Description
How it works
Asthma and similar conditions cause the muscles around the airways to tighten, making the tubes in your lungs narrow. This leads to:
- Wheezing
- Chest tightness
- Coughing
- Shortness of breath
Salamol contains salbutamol, a selective β₂-agonist (fast-acting bronchodilator). It works by:
- Relaxing the smooth muscle in the walls of the airways
- Quickly opening up (dilating) the airways
- Making it easier for air to move in and out of the lungs
Key points:
- Onset is within about 5 minutes
- Effect typically lasts 4–6 hours in reversible airway obstruction
- It is a “reliever” inhaler, not a preventer – you still need your steroid/preventer inhaler if this has been prescribed
This is why Salamol is used as needed to relieve symptoms and to help prevent exercise- or allergen-induced asthma.
Who it may be suitable for
Salamol may be suitable for:
- People with asthma
- People with other conditions causing reversible airway narrowing (e.g. some COPD patients, on a doctor’s advice)
- Those who need:
- Quick relief from wheezing, breathlessness or chest tightness
- Prevention of symptoms before exercise or exposure to known triggers (dust, pollen, pet dander, cold air, smoke)
According to the SmPC, Salamol is licensed in:
- Adults (including the elderly)
- Adolescents
- Children from 4 years of age
Your 24HR Pharmacy online service, however, is aimed at adults. Children with breathing problems should be assessed by their GP or a specialist.
Who it may not be suitable for
Do not use Salamol if:
-
You are allergic to salbutamol or any of the inhaler ingredients
-
It has been suggested for premature labour or threatened miscarriage – this inhaled form must not be used for those purposes
Use with extra caution and speak to a doctor if you have:
- Heart disease (e.g. angina, previous heart attack, arrhythmias, severe heart failure)
- High blood pressure
- Overactive thyroid (hyperthyroidism)
- Hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy
- Diabetes (salbutamol can slightly raise blood sugar)
- A history of low potassium levels in the blood
Frequent use of Salamol (needing it more than twice a week, not counting use before exercise) can mean your asthma is not well controlled and you may need a change in preventer treatment.
Interactions to be aware of:
- Non-selective beta-blockers (e.g. propranolol) can block the effect of salbutamol – usually avoided in asthma
- Medicines that can lower potassium (e.g. some diuretics, steroids, xanthines) – may increase the risk of low potassium
- Because Salamol contains a small amount of ethanol (alcohol) per puff, there is a theoretical interaction with disulfiram or metronidazole, although the amount is tiny
If you think you’ve used more than the maximum recommended dose, or feel very unwell, contact a doctor or NHS 111 immediately.
Side Effects
Common side effects
Like all medicines, Salamol can cause side effects, although many people have none or only mild effects.
The more common side effects (up to 1 in 10 people) include:
- Shakiness or tremor
- Headache
- Tenseness or feeling “on edge”
- Dizziness
- Mouth or throat irritation
- Muscle cramps or mild muscle aches
Less common/rare but important:
- Fast or irregular heartbeat (palpitations, tachycardia, arrhythmias)
- Low potassium levels – may cause muscle weakness, cramps or irregular heartbeat (more likely with high doses or in severe asthma)
- Sleep disturbances, hallucinations or hyperactivity (especially in children)
- Nausea, vomiting, dry or sore mouth
- Allergic reactions, including rash, itching, hives, swelling of the face, lips, tongue or throat, low blood pressure or collapse
- Paradoxical bronchospasm – sudden worsening of wheeze and breathlessness immediately after a dose
Stop using the inhaler and seek urgent medical help if:
- Your breathing suddenly gets worse after using the inhaler
- You get chest pain or symptoms suggestive of heart problems, especially if you have underlying heart disease
- You develop swelling of the face/lips/tongue or difficulty breathing
- You feel extremely unwell, with severe palpitations, tremor or chest tightness
Patient Information Leaflet
Please see HERE for the Patient Information Leaflet
Additional Info
- Active ingredient: salbutamol sulfate, equivalent to 100 micrograms salbutamol per metered dose (puff)
- Form: pressurised metered-dose inhaler (MDI), 200 doses, CFC-free
- Class: short-acting β₂-agonist bronchodilator (ATC code R03AC02)
- Excipient with known effect: each puff contains about 3.93 mg ethanol (alcohol); the amount is small but may matter for a few patients (e.g. on disulfiram or metronidazole).
- Driving and using machines: no specific studies, but if you feel dizzy, shaky or unwell, do not drive or operate machinery until you feel better.
- Pregnancy & breastfeeding: Salamol can be used in pregnancy and breastfeeding only if the expected benefit outweighs any potential risk. Maintaining good asthma control is very important in pregnancy – this must be discussed with your doctor or midwife.
- Storage:
- Keep below the temperature stated in the leaflet (usually below 30°C)
- Do not expose to heat or direct sunlight
- Do not puncture, break or burn the canister, even when it appears empty
Salamol is a prescription-only medicine. Through 24 HR Pharmacy it is supplied only after an online asthma assessment has been reviewed and approved by a prescriber.
Directions
How to take the drug
Always use Salamol exactly as your doctor or asthma plan tells you, and read the patient information leaflet in the pack. The following is based on the official SmPC.
Usual doses – adults (including elderly)
For relief of symptoms (wheeze, tight chest, breathlessness):
- Take 1 puff (100 micrograms) as a starting dose
- If needed, this can be increased to 2 puffs (200 micrograms)
- Do not exceed 8 puffs (800 micrograms) in 24 hours
- You should not usually repeat doses more often than every 4 hours
To prevent exercise- or trigger-induced symptoms:
-
Take 2 puffs (200 micrograms) 10–15 minutes before exercise or exposure to a known trigger
If you need your inhaler very frequently, or find it doesn’t last at least 3–4 hours, your asthma may be worsening – seek medical advice urgently.
Children’s doses: are similar in principle (1–2 puffs as needed, up to 2 puffs 4 times daily), but must be set and supervised by a GP/paediatrician, not via the adult online service.
How to use your Salamol inhaler
- Stand or sit upright.
- Remove the mouthpiece cover and check the mouthpiece is clean and clear.
- Shake the inhaler 4–5 times.
- Hold it upright, thumb on the base, mouthpiece at the bottom.
- Breathe out fully, away from the inhaler.
- Place the mouthpiece between your teeth, lips sealed around it (don’t bite).
- Start to breathe in slowly and deeply through your mouth, and press down on the canister once as you continue to breathe in.
- Remove the inhaler and hold your breath for about 5–10 seconds, or as long as comfortable, then breathe out slowly.
- If a second puff is needed, wait about 30 seconds, then repeat steps 3–8.
- Replace the mouthpiece cover straight away.
Helpful tips:
- Keep the inhaler upright when using it – it only works properly in a vertical position
- If you haven’t used it for 5 days or more, test fire 2 puffs into the air before using
- If you find co-ordinating your breathing difficult, a spacer (e.g. Volumatic®) may be recommended
Missed a dose?
Salamol is used “as needed”, not on a strict timetable, so there’s no usual “missed dose”.
- If you forget to use it before exercise and become wheezy or tight-chested, use your prescribed dose as soon as possible and follow your asthma plan.
- Do not take extra puffs “just in case” if you are not having symptoms unless your doctor has told you to.
If you use more than you should
Taking too many puffs can cause:
- Shakiness or fine tremor (especially in the hands)
- Headache
- Fast or pounding heartbeat (palpitations, tachycardia)
- Feeling tense, dizzy or flushed
- Very high doses can lead to low potassium and raised lactic acid levels
FAQs
What is Salamol used for?
Salamol is a blue “reliever” inhaler used to quickly relieve wheezing, chest tightness and breathlessness in asthma and other conditions with reversible airway obstruction. It is also used to prevent asthma symptoms triggered by exercise or known allergens when used beforehand.
How quickly does Salamol work and how long does it last?
It usually starts to work within a few minutes (often under 5 minutes) and the effect typically lasts 4–6 hours.
How often can I use my Salamol inhaler?
1–2 puffs as needed for symptoms with a maximum 8 puffs in 24 hours.
Can I use Salamol before exercise?
Yes. Salamol is commonly used to prevent exercise-induced asthma.
What’s the difference between Salamol and my “preventer” inhaler?
Salamol is a short-acting reliever, works quickly to open the airways and is used as needed for symptoms or before triggers. Preventer inhalers (usually brown/orange, contains a steroid), reduce inflammation and sensitivity in the airways, are taken every day, even when well and help stop asthma attacks happening in the first place.
Can I use Salamol if I’m pregnant or breastfeeding?
Salamol can be used in pregnancy and breastfeeding when clearly needed, as uncontrolled asthma can be dangerous for both you and your baby. However, the SmPC advises using it only where the benefit to the mother outweighs any potential risk.
Can Salamol be used with my other asthma medicines?
It is often used alongside an inhaled steroid (preventer) and a spacer device can be added if you struggle with technique.
What should I do if Salamol isn’t helping, or I’m using it a lot?
This can be a sign of poorly controlled or worsening asthma, which can be dangerous. Seek urgent medical advice if: you need your reliever inhaler more often than usual, it doesn’t relieve your symptoms as well or for as long, you wake at night with breathlessness or wheezing, or you are using more than 8 puffs per day.
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