Salbutamol sulfate
Consumer Medicine Information
What is in this leaflet?
Please read this leaflet carefully before you use Ventolin Rotacaps.
This leaflet answers some common questions about Ventolin Rotacaps. 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 expected benefits of you taking Ventolin Rotacaps against the risks this medicine could 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 are Ventolin Rotacaps used for?
Ventolin Rotacaps are capsules which contain a medicine called salbutamol sulfate. This medicine belongs to a group of medicines called beta-2 adrenoceptor agonists. The medicine is a very fine powder mixed with lactose (which contains milk protein). Each capsule contains the equivalent of 200 micrograms of salbutamol.
Ventolin Rotacaps are used in a plastic device called a Ventolin Rotahaler. When used in your Ventolin Rotahaler, your Ventolin Rotacaps provide a measured amount of medicine for you to breathe into your lungs. Your Ventolin Rotacaps help you to breathe more easily. When you are having difficulty breathing, or your chest is tight, or when you are wheezing, Ventolin Rotacaps open up the breathing tubes in your lungs to help with breathing. Because the medicine in your Ventolin Rotacaps gives fast relief from your chest symptoms, it is often called a 'reliever'.
Some people start wheezing or their chest starts to feel tight when they exercise. This is called exercise-induced asthma. If you have exercise-induced asthma, your doctor may tell you to inhale one or two Ventolin Rotacaps before you exercise. This can help prevent the symptoms of exercise-induced asthma.
This medicine is only one part of a plan to help you manage your asthma or other chest condition. You should discuss this plan with your doctor. Ask your doctor to check your treatment regularly.
The medicine in Ventolin Rotacaps is not addictive.
Before you take Ventolin Rotacaps
Do not take:
if you have ever had an allergic reaction to salbutamol sulfate, lactose or milk protein
to stop a miscarriage or premature labour
if the expiry date (EXP) printed on the pack has passed
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 have had to stop taking this or any other asthma medicine
you are having treatment for a thyroid condition
you are having treatment for high blood pressure
you have a heart problem
you have a liver problem
you have a kidney problem
you have sugar diabetes
you are taking any other medicines, including medicines you buy without a prescription
you are breastfeeding, pregnant or trying to become pregnant.
How do I take Ventolin Rotacaps?
How much to take
The pharmacist's label will usually tell you how many capsules to use and how often to use your Ventolin Rotacaps with the Rotahaler. If you are not sure, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
Adults: one or two Rotacaps (200-400 micrograms) inhaled via Rotahaler 3 or 4 times daily. The maximum dose is 12 Rotacaps in a 24 hour period.
Children (to 12 years): one Rotacap (200 micrograms) inhaled via Rotahaler 3 or 4 times daily. The maximum dose is 6 Rotacaps in a 24 hour period.
Initial doses in the elderly may be lower than the recommended adult dose.
If your breathing condition suddenly gets worse, your doctor may tell you to use extra capsules. If you use extra capsules and do not get relief, tell your doctor immediately.
If you forget to take a dose, do not worry. Just take the next dose at the normal time or earlier if you become wheezy or feel tight in the chest.
How to take it
Do not swallow your Ventolin Rotacaps. The medicine in your Ventolin Rotacaps is taken by inhalation only, using your Ventolin Rotahaler. The Rotahaler opens the capsule and releases the powder. Make sure that you have a Ventolin Rotahaler and can use it properly.
More instructions on how to use your Ventolin Rotacaps with your Ventolin Rotahaler are provided inside your pack of Ventolin Rotacaps. Follow the instructions carefully.
You should visit your doctor or pharmacist regularly to check that you are using your Ventolin Rotahaler in the right way. If you are not breathing the medicine in correctly, the medicine may not be helping you as much as it could.
How long to take it for
Do not stop taking Ventolin Rotacaps, or change the dose without first checking with your doctor.
What do I do if I take 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 of your medicine, even if there are no signs of discomfort or poisoning. You may need urgent medical attention.
Keep telephone numbers for these places handy.
If you are not sure what to do, contact your doctor or pharmacist.
While you are taking Ventolin Rotacaps
Things you must do
Tell your doctor if, for any reason, you have not taken your medicine exactly as directed.
Otherwise, your doctor may think that it was not working as it should and change your treatment unnecessarily.
If your breathing suddenly becomes more difficult just after you have used your Ventolin Rotacaps, tell your doctor immediately.
Tell your doctor if your Ventolin Rotacaps medicine does not seem to be working as well as usual as your asthma may be getting worse and you may need a different medicine.
These may be signs that your breathing condition is getting worse.
Your doctor may decide to add another medicine to your treatment if your Ventolin Rotacaps are not having the same effect as before.
Things you must not do
Do not give this medicine to anyone else, even if their symptoms seem similar to yours.
Do not use Ventolin Rotacaps to treat any other complaints unless your doctor says to.
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 Rotacaps, even if the problem is not listed below.
Like other medicines, Ventolin Rotacaps 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.
The most commonly reported side effects are:
headache
nausea
shaky or tense feeling
heart beating faster than usual
'warm' feeling
mouth or throat irritation.
Some rare side-effects are:
muscle cramps
restlessness.
Stop using your Ventolin Rotacaps and tell your doctor immediately if you notice any of the following:
skin rash, angioedema (sudden swelling under the skin) or faint or dizzy feeling. These could be symptoms of an allergic reaction.
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.
In some people, the medicine in Ventolin Rotacaps may affect their blood potassium levels. Your doctor may do tests to check this.
How do I store Ventolin Rotacaps?
Keep this medicine where children cannot reach it, such as in a locked cupboard.
Keep your Ventolin Rotacaps in a cool, dry place away from heat (store below 30°C). Do not leave in a car, on window sill or in bathroom.
Do not load a capsule into your Rotahaler until you are ready to take a dose.
You will find an expiry (or use by) date printed on the manufacturer's label on the cardboard box. Do not use your Ventolin Rotacaps after this date.
Return any unused or expired medicine to your pharmacist.
Product description
What Ventolin Rotacaps look like
The capsule shell is made of gelatin. One half of the capsule shell is transparent and the other half is pale blue in colour. Printed on the capsule shell is either "Ventolin 200" in light red once on the body and once on the cap or "Ventolin 200" in light red once on the cap and an arrow on the body.
Not all pack sizes may be available.
Ventolin Rotacaps are available in boxes of either 100 or 128 capsules per box.
Ingredients
Ventolin Rotacaps contains the active ingredient salbutamol sulfate.
Ventolin Rotacaps also contain lactose (which contains milk protein) as a non-active ingredient.
