Ventolin HFA

Name: Ventolin HFA

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Ventolin HFA Interactions

Tell your doctor about all the medicines you take, including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.

Ventolin HFA and other medicines may affect each other and cause side effects. Ventolin HFA may affect the way other medicines work, and other medicines may affect the way Ventolin HFA works.

Especially tell your doctor if you take:

other inhaled medicines or asthma medicines
beta blocker medicines
diuretics
digoxin
monoamine oxidase inhibitors
tricyclic antidepressants

This is not a complete list of Ventolin HFA drug interactions. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

Ventolin HFA Precautions

Ventolin HFA may cause serious side effects, including:

worsening trouble breathing, coughing and wheezing (paradoxical bronchospasm). If this happens stop using Ventolin HFA and call your doctor or get emergency help right away. Paradoxical bronchospasm is more likely to happen with your first use of a new canister of medicine.
heart problems including faster heart rate and higher blood pressure
possible death in people with asthma who use too much Ventolin HFA
allergic reactions. Call your doctor right away if you have the following symptoms of an allergic reaction:
- itchy skin
- swelling beneath your skin or in your throat
- rash
- worsening trouble breathing
low potassium levels in your blood
worsening of other medical problems in people who also use Ventolin HFA including increases in blood sugar

Do not use Ventolin HFA if you are allergic to Ventolin HFA or any of its ingredients.

Ventolin HFA Food Interactions

Medicines can interact with certain foods. In some cases, this may be harmful and your doctor may advise you to avoid certain foods. In the case of Ventolin HFA there are no specific foods that you must exclude from your diet when receiving Ventolin HFA.

Inform MD

Before you use Ventolin HFA, tell your doctor if you:

have heart problems
have high blood pressure (hypertension)
have convulsions (seizures)
have thyroid problems
have diabetes
have low potassium levels in your blood
are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known if the medication in Ventolin HFA will harm your unborn baby. Talk to your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant.
are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. It is not known if the medication in Ventolin HFA passes into your breast milk. Talk to your doctor about the best way to feed your baby if you are using Ventolin HFA.

Tell your doctor about all the medicines you take, including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.

Ventolin HFA and Pregnancy

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant.

The FDA categorizes medications based on safety for use during pregnancy. Five categories - A, B, C, D, and X, are used to classify the possible risks to an unborn baby when a medication is taken during pregnancy.

The medication in Ventolin HFA falls into category C. There are no good studies that have been done in humans with Ventolin HFA. But in animal studies, pregnant animals were given this medication, and the babies did not show any medical issues related to this medication.

Before Using Ventolin HFA

In deciding to use a medicine, the risks of taking the medicine must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you and your doctor will make. For this medicine, the following should be considered:

Allergies

Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to this medicine or any other medicines. Also tell your health care professional if you have any other types of allergies, such as to foods, dyes, preservatives, or animals. For non-prescription products, read the label or package ingredients carefully.

Pediatric

Appropriate studies performed to date have not demonstrated pediatric-specific problems that would limit the usefulness of albuterol inhalation aerosol (eg, Proair® HFA) in children 4 years of age and older, albuterol inhalation powder (eg, Proair® Respiclick®) in children 4 years of age and older, and albuterol inhalation solution (eg, Accuneb®) in children 2 years of age and older. However, safety and efficacy have not been established for the albuterol inhalation aerosol and albuterol inhalation powder in children younger than 4 years of age, and albuterol inhalation solution in children younger than 2 years of age.

Geriatric

Appropriate studies performed to date have not demonstrated geriatric-specific problems that would limit the usefulness of albuterol inhalation aerosol (eg, Proair® HFA) and albuterol inhalation powder (eg, Proair® Respiclick®) in geriatric patients. However, elderly patients are more likely to have age-related heart, kidney, or liver problems, which may require caution and an adjustment in the dose for patients receiving albuterol inhalation aerosol and albuterol inhalation powder.

No information is available on the relationship of age to the effects of albuterol inhalation solution (eg, Accuneb®) in geriatric patients.

Pregnancy

	Pregnancy Category	Explanation
All Trimesters	C	Animal studies have shown an adverse effect and there are no adequate studies in pregnant women OR no animal studies have been conducted and there are no adequate studies in pregnant women.

Breast Feeding

There are no adequate studies in women for determining infant risk when using this medication during breastfeeding. Weigh the potential benefits against the potential risks before taking this medication while breastfeeding.

Interactions with Medicines

Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are taking this medicine, it is especially important that your healthcare professional know if you are taking any of the medicines listed below. The following interactions have been selected on the basis of their potential significance and are not necessarily all-inclusive.

Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is usually not recommended, but may be required in some cases. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.

Amineptine
Amitriptyline
Amitriptylinoxide
Amoxapine
Atomoxetine
Clomipramine
Desipramine
Dibenzepin
Doxepin
Imipramine
Iobenguane I 123
Levalbuterol
Lofepramine
Melitracen
Nortriptyline
Opipramol
Protriptyline
Tianeptine
Trimipramine

Using this medicine with any of the following medicines may cause an increased risk of certain side effects, but using both drugs may be the best treatment for you. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.

Digoxin

Interactions with Food/Tobacco/Alcohol

Certain medicines should not be used at or around the time of eating food or eating certain types of food since interactions may occur. Using alcohol or tobacco with certain medicines may also cause interactions to occur. Discuss with your healthcare professional the use of your medicine with food, alcohol, or tobacco.

Proper Use of albuterol

This section provides information on the proper use of a number of products that contain albuterol. It may not be specific to Ventolin HFA. Please read with care.

Use this medicine only as directed by your doctor. Do not use more of it and do not use it more often than your doctor ordered. Also, do not stop using this medicine or any asthma medicine without telling your doctor. To do so may increase the chance for breathing problems.

The albuterol inhalation solution (eg, Accuneb®) should be used with a jet nebulizer that is connected to an air compressor with good air flow. The inhalation solution and nebulizer will come with patient instructions. Read and follow these instructions carefully. Ask your doctor if you have any questions.

To use the inhalation solution in the nebulizer:

Use one container of solution or mix the exact amount of solution using the dropper provided for each dose.
Place the inhalation solution in the medicine reservoir or nebulizer cup on the machine.
Connect the nebulizer to the face mask or mouthpiece.
Use the face mask or mouthpiece to breathe in the medicine.
Use the nebulizer for about 5 to 15 minutes, or until the medicine in the nebulizer cup is gone.
Clean all the parts of the nebulizer after each use.

The albuterol inhalation aerosol (eg, Proair® HFA) and albuterol inhalation powder (eg, Proair® Respiclick®) is used with a special inhaler that comes with patient instructions. Read the directions carefully before using this medicine. If you or your child do not understand the directions or are not sure how to use the inhaler, ask your doctor to show you what to do. Also, ask your doctor to check you or your child on a regular basis to make sure you are using it properly.

To use the inhalation aerosol:

The inhaler should be at room temperature before you use it.
Insert the metal canister firmly and fully into the clear end of the Proair® HFA mouthpiece. This mouthpiece should not be used with other inhaled medicines.
Remove the cap and look at the mouthpiece to make sure it is clean.
Shake the inhaler well and test spray it in the air 3 times before using it for the first time or if the inhaler has not been used for more than 2 weeks.
To inhale this medicine, breathe out fully, trying to get as much air out of the lungs as possible. Put the mouthpiece just in front of your mouth with the canister upright.
Open your mouth and breathe in slowly and deeply (like yawning), and at the same time firmly press down once on the top of the canister.
Hold your breath for about 10 seconds, then breathe out slowly.
If you are supposed to use more than one puff, wait 1 minute before inhaling the second puff. Repeat these steps for the second puff, starting with shaking the inhaler.
When you have finished all of your doses, rinse your mouth with water and spit the water out.
Clean the inhaler mouthpiece at least once a week with warm running water for 30 seconds, and dry it completely.
If you need to use the inhaler before it is completely dry, shake off the excess water, replace the canister, and spray it 2 times in the air away from the face. Use your regular dose.
After using the inhaler, wash the mouthpiece again and dry it completely.
If the mouthpiece becomes blocked, washing it will help.

To use the inhalation powder:

Take the inhaler from the foil pouch before you use it for the first time.
The inhaler provides about 200 inhalations. The dose counter will change to red when there are "20" doses left. Call your doctor or pharmacist for a refill of prescription or medicine.
Make sure the cap is closed before using this medicine. Do not open the cap unless you are going to use it.
Hold the inhaler upright as you open the cap fully until you hear a "click". Your inhaler is now ready to use.
To inhale this medicine, breathe out fully, trying to get as much air out of the lungs as possible. Put the mouthpiece fully into your mouth and close your lips around it.
Breathe in through your mouth as deeply as you can until you have taken a full deep breath.
Do not block the vent above the mouthpiece with your lips or fingers.
Hold your breath for about 10 seconds or as long as you comfortably can.
Remove the inhaler from your mouth and check the dose counter to make sure you received the medicine.
Close the cap firmly over the mouthpiece after using the inhaler. Always close the cap after each use.
If you are supposed to use more than one puff, repeat these steps for the second puff, starting with opening the cap fully.
Keep the inhaler clean and dry at all times. Do not wash or put any part of the inhaler in water.
If you need to clean the mouthpiece, wipe it gently with a dry cloth or tissue.

Dosing

The dose of this medicine will be different for different patients. Follow your doctor's orders or the directions on the label. The following information includes only the average doses of this medicine. If your dose is different, do not change it unless your doctor tells you to do so.

The amount of medicine that you take depends on the strength of the medicine. Also, the number of doses you take each day, the time allowed between doses, and the length of time you take the medicine depend on the medical problem for which you are using the medicine.

For inhalation aerosol dosage form (inhaler):
- For treatment or prevention of bronchospasm:
  - Adults and children 4 years of age and older—Two puffs every 4 to 6 hours as needed.
  - Children younger than 4 years of age—Use and dose must be determined by your child's doctor.
- For prevention of exercise-induced bronchospasm:
  - Adults and children 4 years of age and older—Two puffs taken 15 to 30 minutes before exercise.
  - Children younger than 4 years of age—Use and dose must be determined by your child's doctor.
For inhalation powder dosage form (inhaler):
- For treatment or prevention of bronchospasm:
  - Adults and children 4 years of age and older—Two puffs every 4 to 6 hours as needed.
  - Children younger than 4 years of age—Use and dose must be determined by your child's doctor.
- For prevention of exercise-induced bronchospasm:
  - Adults and children 4 years of age and older—Two puffs taken 15 to 30 minutes before exercise.
  - Children younger than 4 years of age—Use and dose must be determined by your child's doctor.
For inhalation solution dosage form (used with a nebulizer):
- For prevention of bronchospasm:
  - Adults and children older than 12 years of age—2.5 milligrams (mg) in the nebulizer 3 or 4 times per day as needed.
  - Children 2 to 12 years of age—0.63 to 1.25 mg in the nebulizer 3 or 4 times per day as needed.
  - Children younger than 2 years of age—Use and dose must be determined by your child's doctor.

Missed Dose

If you miss a dose of this medicine, take it as soon as possible. However, if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not double doses.

Storage

Store the canister at room temperature, away from heat and direct light. Do not freeze. Do not keep this medicine inside a car where it could be exposed to extreme heat or cold. Do not poke holes in the canister or throw it into a fire, even if the canister is empty.

Keep the medicine in the foil pouch until you are ready to use it. Store at room temperature, away from heat and direct light. Do not freeze.

Store the medicine in a closed container at room temperature, away from heat, moisture, and direct light. Keep from freezing.

Keep out of the reach of children.

Do not keep outdated medicine or medicine no longer needed.

Ask your healthcare professional how you should dispose of any medicine you do not use.

Throw away Proair® Respiclick® 13 months after opening the foil pouch, when the dose counter reaches "0", or after the expiration date, whichever comes first.

What are some side effects that I need to call my doctor about right away?

WARNING/CAUTION: Even though it may be rare, some people may have very bad and sometimes deadly side effects when taking a drug. Tell your doctor or get medical help right away if you have any of the following signs or symptoms that may be related to a very bad side effect:

Signs of an allergic reaction, like rash; hives; itching; red, swollen, blistered, or peeling skin with or without fever; wheezing; tightness in the chest or throat; trouble breathing or talking; unusual hoarseness; or swelling of the mouth, face, lips, tongue, or throat.
Signs of low potassium levels like muscle pain or weakness, muscle cramps, or a heartbeat that does not feel normal.
If you are not able to get the breathing attack under control. Get help right away.
Chest pain or pressure or a fast heartbeat.
Very nervous and excitable.
Very bad headache.
Very bad dizziness or passing out.
Peak flow measurement low.
This medicine may sometimes cause very bad breathing problems. This may be life-threatening. When this happens with a puffer (inhaler) or with liquid for breathing in, most of the time it happens right after a dose and after the first use of a new canister or vial of Ventolin HFA (albuterol inhalation aerosol). If you have trouble breathing, breathing that is worse, wheezing, or coughing, get medical help right away.

How should I use Ventolin?

Use Ventolin exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Do not use in larger or smaller amounts or for longer than recommended. Follow the directions on your prescription label.

Use only the prescribed dose of this medicine and follow all patient instructions for safe use. Talk with your doctor about your individual risks and benefits of using Ventolin.

When using the Ventolin HFA inhaler device for the first time, prime it by spraying 4 test sprays into the air, away from your face. Shake well before priming. Also prime the inhaler if you have not used it for 2 weeks or longer, or if you have dropped the inhaler.

The instructions below are for standard use of the inhaler and nebulizer devices. Your doctor may want you to use your device differently. Use only the inhaler device provided with your medicine or you may not get the correct dose.

To use the Ventolin inhaler:

Shake the canister well just before each spray.
Uncap the mouthpiece of the Ventolin inhaler. Breathe out fully. Put the mouthpiece into your mouth and close your lips. Breathe in slowly while pushing down on the canister. Hold your breath for 10 seconds, then breathe out slowly.
If you use more than one inhalation at a time, wait at least 1 minute before using the second inhalation and shake the inhaler again.
Keep your Ventolin inhaler clean and dry, and store it with the cap on the mouthpiece. Clean your inhaler once a week by removing the canister and placing the mouthpiece under warm running water for at least 30 seconds. Shake out the excess water and allow the parts to air dry completely before putting the inhaler back together.

Talk with your doctor if any of your asthma medications do not seem to work as well in treating or preventing attacks. If it seems like you need to use more of any of your medications in a 24-hour period, talk with your doctor.

An increased need for this medicine could be an early sign of a serious asthma attack.

It is important to keep Ventolin on hand at all times. Get your prescription refilled before you run out of medicine completely. Keep using all of your other medications as prescribed by your doctor.

Store Ventolin at room temperature away from moisture and heat. Extreme heat can cause the medicine canister to burst. Do not store it in your car on hot days. Do not throw an empty canister into open flame.

For the Consumer

Applies to albuterol: oral syrup, oral tablet, oral tablet extended release

Other dosage forms:

inhalation aerosol powder, inhalation capsule, inhalation powder, inhalation solution, inhalation suspension

Along with its needed effects, albuterol (the active ingredient contained in Ventolin HFA) may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.

Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur while taking albuterol:

More common

Shakiness in the legs, arms, hands, or feet
trembling or shaking of the hands or feet

Less common

Fast, irregular, pounding, or racing heartbeat or pulse

Rare

Cough
difficulty breathing
difficulty with swallowing
hives or welts
hoarseness
large, hive-like swelling on the face, eyelids, lips, tongue, throat, hands, legs, feet, or sex organs
noisy breathing
redness of the skin
shortness of breath
skin rash
slow or irregular breathing
swelling of the mouth or throat
tightness in the chest
wheezing

Incidence not known

Agitation
anxiety
arm, back, or jaw pain
blurred vision
chest pain or discomfort
confusion
convulsions
extra heartbeats
fainting
hallucinations
headache
irritability
lightheadedness
mood or mental changes
muscle pain or cramps
muscle spasm or jerking of all extremities
nervousness
nightmares
pounding in the ears
restlessness
sudden loss of consciousness
sweating
total body jerking
unusual feeling of excitement
vomiting

Some side effects of albuterol may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects. Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them: