid for pH adjustment.
There are 5 ampoules in a box.
