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Salmeterol at Alfaus.com Prescription Drugs Pharmacy

The following information is intended to supplement, not substitute for, the expertise and judgment of your physician, pharmacist or other healthcare professional. It should not be construed to indicate that use of the drug is safe, appropriate, or effective for you. Consult your healthcare professional before using this drug.

A large clinical study found a small increase in deaths from asthma in patients who used Serevent Diskus (Salmeterol). Do not use salmeterol if you have asthma that is quickly getting worse. If you have any of the following signs of worsening asthma, call your doctor immediately: short-acting inhaler (e.g., albuterol) does not work as well as it used toneed to use more puffs than usual of short-acting inhaler or use it more often peak-flow meter shows breathing is worsening need to use four or more puffs per day of short-acting inhaler for two or more days in a row use of more than one canister (200 inhalations) of short-acting inhaler during an 8-week period need to go to the emergency room for asthma treatment. Talk to your doctor about the risk of using this medication.

Online Salmeterol Use Indication:

Salmeterol comes as a dry powder to inhale by mouth using a special inhaler. It is usually used twice a day, in the morning and evening, about 12 hours apart. To help you remember to use Salmeterol, use it around the same times every day. To prevent breathing difficulties during exercise, it is usually used 30 minutes before exercise, not more often than once every 12 hours. Follow the directions on your prescription label carefully, and ask your doctor or pharmacist to explain any part you do not understand. Use Salmeterol exactly as directed. Do not use more or less of it or use it more often than prescribed by your doctor.

Do not use Salmeterol during an attack of asthma or COPD. Your doctor will prescribe a short-acting inhaler to use during attacks. If you are using Salmeterol twice a day, do not use another dose before exercising.

Salmeterol controls symptoms of asthma and other lung diseases but does not cure them. Do not stop using Salmeterol without talking to your doctor. If you suddenly stop using Salmeterol, your symptoms may worsen. Also do not stop taking your other inhaled or oral medications for asthma without talking to your doctor.

Before you use the Salmeterol inhaler the first time, read the written instructions that come with it. Ask your doctor, pharmacist, or respiratory therapist to show you how to use it. Practice using the inhaler while he or she watches.

To use the inhaler, follow these steps:

• Hold the inhalation device in one hand, and put the thumb of your other hand on the thumbgrip. Push your thumb away from you as far as it will go until the mouthpiece appears and snaps into position.

• Hold the inhalation device in a horizontal position with the mouthpiece toward you. Slide the lever away from you as far as it will go until it clicks.

• Every time the lever is pushed back, a dose is ready to inhale. You will see the number in the dose counter go down. Do not waste doses by closing the device, playing with the lever, or advancing the lever more than once.

• Hold the inhalation device level and away from your mouth, and breathe out as far as you comfortably can.

• Put the mouthpiece to your lips. Breathe in quickly and deeply though the inhalation device, not through your nose.

• Remove the inhalation device from your mouth, and hold your breath for 10 seconds or as long as you comfortably can. Breathe out slowly.

• You will probably taste or feel the Salmeterol powder released by the inhaler. Even if you do not, do not take another dose. If you are not sure you are getting your dose of Salmeterol, call your doctor or pharmacist.

• Put your thumb on the thumbgrip and slide it back toward you as far as it will go. The device will click shut.

Never exhale into the inhalation device, take the device apart, or wash the mouthpiece or any part of the device. Keep the device dry. Do not use the device with a spacer.

Precautions on using Salmeterol Medication

 Before using Salmeterol,

• tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic to Salmeterol, any other medications, or milk protein.

• tell your doctor and pharmacist what prescription and nonprescription medications, vitamins, nutritional supplements, and herbal products you are taking. Be sure to mention any of the following: beta blockers such as atenolol (Tenormin), labetalol (Normodyne), metoprolol (Lopressor, Toprol XL), nadolol (Corgard), and propranolol (Inderal); diuretics ('water pills'); and other medications for asthma or COPD. Also tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking the following medications or have stopped taking them within the past 2 weeks: antidepressants such as amitriptyline (Elavil), amoxapine (Asendin), clomipramine (Anafranil), desipramine (Norpramin), doxepin (Adapin, Sinequan), imipramine (Tofranil), nortriptyline (Aventyl, Pamelor), protriptyline (Vivactil), and trimipramine (Surmontil); and monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitors including isocarboxazid (Marplan), phenelzine (Nardil), selegiline (Eldepryl), and tranylcypromine (Parnate). Your doctor may need to change the doses of your medications or monitor you carefully for side effects.

• tell your doctor if you have or have ever had irregular heartbeat, high blood pressure, hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid), diabetes, seizures, or liver or heart disease.

• tell your doctor if you are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding. If you become pregnant while using Salmeterol, call your doctor.

• if you have been using a short-acting beta-agonist inhaler such as albuterol (Proventil, Ventolin) on a regular basis (for example, four times a day), your doctor will probably tell you to stop using it regularly when you start using Salmeterol. Keep your other inhaler to use during an attack of asthma or COPD.