Ventolin is used an inhalation used by people with conditions such as asthma, chronic obstructive lung disease, bronchospasm and any obstructive airway diseases. Ventolin works by improving how air flows in the lungs and relaxing muscles in the lungs. Ventolin is prescribed by a doctor after assessing your condition and it should only be taken after prescription.

For ventolin to work effectively, you should stay with your inhaler at all times and get a refill immediately if you suspect you are running out of ventolin. It is also important to talk to your doctor about other medications you are using and their interactions with ventolin.

Safe usage of ventolin

To ensure safe use of ventolin, follow the doctor’s instruction carefully on dosage. A high dosage of ventolin can cause symptoms like headache, dry mouth, uneven heart rate, chest pains, dizziness, nausea, convulsions and sometimes fainting.

Consult a doctor on use when you buy ventolin in case you want to know about the risks and benefits which may come with using ventolin.

How to use the ventolin inhaler

The ventolin inhaler may come in different devices so it is important to use the device provided by your doctor so that you do not get the dosage wrong.

Steps in using the ventolin inhaler:

1. Make sure you shake the inhaler well before spraying
2. Before putting the inhaler take a deep breath out.
3. Once you put the mouth peace in your mouth close your lips and breathe in slowly after pressing the inhaler.
4. Wait for at least 10 seconds before breathing out slowly.
5. In case the doctor advice more than one squeeze of the inhaler, wait for about 1 minute before you use it again.

Care and safety of the ventolin inhaler

• Keep the inhaler dry and clean at all times.
• Avoid keeping the inhaler in moist and hot places as this may cause the canister to burst.
• Keep the canister away from an open flame.
• Clean the mouthpiece of the inhaler with running warm water at least once a week and make sure it is completely dry before putting it back.
• Before using a new inhaler spray it into the air at least 4 times away from your face and away from other people. The same should be done if you have stayed for over 2 weeks without using the inhaler.

Who should not use ventolin?

There is a group of people who are advised not to use ventolin that is why it is important to get a prescription from a doctor before using ventolin. People who cannot use ventolin include:

1. People with heart conditions such as heart disease and heart failure or people with issues of high blood pressure.
2. Diabetic people are strongly advised not to use ventolin.
3. People who experience convulsions or seizures such as epilepsy cannot use ventolin.
4. People with an over reactive thyroid cannot use ventolin too.
5. Children under the age of four years should not use the ventolin inhaler.

Ventolin use and pregnancy has not clearly established so further advice should be sort from the doctor to explain on ventolin use.

Side effects of using ventolin

Ventolin can cause some severe symptoms which require immediate attention of the doctor and some of them include:

• Tightness of the chest and having difficulty in breathing. This is a very serious symptom which requires a doctor’s intervention and mostly if u just started using a new canister of the inhaler.
• High blood pressure causing seizures, headache, anxiety, distorted vision, difficulty in breathing, irregular heart rate and cheat pain.
• Low potassium problems such as excessive thirst, more urination, weakness of the muscles, leg pain or discomfort and confusion.
• Other minor side effects that come with using ventolin may include; headaches, changes in sleeping patterns, feeling of dryness in the throat and mouth, muscle pains, cough, running nose, diarrhea, sore throat, nausea and sometimes vomiting.

Ventolin interactions with other drugs

Discuss with your doctor about the drugs you are using before getting a ventolin prescription and some of the drugs to note include:

• Drugs used as bronchodilators like maxiar, xopenex, salmeterol and any other drug used as a bronchodilator.
• Remember to tell the doctor in case you are using antidepressants.
• Other drugs which should be noted include diuretic and digoxin.
• Telling the doctor about the drugs you are currently using or you have used recently is important so that he/she can determine their interaction with ventolin.