How to use your Ventolin Inhaler with dose counter.
Before using your VENTOLIN Inhaler, please read this leaflet carefully and follow these instructions.
This medicine is contained in a pressurised canister. When you press down on the metal canister, a
measured amount of your medicine is released for you to breathe into your lungs. This leaflet shows you
five key steps to use your Inhaler correctly. Study the steps carefully. Ask your doctor or pharmacist if
you have any questions. Your treatment will not be effective if you do not use your Inhaler correctly.
Take the cap off the mouthpiece by
gently squeezing the sides of the cap.
Make sure the mouthpiece is clean
inside and outside. The area around the
nozzle should be clear of dust and grit.
Do not use if the dose counter
shows 000.
IMPORTANT
You need to feel comfortable with the way you use your Inhaler. The way you hold your Inhaler
may be slightly different from the way shown in the photos. However, it is important to follow the
instructions which are given in this leaflet.
It is important that your medicine is released from your Inhaler at the same time as you are breathing
in through your mouth. If you have not used an Inhaler before, take your Ventolin in front of a mirror
for the first few times. If you see mist coming from the top of the inhaler then you have not done it
properly. Carefully read through all the steps of these instructions and start again from Step 2. If you
continue to have problems, talk to your doctor or pharmacist.
Hold the Inhaler upright.
Shake it well.
Hold your Inhaler away from
your mouth and breathe out
slowly and gently until your
lungs feel comfortably empty.
Remember - never breathe into
your Inhaler. Raise the Inhaler to
your mouth.
Put the mouthpiece between your teeth, but do not bite it.
Close your lips around the mouthpiece. Do not press down
on canister yet. Tilt your head back slightly. As you start to
breathe in slowly through your mouth, press down firmly
on the top of the canister to release your medicine. It is
important that your medicine is released from your Inhaler
at the same time as you are breathing in through your
mouth. Continue to breathe in steadily and deeply.
Hold your breath and remove the Inhaler
from your mouth and continue to hold your
breath for as long as is comfortable (about
five seconds), then breathe out gently,
away from the Inhaler. If you need another
puff, wait about half a minute, then repeat
steps 2 to 5. Immediately replace the cap by
clicking it securely into place.
DOSE COUNTER
The canister has a counter attached
to it, which shows how many puffs of
medicine you have left. The number
of puffs left will show through the
window in the back of the plastic
actuator. Each time the canister
is pressed, a dose of medicine is
released and the counter will count
down by one.
You should consider get ting a
replacement when the counter shows
the number 020. When the counter
reads 000 you must replace it.
CAUTION
Use your Inhaler only as your doctor or pharmacist tells
you. They will tell you how many puffs to take and how
often to use the Inhaler. Each treatment with the Inhaler
should last for at least four hours. If the effect lasts for less
than three hours, tell your doctor.
If the treatment does not give you relief, tell your doctor.
Your doctor may tell you to take extra puffs when you have
an acute attack of asthma.
Check with your doctor.
A HANDY TIP
Children and others who have weaker hands may have difficulty
pressing down on the top of the canister with just one hand.
They can use two hands to make their Inhaler work.
CLEANING YOUR INHALER
Your Ventolin
Inhaler should be
cleaned at least
once a week. You
may not see any
medicine build-up
on the inhaler, but
it is important to
keep it clean so
medicine build-up
will not block the
spray (Figure 1).
Step 2
Rinse the
plastic actuator
thoroughly under
warm running
water (Figure 2).
Step 1
Remove the metal
canister and dose
counter from the
plastic actuator
(casing) of the
inhaler and remove
the cap.
Step 3
Turn the plastic
actuator upside
down and rinse
again through
the mouthpiece
thoroughly under
warm running water
(Figure 3).
Step 4
Shake off as much
water from the plastic
actuator as you can.
Look into the
mouthpiece to make
sure any medicine
build-up has been
completely washed
away.
If there is any build-
up, repeat Step 2 and
Step 3.
Step 5
Dry the actuator
thoroughly inside and
out (such as overnight)
(Figure 4).
Step 6
Replace the metal
canister and the cap.
DO NOT PUT THE
METAL CANISTER IN
WATER.
Figure 1 Figure 2 Figure 3 Figure 4
Ventolin Inhaler with dose counter (‘puffer’)
