Ventolin syrup contains active substance salbutamol, which belongs to the group of medicines called short-acting bronchodilators. Fast-acting bronchodilators relax the muscles of the walls of small airways in the lungs in the timeframe of several minutes, which causes their dilatation. In this way relieves chest tightness, wheezes and cough which leaves to relief in breathing. The duration of the effect of salbutamol in most patients is 4 to 6 hours.

Do not take Ventolin Syrup:
• if you are allergic to salbutamol sulfate or any of the other ingredients of this medicine
• if you unexpectedly go into early labour (premature labour) or threatened abortion.

Talk to your doctor, nurse or pharmacist before taking Ventolin Syrup if:
• you have high blood pressure
• you are diabetic
• you have an overactive thyroid gland
• you have a history of heart problems such as an irregular or fast heartbeat or angina
• you are taking xanthine derivatives (such as theophylline) or steroids to treat asthma
• you are taking water tablets (diuretics), sometimes used to treat high blood pressure or a heart condition.

Other medicines and Ventolin Syrup
Tell your doctor, nurse or pharmacist if you are taking, have recently taken or might take any other medicines, including medicines obtained without a prescription. This includes herbal medicines. Remember to take this medicine with you if you have to go to hospital.
In particular tell your doctor, nurse or pharmacist if you are taking:
• medicines for an irregular or fast heartbeat
• other medicines for your asthma.
Taking Ventolin Syrup with food and drink
You can take Ventolin Syrup at any time of day, with or without food.
Pregnancy, breast-feeding and fertility
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.
Driving and using machines
Ventolin Syrup is not likely to affect you being able to drive or use any tools or machines.

Always take this medicine exactly as your doctor has told you. Check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist if you are not sure.
Taking this medicine
• use a 5 ml plastic spoon or oral syringe to take the syrup, they are available from your pharmacist
• shake well before use
• 2.5 ml of undiluted syrup provides a dose of 1 mg and 5 ml provides a dose of 2 mg.
Children between 2 and 6 years
• the usual dose is 2.5 ml to 5 ml, three or four times a day.
Children between 6 and 12 years
• the usual dose is 5 ml, three or four times a day.
Children over 12 years
• the usual dose is 5 ml to 10 ml, three or four times a day.
Adults (over 18 years)
• the usual dose is 5 ml to 20 ml, up to four times a day.

Elderly (over 65 years)
• the usual dose is 5 ml, up to three times a day.

Like all medicines, this medicine can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them.
The following side effects may happen with this medicine:
Allergic reactions (affects less than 1 in 10,000 people)
If you have an allergic reaction, stop taking Ventolin Syrup and see a doctor straight away. Signs of an allergic reaction include: swelling of the face, lips, mouth, tongue or throat which may cause difficulty in swallowing or breathing, itchy rash, feeling faint and light headed, and
collapse.
Talk to your doctor as soon as possible if:
• you feel your heart is beating faster or stronger than usual (palpitations). This is usually harmless, and usually stops after you have used the medicine for a while
• you may feel your heartbeat is uneven or it gives an extra beat
• these affect less than 1 in 10 people.
If any of these happen to you, talk to your doctor as soon as possible. Do not stop using this medicine unless told to do so.
Tell your doctor if you have any of the following side effects which may also happen with this
medicine:
Very common (may affect more than 1 in 10 people)
• feeling shaky.
Common (may affect up to 1 in 10 people)
• headache
• muscle cramps.
Rare (may affect up to 1 in 1,000 people)
• Your heart beats too fast, too slow or irregularly (cardiac arrythmia)
• a low level of potassium in your blood
• increased blood flow to your extremities (peripheral dilatation)

What Ventolin Syrup contains:
• The active substance is salbutamol sulfate.
• The other ingredients are water, sodium citrate, citric acid monohydrate, hydroxypropylmethylcellulose, saccharin sodium, salt (sodium chloride), the preservative sodium benzoate (E211), benzyl alcohol and orange flavour.