Learn more about usage, cautions, and possible side effects .
Chemical Name: SALMETEROL (sal-ME-te-role)
This medicine is a long-acting beta-agonist bronchodilator used for the long-term treatment of asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). It may also be used to prevent breathing problems in certain patients including patients with nighttime asthma symptoms or breathing problems caused by exercise. It may also be used to treat other conditions as determined by your doctor.
LONG-ACTING BETA-AGONISTS SUCH AS THIS MEDICINE HAVE BEEN RARELY ASSOCIATED WITH AN INCREASED RISK OF ASTHMA-RELATED DEATH. It should only be used by certain patients with severe asthma or by patients who cannot get adequate control of asthma symptoms by using other asthma-controller medicines (eg, inhaled corticosteroids). Some medicines or medical conditions may interact with this medicine. INFORM YOUR DOCTOR OR PHARMACIST of all prescription and over-the-counter medicine that you are taking. DO NOT USE THIS MEDICINE if you are using other long-acting beta-agonists (such as formoterol or salmeterol/fluticasone). DO NOT USE THIS MEDICINE if you are taking azole antifungals (such as ketoconazole), HIV protease inhibitors (such as ritonavir), macrolide antibiotics (such as clarithromycin), nefazodone, or telithromycin. ADDITIONAL MONITORING OF YOUR DOSE OR CONDITION may be needed if you are also taking beta-blockers (such as metoprolol), diuretics (such as furosemide or hydrochlorothiazide), COMT inhibitors (such as tolcapone), or if you are taking or have taken tricyclic antidepressants (such as amitriptyline) or monoamine oxidase inhibitors (such as furazolidone, phenelzine, or selegiline) within the last 14 days. DO NOT START OR STOP any medicine without doctor or pharmacist approval. TELL YOU DOCTOR if you have ever had an unusual reaction to a sympathomimetic medicine (such as albuterol or pseudoephedrine). An unusual reaction may include fast or irregular heartbeat, overexcitement, or severe trouble sleeping. INFORM YOUR DOCTOR of any other medical conditions including a history of adrenal gland tumors, diabetes, frequent or recent emergency room visits or hospitalizations due to asthma, life-threatening asthma attacks, high blood pressure, heart problems (such as fast or irregular heartbeat or heart blood vessel problems), liver problems, low blood potassium levels, overactive thyroid, seizures, allergies (such as milk protein allergy), pregnancy, or breast-feeding. DO NOT USE THIS MEDICINE IF YOU ARE HAVING AN ASTHMA ATTACK. Contact your doctor or pharmacist if you have any questions or concerns about taking this medicine.
Follow the directions for using this medicine provided by your doctor. This medicine comes with a MEDICATION GUIDE approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Read it carefully each time you refill this medicine. Ask your doctor, nurse, or pharmacist any questions that you may have about this medicine. THIS MEDICINE DELIVERS YOUR DOSE as a very fine powder. You may or may not taste or feel it. Even if you do not taste or feel it, Do NOT use more than the recommended dose. Ask your doctor or pharmacist if you have questions about your dose. Always activate and use this device in a level, flat position. Do NOT try to use a spacer with this medicine. TO PREPARE THE INHALER FOR USE: Remove the inhaler device from the foil pouch. Hold the device in one hand. Use the thumb of the opposite hand to push the thumbgrip as far away from you as it will go. The mouthpiece will appear. Use your thumb to slide the lever away from you as far as it will go. You should hear a click. The device is now ready for use. Do NOT close or tilt the device. Do not play with the lever or move it more than once. TO USE A DOSE OF THIS MEDICINE: Hold the inhaler device in a horizontal, level position, away from your mouth. Breathe out slowly and deeply. Do NOT exhale into the device. Put the mouthpiece to your lips. Breathe in forcefully and deeply through your mouth. Hold your breath. Remove the device from your mouth. Continue to hold your breath for 10 seconds or as long as comfortable, then breathe out slowly. CLOSE THE INHALER DEVICE before storing it. IF YOU ARE USING THIS MEDICINE to prevent exercise-induced breathing problems, use it at least 30 minutes before exercise. Do not use another dose for at least 12 hours. If you are using this medicine regularly, twice a day, do NOT use an extra dose before exercise. Do NOT try to take the inhaler device apart. STORE THIS MEDICINE at room temperature between 68 and 77 degrees F (20 to 25 degrees C), away from heat, moisture, and direct sunlight. CONTINUE TO USE THIS MEDICINE even if you feel well. Do not miss any doses. IF YOU MISS A DOSE OF THIS MEDICINE, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do NOT use 2 doses at once.
DO NOT USE THIS MEDICINE if you have had an allergic reaction to it or are allergic to any ingredient in this product. DO NOT EXCEED THE RECOMMENDED DOSE or use this medicine more often than prescribed without checking with your doctor. Doing so may increase the risk of serious heart problems (such as irregular heartbeat) from this medicine. IF YOU HAVE BEEN REGULARLY USING a short-acting bronchodilator inhaler (such as albuterol), talk with your doctor about how to use it with this medicine. DO NOT START, STOP, OR CHANGE the dose of this or any of your asthma medicines without first checking with your doctor. THIS MEDICINE IS NOT A SUBSTITUTE for corticosteroid medicines. Laboratory and/or medical tests, including lung function tests or blood pressure checks may be performed to monitor your progress or to check for side effects. KEEP ALL DOCTOR AND LABORATORY APPOINTMENTS while you are using this medicine. THIS MEDICINE WILL NOT STOP AN ASTHMA ATTACK once one has started. Be sure to carry your short-acting bronchodilator with you to use during asthma attacks. If you have questions about which medicines are used to prevent asthma attacks and which medicines stop asthma attacks, check with your doctor or pharmacist. TALK WITH YOUR DOCTOR OR PHARMACIST about all your asthma medicines. Be sure you understand when and how to use them. TELL YOUR DOCTOR AT ONCE if you find that your short-acting inhaler is not working as well, you need to use it more often than usual (such as using 4 or more puffs daily for more than 2 days in a row or using more than 1 inhaler every 8 weeks), or if you have a decrease in your peak flow meter results. This may be a sign of worsening asthma which is a very serious condition. RARELY, YOU MAY EXPERIENCE severe breathing problems immediately after using this medicine (paradoxical bronchospasm). If this occurs, use your short-acting bronchodilator and seek immediate medical attention. CONTACT YOUR DOCTOR OR SEEK IMMEDIATE MEDICAL CARE if you have breathing problems that worsen quickly, or if you use your short-acting bronchodilator and do not get relief. BEFORE YOU BEGIN TAKING ANY NEW MEDICINE, either prescription or over-the-counter, check with your doctor or pharmacist. This medicine may cause dizziness. DO NOT DRIVE, OPERATE MACHINERY, OR DO ANYTHING ELSE THAT COULD BE DANGEROUS until you know how you react to this medicine. Using this medicine alone, with other medicines, or with alcohol may lessen your ability to drive or to perform other potentially dangerous tasks. CAUTION IS ADVISED WHEN USING THIS MEDICINE IN THE ELDERLY because they may be more sensitive to the effects of the medicine especially the effects on the heart. FOR WOMEN: IF YOU PLAN ON BECOMING PREGNANT, discuss with your doctor the benefits and risks of using this medicine during pregnancy. IT IS UNKNOWN IF THIS MEDICINE IS EXCRETED in breast milk. IF YOU ARE OR WILL BE BREAST-FEEDING while you are using this medicine, check with your doctor or pharmacist to discuss the risks to your baby. IF YOU HAVE DIABETES, this medicine may affect your blood sugar. Check blood sugar levels closely and ask your doctor before adjusting the dose of your diabetes medicine.
SIDE EFFECTS that may occur while using this medicine include headache, nasal or sinus congestion, nervousness, or throat irritation. If they continue or are bothersome, check with your doctor. CHECK WITH YOUR DOCTOR AS SOON AS POSSIBLE if you experience overexcitement; severe or persistent muscle cramps or weakness; severe or persistent headache or dizziness; or tremor. CONTACT YOUR DOCTOR IMMEDIATELY if you experience chest pain; choking; difficulty swallowing; fast or irregular heartbeat; fever; swelling of your hands, legs, face, lips, eyes, throat, or tongue; unusual hoarseness; or new or worsening asthma symptoms (such as difficulty breathing, wheezing, coughing, or chest tightness). AN ALLERGIC REACTION to this medicine is unlikely, but seek immediate medical attention if it occurs. Symptoms of an allergic reaction include rash, itching, swelling, severe dizziness, or trouble breathing. If you notice other effects not listed above, contact your doctor, nurse, or pharmacist. This is not a complete list of all side effects that may occur. If you have questions about side effects, contact your healthcare provider. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
Drug interactions can result in unwanted side effects or prevent a medicine from doing its job. Use our drug interaction checker to find out if your medicines interact with each other. Check drug interactions
IF OVERDOSE IS SUSPECTED, contact your local poison control center or emergency room immediately. Symptoms of overdose may include chest pain; fast or irregular heartbeat; seizures; severe or persistent dizziness, fatigue, muscle pain or cramps, nausea, nervousness, trouble sleeping, or tremors.
IF YOUR SYMPTOMS DO NOT IMPROVE within 1 week of starting this medicine, or if they become worse, check with your doctor. ALWAYS HAVE A SPARE INHALATION DEVICE available in case the unit does not work or is empty. Discard this inhalation device 6 weeks after removing it from the moisture-protective foil overwrap pouch or after all blisters have been used, whichever comes first. KEEP THIS DEVICE DRY. Never wash the device or the mouthpiece. Learn to use a peak flow meter, use it daily, and promptly report worsening asthma (such as readings in the yellow or red range or increased use of quick-relief inhalers). DO NOT SHARE THIS MEDICINE with others for whom it was not prescribed. DO NOT USE THIS MEDICINE for other health conditions. KEEP THIS MEDICINE out of the reach of children and pets. IF YOU WILL BE USING THIS MEDICINE FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME, obtain refills before your supply runs out.
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