Salbutamol 4mg Tablet, 10 Tablets

What Salbutamol tablets are and what they are used for?

Salbutamol 4mg tablet belongs to a group of medicines called selective beta-2-adrenergic agonists, which can be used to relax the muscles of the airways and womb.

Salbutamol 4mg Tablet is a selective beta-2 adrenoceptor agonist indicated for the treatment or prevention of bronchospasm. It provides short-acting bronchodilation in reversible airways obstruction due to asthma, chronic bronchitis and emphysema.
Bronchodilators should not be the only or main treatment in patients with persistent asthma.

Salbutamol tablets may be used in:
• asthma, to relieve the narrowing of the airways
• chronic bronchitis
• emphysema.

How to take Salbutamol tablets

Always take Salbutamol tablets exactly as your doctor has told you. If you are not sure, check with your doctor or pharmacist.
Swallow the tablets with water.
If you notice the tablets are not working as well as before, contact your doctor for advice.
• Adults: The recommended dose is 4mg three or four times a day.

Your doctor may increase this gradually up to a maximum of 8mg three or four times a day. Some patients may be treated successfully with 2mg three or four times a day.
• The elderly or patients are known to be sensitive to this product or other similar drugs: The recommended dose is initially 2mg three or four times a day.
• Children 2-6 years: The recommended dose is 1-2mg (Quarter to Half a tablet) three or four times a day.
• Children 6-12 years: The recommended dose is 2mg (Half a Tablet )  three or four times a day.
• Children over 12 years: The recommended dose is 2-4mg ( Half to One Tablet ) three or four times a day.

Children under 2 years: Not recommended

Possible side effects of Salbutamol Tablet

Like all medicines, this medicine can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them.
Stop taking Salbutamol tablets and contact your doctor immediately if you experience:
• an allergic reaction such as swelling of the face, lips, throat or tongue, pale or red irregular raised patches with severe itching (hives), difficulty breathing, low blood pressure, collapse.
• chest, jaw or shoulder pain (which may be accompanied with shortness of breath, feeling or being sick).
• difficulty breathing when lying flat, wheezing, clammy skin.
• irregular heart beat.
• low blood potassium (hypokalaemia) indicated by fatigue, muscle spasms.
• increased lactic acid in the body (weakness, rapid breathing, stomach pain).
Tell your doctor if you notice any of the following effects or if you notice any not listed:
Common (may affect up to 1 in 10 people)
• tremor, headache, dizziness; heart beating much faster than normal, palpitations; feeling sick; muscle cramps.
Uncommon (may affect up to 1 in 100 people)
• increased blood sugar levels (hyperglycaemia).
Very Rare (may affect up to 1 in 10,000 people)
• widening of blood vessels which can cause an increase in heart function and heart rate; feeling of restlessness and inability to stay still (akathisia), hyperactivity.
Not known (frequency cannot be estimated from the available data)
• being sick; metabolic changes, muscle tension.

What you need to know before you take Salbutamol tablets

Do not take Salbutamol tablets and tell your doctor if you:
• are allergic to salbutamol or any of the other ingredients of this medicine
• have threatened abortion (potential miscarriage) during the first six months of pregnancy.
• are taking beta-blockers such as propranolol.
Warnings and precautions
Talk to your doctor or pharmacist before taking Salbutamol tablets if you have:
• an overactive thyroid gland (thyrotoxicosis).
• diabetes.
• a history of heart disease, irregular heart rhythm or angina.
Although it is not known exactly how often this happens, some people occasionally experience chest pain (due to heart problems such as angina) or difficulty breathing. Tell your doctor/midwife if you develop these symptoms whilst receiving treatment with salbutamol, but do not stop using this medicine unless told to do so.
Other medicines and Salbutamol tablets
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking, have recently taken or might take any other medicines. Especially:
• monoamine oxidase inhibitors e.g. tranylcypromine (for depression)
• tricyclic antidepressants e.g. clomipramine (for depression)
• beta-blockers such as propranolol
• corticosteroids
• diuretics
• digoxin (for heart problems)
• xanthines such as theophylline, aminophylline (for asthma).
Pregnancy and breast-feeding
If you are pregnant or breast-feeding, think you may be pregnant or are planning to have a baby, ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice before taking this medicine.
Salbutamol tablets contain lactose and carmoisine (E122)
If you have been told you have an intolerance to some sugars, contact your doctor before taking this medicine.

How to store Salbutamol tablets
Keep this medicine out of the sight and reach of children.
Store below 25°C in a dry place.
Do not use Salbutamol tablets after the expiry date stated on the label/carton/bottle. The expiry date refers to the last day of that month.

Ingredients

The active substance (the ingredient that makes the tablets work) is salbutamol sulfate. Each tablet contains 4.8mg of the active ingredient equivalent to 4mg salbutamol.
• The other ingredients are maize starch, lactose monohydrate, dispersed pink (erythrosine (E127), carmoisine (E122), titanium dioxide (E171)), sodium starch glycollate, talc, magnesium stearate.

What is asthma

Asthma is a common lung condition that causes occasional breathing difficulties.

It affects people of all ages and often starts in childhood, although it can also develop for the first time in adults.

There’s currently no cure, but there are simple treatments that can help keep the symptoms under control so it does not have a big impact on your life.

Patient Information Leaflet