Ventolin HFA: Uses, Side Effects and Dosage

What VENTOLIN HFA is used for:

VENTOLIN HFA is used in adults and children (4 years and older) to:

• relieve and prevent worsening breathing problems (bronchospasm) due to chronic bronchitis (inflammation of the airways of the lungs with mucus production), bronchial asthma (inflammation of the airways of the lungs) and other problems with the airways of the lungs.
• prevent breathing problems caused by exercise.

How VENTOLIN HFA works:

VENTOLIN HFA belongs to a group of medicines known as “bronchodilators”. VENTOLIN HFA relaxes the muscles in the walls of the small air passages in the lungs. This helps to open up the airways of the lungs making it easier to breathe.

The ingredients in VENTOLIN HFA are:

Medicinal ingredient: Salbutamol sulfate.

Non-medicinal ingredient: 1, 1, 1, 2-tetrafluoroethane (HFA-134a).

VENTOLIN HFA comes in the following dosage forms:

VENTOLIN HFA is a pressurized metered dose inhaler containing 100 mcg of salbutamol per inhalation.

The canister should be discarded when 200 puffs have been used.

Do not use VENTOLIN HFA if:

• you are allergic to salbutamol sulphate or any of the other ingredients in VENTOLIN HFA.
• for the treatment of preterm labour or miscarriage.

To help avoid side effects and ensure proper use, talk to your healthcare professional before you take VENTOLIN HFA. Talk about any health conditions or problems you may have, including if you:

• have ever had to stop taking other medications for this illness because you were allergic to them or they caused problems.
• have thyroid problems.
• have a heart problem.
• have high blood pressure.
• have diabetes.
• have seizures or a past history of seizures.

• have low levels of potassium in your blood (hypokalemia), especially if you are taking:

  • medicines known as xanthine derivatives (such as theophylline)
  • steroids to treat asthma
  • diuretics also known as “water pills”, used to lower fluid levels and treat high blood pressure
• have low oxygen levels in your body (hypoxia).

• are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. Taking VENTOLIN HFA during pregnancy may cause harm to your baby. Your healthcare professional will consider the benefit to you and the risk to your baby of taking VENTOLIN HFA while you're pregnant.

• are breastfeeding. It is not known if VENTOLIN HFA passes into breast milk.

Other warnings you should know about:

You should always carry your VENTOLIN HFA with you to use immediately in case you experience an asthma attack.

Monitoring: Your healthcare professional might monitor your health throughout your treatment with VENTOLIN HFA. This can include monitoring your lungs, the level of potassium in your blood and how you respond to VENTOLIN HFA.

Overuse: If you are using VENTOLIN HFA more than twice a week to treat your asthma symptoms (not including before or after exercise or other triggers) talk to your healthcare professional. This may be a sign that your asthma is not well controlled and may increase the risk of severe asthma attacks. Your healthcare professional may need to reassess your treatment.

Paradoxical bronchospasm: If you feel tightness of the chest, coughing, wheezing or breathlessness right after using VENTOLIN HFA, you may have a serious condition called “paradoxical bronchospasm” (an unexpected closing of your airways). Stop using VENTOLIN HFA and seek medical help right away.

Tell your healthcare professional about all the medicines you take, including any drugs, vitamins, minerals, natural supplements or alternative medicines.

The following may interact with VENTOLIN HFA:

• anti-depressants, medicines used to treat depression (such as monoamine oxidase inhibitors, and tricyclic antidepressants).
• medicines used to treat allergies.
• beta-blockers, medicines used to lower blood pressure (such as propranolol).
• diuretics also known as “water pills”, medicines used to lower fluid levels and treat high blood pressure.
• other bronchodilators, medicines used to open the airway (such as asthma medicines such as ipratropium bromide).
• epinephrine, a medicine that can be used to treat allergic reactions or sudden asthma attacks.
• digoxin, a medicine used to treat certain heart problems.

How to take VENTOLIN HFA:

• Take VENTOLIN HFA exactly as directed by your healthcare professional.
• It is important that you use your VENTOLIN HFA properly. This will ensure that you receive the prescribed dose of your medicine. Make sure you know how, when, and how much you should use. Follow your healthcare professional’s instructions carefully. If you are not sure, ask your healthcare professional.
• VENTOLIN HFA should only be inhaled. Do not swallow.
• If you are using an asthma anti-inflammatory medicine daily (such as an inhaled corticosteroid) continue using it regularly, even if you feel better.

• If you are using an inhaled corticosteroid:

  • Always use VENTOLIN HFA first.
  • Wait a few minutes and then use your inhaled corticosteroid.
• If you have to go into hospital for an operation, take your inhaler with you and tell the healthcare professional what medicine(s) you are taking.
• If your healthcare professional decides to stop your treatment, do not keep any left over medicine unless your healthcare professional tells you to.

Salbutamol has a duration of action of 4 to 6 hours in most patients.

You should call your healthcare professional immediately if:

• the effects of one dose last less than 3 hours;
• you notice a sudden worsening of your shortness of breath;
• your symptoms get worse (for example you have frequent symptoms or flare ups such as breathlessness, cough, wheezing, tight chest, night-time awakening or limited physical ability);
• your usual dose does not provide relief of wheezing or chest tightness;
• you need to use VENTOLIN HFA more often than before.

These may be signs that your asthma or chest condition is getting worse. Your healthcare professional may want to reassess your treatment plan.

Instructions for Use of VENTOLIN HFA

THE INHALER DOES NOT HAVE A DOSE COUNTER.

The inhaler contains enough salbutamol for 200 actuations (puffs) only. This includes actuations (puffs) you inhale and actuations (puffs) released into the air when priming the inhaler. After 200 actuations (puffs), the inhaler can continue to spray but without the prescribed dose of salbutamol. An accurate way to keep track of the number of actuations (puffs) is to count them. You should keep a record of the number of actuations (puffs) you use (inhaled and released when priming the inhaler) to avoid using an empty inhaler. Methods of telling that the inhaler is empty like shaking it, weighing it, floating it in water, are not reliable. Consider keeping a back-up inhaler. If you have more than one inhaler, keep track of each inhaler separately.

How to Prime VENTOLIN HFA:

Before using VENTOLIN HFA for the first time, or if your inhaler has not been used for more than 5 days, shake the inhaler well and release four puffs into the air to ensure that it works properly.

How to Use VENTOLIN HFA:

It is extremely important that you use your VENTOLIN HFA properly. This will ensure it is delivered correctly so that you receive maximum benefit. Carefully follow the instructions shown.

Important: Do not rush steps 3, 4, and 5. It is important that you start to breathe in as slowly as possible just before operating your inhaler. Practice in front of a mirror for the first few times. If you see "mist" coming from the top of your inhaler or the sides of your mouth, you should start again from step 2.

1. 1.

   To remove the snap-on mouthpiece cover, hold the inhaler between your thumb and forefinger, squeeze gently and pull apart as shown in Figure 1. Check inside and outside of the inhaler including the mouthpiece for the presence of loose objects.

   Figure 1

1. 2.

   Shake the inhaler well to ensure that any loose objects are removed and the contents of the inhaler are evenly mixed (see Figure 2).

   Figure 2

1. 3.

   Hold the inhaler upright between your fingers and thumb with your thumb on the base, below the mouthpiece (see Figure 3). Breathe out as far as is comfortable.

   Figure 3

1. 4.

   Place the mouthpiece in your mouth between your teeth and close your lips around it, but do not bite it. Just after starting to breathe in through your mouth, press down on the top of the inhaler to release the drug while still breathing in steadily and deeply (see Figure 4).

   Figure 4

1. 5.

   While holding your breath, take the inhaler from your mouth and take your finger from the top of the inhaler. Continue holding your breath for as long as is comfortable (see Figure 5).

   Figure 5

2. 6. If you are to take further puffs, keep the inhaler upright and wait about 30 seconds before repeating steps 2 through 5.
3. 7. Replace the mouthpiece cover by firmly pushing and snapping the cap into position to keep out dust and lint.

Children: VENTOLIN HFA should be used under the supervision of an adult who understands the proper use of the inhaler, and only as prescribed by the healthcare professional. The adult must encourage the child (as described above) to exhale, and then trigger the spray immediately as inhalation begins. Use of a spacer with the inhaler is recommended for children under 5 years of age. Talk to your healthcare professional if your child has difficulties using the inhaler.

How to clean VENTOLIN HFA:

Clean your inhaler at least once a week.

To clean your inhaler:

1. 1. Pull the metal canister out of the plastic casing of the inhaler and remove the mouthpiece cover.
2. 2. Rinse the plastic casing of the inhaler thoroughly under warm running water and then wash the plastic casing again through the mouthpiece. Do not put the metal canister into water.
3. 3. Dry the plastic casing of the inhaler THOROUGHLY inside and out.
4. 4. Replace the canister and mouthpiece cover.
5. 5. After cleansing, release one puff into the air to make sure that the inhaler works.

Usual dose:

Your healthcare professional will decide your dose of VENTOLIN HFA. This may depend on your condition, your age, and how you react to VENTOLIN HFA. Your dose may be repeated every 4 to 6 hours as directed. Do not increase the dose or the number of times you use your medicine without asking your healthcare professional, as this may make you feel worse.

Adults and Adolescents (12 years or older):

• To relieve bronchospasm: 1 to 2 puffs as needed. If you have a more severe attack, you can repeat the dose every 4 to 6 hours, and immediately consult your healthcare professional or the nearest hospital.
• To prevent bronchospasm: 1 to 2 puffs repeated every 4 to 6 hours, as needed, to a maximum 4 times a day.
• To prevent bronchospasm caused by exercise: 2 puffs 15 minutes before exercise.

Maximum dose: 8 puffs in a 24 hour period.

Children (4-11 years of age):

• To relieve bronchospasm: 1 puff as needed. The dose may be increased to 2 puffs if required. If you have a more severe attack you can repeat the dose every 4 to 6 hours, and immediately consult your healthcare professional or the nearest hospital.
• To prevent bronchospasm: 1 puff repeated every 4 to 6 hours, as needed, to a maximum 4 times a day as prescribed by your healthcare professional.
• To prevent bronchospasm caused by exercise: 1 puff 15 minutes before exercise. The dose may be increased to 2 puffs if required.

Maximum dose: 4 puffs in a 24 hour period.

Overdose:

If you accidentally take a larger dose than prescribed, you are more likely to get side effects like a faster heart beat, headaches and feeling shaky or restless. These effects usually wear off within a few hours, but you should tell your healthcare professional as soon as possible.

If you think you, or a person you are caring for, have taken too much VENTOLIN HFA, contact a healthcare professional, hospital emergency department, regional poison control centre or Health Canada’s toll-free number, 1-844 POISON-X (1-844-764-7669) immediately, even if there are no signs or symptoms.

Possible side effects from using VENTOLIN HFA:

These are not all the possible side effects you may have when taking VENTOLIN HFA. If you experience any side effects not listed here, tell your healthcare professional.

Side effects may include:

• Headache
• Feeling a little shaky
• Feeling anxious or irritable
• Feeling tired or weak
• Trouble sleeping (insomnia)
• Hyperactivity in children
• Dizziness, vertigo
• Drowsiness
• Muscle cramps
• Muscle pain
• Cough
• Respiratory infections and/or inflammation
• Diarrhea
• Nausea and vomiting
• Chest pain or discomfort
• Flushing
• Difficulty urinating

Serious side effects and what to do about them

If you have a troublesome symptom or side effect that is not listed here or becomes bad enough to interfere with your daily activities, tell your healthcare professional.

Reporting Side Effects

You can report any suspected side effects associated with the use of health products to Health Canada by:

• Visiting the Web page on Adverse Reaction Reporting (canada.ca/drug-device-reporting) for information on how to report online, by mail or by fax; or
• Calling toll-free at 1-866-234-2345.

NOTE: Contact your healthcare professional if you need information about how to manage your side effects. The Canada Vigilance Program does not provide medical advice.

Storage:

• Store VENTOLIN HFA between 15°C and 25°C.
• Keep out of sight and reach of children.
• After using VENTOLIN HFA, replace the mouthpiece cover firmly and snap it into position. Do not use excessive force.

Warning: The canister contents are under pressure. The canister may explode if heated. Do not place in hot water or near radiators, stoves or other sources of heat. Even when empty, do not puncture or incinerate canister.

If you want more information about VENTOLIN HFA:

• Talk to your healthcare professional.
• Find the full product monograph that is prepared for healthcare professionals and includes this Patient Medication Information by visiting the Health Canada Drug Product Database website: (https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/drugs-health-products/drug-products/drug-product-database.html); the manufacturer’s website www.gsk.ca, or by calling 1-800-387-7374.

You may need to read this leaflet again. PLEASE DO NOT THROW IT AWAY until you have finished your medicine.

Date of Authorization: 2025-08-22

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