Airomir

• Used to relieve asthma symptoms
• Can also be used to prevent asthma attacks
• Inhalation medicine (puffer)
• Available in two forms

Airomir is an inhalation medicine. The active ingredient salbutamol opens up the airways to your lungs, thereby relieving symptoms such as chest tightness, wheezing and coughing. Airomir is prescribed to treat asthma and COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease). Airomir can also be used to prevent asthma attacks. It can prevent wheezing and chest tightness in some situations that cause narrowing of the airways to your lungs, like exercise.

Airomir is available in two forms:

• Airomir, an aerosol inhaler which requires you to press down on a metal canister to inhale the medicine.
• Airomir Autohaler, a breathactuated inhaler which automatically releases the dose of medicine during inhalation through the mouthpiece.

Both variants contain the same active ingredient (salbutamol) in the same dosage (25 mcl per inhaled dose).

For both Airomir and Airomir Autohaler:

Breathe in deeply to inhale the medicine through the mouthpiece, according to the instructions in the package leaflet. Hold your breath for about 10 seconds, or as long as is comfortable. Then breathe out gently.

Dosage

Dosage should be determined by a doctor. The recommended dose in adults is:

• For acute asthma attacks: one or two puffs.
• For longterm treatment of symptoms and to prevent new asthma attacks: two puffs, three to four times a day, with a four to six-hour interval between doses.
• To prevent asthma due to exercise: two puffs before exercising.

If your doctor has told you to take two puffs, wait one minute before taking the second puff.

If you need more than 16 puffs a day to relieve your symptoms, consult your doctor. You may need to switch to a different medication. Do NOT increase your dose without first speaking with your doctor.

Use in children
A doctor must determine whether or not this medicine is suitable for use in children and from what age. This largely depends on their ability to use the aerosol device correctly.

• For acute asthma attacks: one puff.
• For longterm treatment of symptoms and to prevent new asthma attacks: one puff, three to four times a day, with a four to six-hour interval between doses. If necessary, the doctor may increase this dose two puffs, three to four times a day.

If the child needs two puffs, wait one minute before administering the second puff. Do NOT give more than 10 puffs a day without consulting your doctor.

Alcohol/driving

Not applicable.

If you use too much/forget to use/stop using Airomir

If you accidentally take more puffs of Airomir or Airomir Autohaler than you were told to, contact your doctor or pharmacist immediately.

If you forget to use Airomir or Airomir Autohaler, take the missed dose as soon as you remember and continue your regular dosing schedule. Do not take a double dose to make up for a forgotten one.

Duration of treatment is determined by your doctor. Do not stop treatment early as this may cause bronchospasms to return.

Do not use this medicine if you are allergic to salbutamol or any of the ingredients in Airomir or Airomir Autohaler (see section 'What Airomir contains').

When should this medicine be used with caution?

• Talk to your doctor before using this medicine if you have thyroid disease, a condition affecting the coronary arteries, an irregular heartbeat or suffer from heart failure, high blood pressure, an increased heart volume, or severe liver or renal insufficiency, because Airomir and Airomir Autohaler may worsen these conditions and be harmful to your health.

Tell your doctor before using this medicine if:

• You have a history of heart problems such as irregular heartbeat or chest pain (angina pectoris).
• Your usual treatment is not working or you need more puffs. Do NOT increase your dose without consulting a doctor.
• Avoid getting the product in the eyes, especially if you have glaucoma.
• If your breathing gets worse after inhaling a puff, tell your doctor immediately. You may need a different treatment.
• If you have diabetes, your blood sugar will need to be monitored.
• If you are taking other medicines, please read section ‘Other medicines and Airomir’.

Talk to your doctor before using Airomir if you have, or have had, any of the above-listed conditions or symptoms.

Pregnancy and breastfeeding

If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, think you may be pregnant or are planning to have a baby, ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice before using this medicine. There is limited experience with use during pregnancy and it is unknown whether this medicine passes into breast milk. Therefore, the doctor will only recommend this medicine if the benefits outweigh the risks for mother and child.

Other medicines and Airomir

Tell your doctor if you are taking, have recently taken or might take any other medicines. This includes medicines obtained without a prescription and herbal medicines.

• Airomir and Airomir Autohaler can be used with other medicines such as theophylline or anticholinergics. But these medicines may be affected by Airomir or may affect how well they work. You may need different amounts of your medicines. For more information, see the package leaflet.
• This medicine can be used with inhaled corticosteroids (also known as steroids) and mastcell stabilisers (for allergies).
• Other inhaled sympathomimetic bronchodilators should not be used concomitantly with Airomir or Airomir Autohaler as this may lead to deleterious cardiovascular effects. Consult your doctor if you are not sure.
• Nonselective beta blockers may inhibit the effects of Airomir and Airomir Autohaler. Monoamine oxidase inhibitors or certain antidepressants may potentiate side effects on the cardiovascular system.
• Concomitant use of Airomir or Airomir Autohaler and xanthine medicines (e.g., theophylline or large amounts of chocolate or coffee), corticosteroids, diuretics or laxatives may worsen hypokalemia.
• Small amounts of alcohol can cause a reaction in patients taking disulfiram or metronidazole.

Like all medicines, Airomir and Airomir Autohaler can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them. The following side effects have been reported:

• Nausea, vomiting, dry or sticky mouth.
• Feeling shaky (tremor), headache, dizziness, nervousness. In children: changes in behaviour such as restlessness and excitability (hyperactivity).
• Faster than normal heartbeat (tachycardia), various forms of cardiac arrhythmia (see the package leaflet).
• Transient muscle cramps or pain.
• Allergic reactions (see the package leaflet).

The following side effects have been reported with other inhaled sympathomimetic bronchodilators:

• Hypertension, angina pectoris, central nervous system stimulation, hyperglycaemia (high blood glucose) and peripheral vasodilatation.
• Uncommon: acute angleclosure glaucoma after inhalation.
• Low potassium (hypokalemia).

For a complete list of side effects, see the package leaflet. If you experience side effects, talk to your doctor or pharmacist. This includes any possible side effects not listed in this leaflet.

Airomir and Airomir Autohaler contain the active ingredient salbutamol. Each puff contains 4.44 mg/ml salbutamol sulphate equivalent to 100 micrograms salbutamol.

The other ingredients are: oleic acid, ethanol and norflurane (propellant).

Read the package leaflet before use. The official package leaflet of Airomir/Airomir Autohaler is available for download here.