Salamol Easi-Breathe

Salamol Easi-Breathe is a salbutamol inhaler (blue inhaler/reliever inhaler). It is breath-actuated, meaning the inhaler releases a puff of salbutamol automatically during inspiration. 

This type of breath actuated inhaler is particularly useful for patients who have difficulty using standard inhalers. Standard inhalers require the user to push down on the end of the inhaler canister at the same time as breathing in. Some people find this co-ordination difficult and benefit from the automatic triggering from a 'breath actuated' inhaler.

In common with other salbutamol inhalers, the Salamol Easi-Breathe inhaler is used to relieve the chest tightness of asthma. It is used as required, with one or two puffs taken to relieve symptoms for up to 6 hours.

 

Garvan

Pharmacist - M.B.A. (Public Health) D.I.C.

Salamol Easi-Breathe

What is Salamol used for? Salamol and other…

Garvan J. Lynch
MBA (Public Health)

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What is Salamol used for?

Salamol and other salbutamol medicines are used to open up the airways and make breathing easier in people with breathing problems including:

  • asthma.
  • chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Salbutamol inhalers like Salamol are blue and known as 'relievers'. They work very quickly to open the airways and are used when needed to relieve asthma attacks, wheezing, coughing, chest tightness or shortness of breath.

If your asthma is triggered by exercise or allergies you can also use your salbutamol inhaler shortly before exercising, or if you know you're going to be exposed to allergens that trigger your wheezing, such as pet fur or pollen. This will open your airways and help prevent wheezing.

How does Salamol work?

Salbutamol is a type of medicine known as a short-acting beta 2 agonist. It works by stimulating receptors in the lungs called beta 2 receptors. This causes the muscles in the airways to relax and allows the airways to open.

In conditions like asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), emphysema and chronic bronchitis, the airways become narrowed and it's difficult for air to get in and out of the lungs. By opening the airways, salbutamol makes it easier to breathe.

How to use Salamol

Always follow the instructions given by your doctor regarding when to use your Salamol inhaler and how many puffs you can use each day. Don't exceed the prescribed dose.

It's very important to learn how to use your inhaler correctly, as otherwise you won't be breathing the right dose of medicine into your lungs. Instructions will be provided with your inhaler. However, your doctor, nurse or pharmacist can also show you how to use your inhaler and can check that you are using it correctly.

Use of the Inhaler

1. Patients should shake the inhaler vigorously.

2. The inhaler must be held upright. Patients should open it by folding down the cap which fits over the mouthpiece.

3. Patients should exhale normally, and place the mouthpiece in their mouth with their lips closed around it. They should hold the inhaler upright and make sure that their hand is not blocking the airholes. Inhalation through the mouthpiece should be slow and deep. Patients should be advised not to stop breathing when the inhaler puffs the dose into their mouth. After that, they should carry on until they have taken a deep breath.

4. Patients should remove the inhaler from their mouth and hold their breath for 10 seconds or as long as they comfortably can. Then, exhale slowly.

5. After using the inhaler, patients should hold it upright and close the cap immediately.

6. If more than one puff is needed, patients should close the cap, wait about one minute and then start again from step 1.

  • Patients should be advised to clean the inhaler once a week, especially in the mouthpiece to prevent deposits from the aerosol building up.
  • As with most inhaled medicinal products in pressurised containers, the therapeutic effect of this medicinal product may decrease when the container is cold.
  • The container should not be punctured, broken or burnt, even when apparently empty.
  • The metal container must not be put into water.
  • Full instructions for use are given in the Patient Information Leaflet which should be read carefully by the patient before use.

Salamol should be used with caution by

  • People with heart disease.
  • People with irregular heartbeats (arrhythmias).
  • People with high blood pressure (hypertension).
  • People with an overactive thyroid gland (hyperthyroidism).
  • People with diabetes.
  • People with a low level of potassium in their blood.

Is it safe to use salamol in pregnancy?

  • It's important that asthma is well controlled in pregnant women because severe asthma attacks can be dangerous to the pregnancy. Wherever possible, asthma medications should be taken by inhaler, as this minimises the amount of medicine that enters the bloodstream and crosses the placenta. Salamol inhaler can be taken as usual during pregnancy. For further medical advice talk to your doctor or pharmacist.

Is it safe to use salamol if breastfeeding?

  • Salbutamol may pass into breast milk in small amounts. However, in general, salbutamol inhalers can be used as normal during breastfeeding, because the amount of medicine that passes into the breast milk after using an inhaler is negligible and unlikely to harm the baby. For further advice talk to your doctor or pharmacist.

Possible side effects of Salamol

  • Feeling shaky.
  • Headache.
  • Faster than normal heartbeat (tachycardia).
  • Feeling tense.
  • These wear off a short time after taking a dose.
  • Heart palpitations.
  • Muscle cramps.
  • Mouth or throat irritation.
  • Flushing.
  • Feeling sick or vomiting.
  • Sleep disturbances.
  • Hyperactivity in children.
  • Low level of potassium in your blood (hypokalaemia). People with severe asthma should have regular blood tests to monitor the amount of potassium in their blood. This is because low oxygen levels in the blood (hypoxia) and various asthma medicines, including this one, can lower blood potassium levels.

Can I use other medicines with salamol?

  • You should check with your pharmacist before taking any new medicines while you're taking salbutamol, to make sure that the combination is safe.

Is it safe to take different medicines together?

  • People who are using salbutamol should not take medicines called beta-blockers, such as atenolol, propranolol or timolol. This is because beta-blockers have an opposite action to salbutamol and can cause the airways to narrow, resulting in breathing difficulties for people with asthma or COPD. This problem has also sometimes been seen with eye drops containing beta-blockers, eg used for glaucoma.

Salbutamol can sometimes cause the level of potassium in your blood to fall (this is called hypokalaemia). The following medicines can also have this effect:

  • corticosteroids, such as beclometasone and prednisolone
  • diuretics, such as bendroflumethiazide and furosemide.
  • other beta 2 agonists, such as salmeterol
  • xanthine derivates, such as theophylline or aminophylline.

Since a low blood potassium level can have serious adverse effects, people with severe asthma or COPD, who may be taking several of these medicines, should have their blood potassium levels monitored regularly.

References:

https://www.doctorfox.co.uk/salbutamol-asthma-inhalers/salamol-inhaler.html

https://www.netdoctor.co.uk/medicines/allergy-asthma/a8340/salamol-salbutamol/

https://www.hpra.ie/img/uploaded/swedocuments/2116684.PPA1151_074_002.79e09f

https://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/files/pil.2070.pdf

https://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/product/2070/smpc

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