salmeterol

Generic Name: salmeterol

What is salmeterol (inhalation)?

Salmeterol is a bronchodilator. It works by relaxing muscles in the airways to improve breathing.

Salmeterol inhalation is used to prevent asthma attacks. It will not treat an asthma attack that has already begun. Salmeterol inhalation is also used to treat chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) including emphysema and chronic bronchitis.

Salmeterol inhalation may also be used for conditions other than those listed in this medication guide.

Uses Side Effects Precautions Interactions Overdose
What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking salmeterol (inhalation)?

Salmeterol is a drug that has been shown to increase the risk of asthma-related death. It is critical that you use only the prescribed dose of this medicine and follow all patient instructions for safe use of the medication. Talk with your doctor about your individual risks and benefits in using salmeterol inhalation.

Before using salmeterol inhalation, tell your doctor if you have:

  • a food or drug allergy;

  • heart disease or high blood pressure;

  • epilepsy or other seizure disorder;

  • diabetes;

  • a thyroid disorder; or

  • liver disease.

If you have any of these conditions, you may not be able to use salmeterol inhalation, or you may need a dosage adjustment or special tests during treatment.

FDA pregnancy category C. This medication may be harmful to an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant during treatment.

It is not known whether this medication passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing baby. Do not use salmeterol inhalation without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.

Do not give this medication to a child younger than 4 years old.

How should I take salmeterol (inhalation)?

Use this medication exactly as it was prescribed for you. Do not use the medication in larger amounts, or use it for longer than recommended by your doctor.

Do not use salmeterol inhalation to treat an asthma attack that has already begun. It will not work fast enough to reverse your symptoms. Use another, faster-acting inhalation medication to treat an asthma attack.

Asthma is usually treated with a combination of different drugs. To best treat your condition, use all of your medications as directed by your doctor. Do not change your doses or medication schedule without advice from your doctor.

If you are using salmeterol inhalation to prevent exercise-induced asthma, use the medicine 30 minutes before exercising, or as directed by your doctor. Allow at least 12 hours to pass before you use the medicine again.

If you use this medication to treat COPD, do not use the medicine for longer than 6 months unless your doctor has told you to.

Serevent Diskus is a powder form of salmeterol inhalation that comes with a special inhaler device preloaded with blister packs containing measured doses of the medicine. The device opens and loads a blister each time you use the inhaler. This device is not to be used with a spacer.

This medication comes with patient instructions for safe and effective use. Follow these directions carefully. Ask your doctor or pharmacist if you have any questions.

It is important to use salmeterol inhalation regularly to get the most benefit. Get your prescription refilled before you run out of medicine completely.

Do not stop using salmeterol inhalation without first talking to your doctor. Your asthma symtoms may get worse after you stop using the medication.

Seek medical attention if you think any of your asthma medications are not working as well as usual. An increased need for medication could be an early sign of a serious asthma attack. If you use a peak flow meter at home, call your doctor if your numbers are lower than normal.

Store this medication at room temperature away from moisture, heat, and sunlight.

Do not try to clean or take apart the Diskus device. Throw it away 6 weeks after you have taken it out of the foil pouch, or if the dose indicator shows a zero, whichever comes first. Each Diskus device contains 60 doses.

What happens if I miss a dose of salmeterol (inhalation)?

Use the medication as soon as you remember, then wait 12 hours before using the medication again. If it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed dose and wait until your next regularly scheduled dose. Do not use extra medicine to make up the missed dose.

Where can I get more information about salmeterol (inhalation)?
Your pharmacist has information about salmeterol (inhalation) written for health professionals that you may read.
What are the possible side effects of salmeterol (inhalation)?

Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Call your doctor at once if you have any of these serious side effects:

  • chest pain, fast or pounding heartbeats, tremors, shaking, or restless feeling;

  • wheezing, choking, or other breathing problems after using this medication;

  • skin rash, bruising, severe tingling, numbness, pain, muscle weakness; or

  • worsening asthma symptoms.

Other, less serious side effects may be more likely to occur, such as:

  • headache, dizziness, lightheadedness, or insomnia;

  • sweating;

  • nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea; or

  • dry mouth or throat irritation.

Side effects other than those listed here may also occur. Talk to your doctor about any side effect that seems unusual or that is especially bothersome.

What is the most important information I should know about salmeterol (inhalation)?

Do not use salmeterol inhalation to treat an asthma attack that has already begun. It will not work fast enough to reverse your symptoms. Use another, faster-acting inhalation medication to treat an asthma attack.

Salmeterol inhalation is has been shown to increase the risk of asthma-related death. It is critical that you use only the prescribed dose of this medicine and follow all patient instructions for safe use of the medication. Talk with your doctor about your individual risks and benefits in using salmeterol inhalation.

Asthma is usually treated with a combination of different drugs. To best treat your condition, use all of your medications as directed by your doctor. Do not change your doses or medication schedule without advice from your doctor.

Do not use a second form of salmeterol (such as Serevent) or use a similar inhaled bronchodilator such as formoterol (Foradil) unless your doctor has told you to.

Seek medical attention if you think any of your asthma medications are not working as well as usual. An increased need for medication could be an early sign of a serious asthma attack.

It is important to use salmeterol inhalation regularly to get the most benefit. Get your prescription refilled before you run out of medicine completely.

If you use this medication to treat COPD, do not use the medicine for longer than 6 months unless your doctor has told you to.

Do not stop using salmeterol inhalation without first talking to your doctor. Your asthma symtoms may get worse after you stop using the medication.

What should I avoid while taking salmeterol (inhalation)?

Do not use a second form of salmeterol (such as Serevent) or use a similar inhaled bronchodilator such as formoterol (Foradil) unless your doctor has told you to.

Do not exhale or blow into the Diskus device. Do not take the device apart or allow it to get wet.

What other drugs will affect salmeterol (inhalation)?

Before using salmeterol inhalation, tell your doctor if you are using any of the following drugs:

  • diuretics (water pills);

  • a beta-blocker such as atenolol (Tenormin), metoprolol (Lopressor), propranolol (Inderal), acebutolol (Sectral), bisoprolol (Zebeta), carteolol (Cartrol), carvedilol (Coreg), labetalol (Normodyne, Trandate), nadolol (Corgard), or pindolol (Visken);

  • antidepressants such as amitriptyline (Elavil), nortriptyline (Pamelor), desipramine (Norpramin), or imipramine (Tofranil);

  • an MAO inhibitor such as isocarboxazid (Marplan), tranylcypromine (Parnate), phenelzine (Nardil), or selegiline (Eldepryl, Emsam);

  • caffeine, a diet medicine, or a decongestant; or

  • aminophylline (Truphylline), theophylline (Slo-Bid, Theobid, TheoDur), and others.

If you are using any of these drugs, you may not be able to use salmeterol inhalation, or you may need dosage adjustments or special tests during treatment.

There may be other drugs not listed that can affect salmeterol inhalation. Tell your doctor about all the prescription and over-the-counter medications you use. This includes vitamins, minerals, herbal products, and drugs prescribed by other doctors. Do not start using a new medication without telling your doctor.

What happens if I have an overdose of salmeterol (inhalation)?

Seek emergency medical attention if you think you have used too much of this medicine.

Symptoms of a salmeterol inhalation overdose include muscle cramps, dry mouth, sleep problems (insomnia), tremors, chest pain, fast or irregular heartbeats, feeling light-headed, fainting, or seizure (convulsions).

Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use this medication only for the indication prescribed. Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Cerner Multum, Inc. ('Multum') is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Multum information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Multum does not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Multum's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Multum's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners. The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Multum does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information Multum provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.
Content provided by Multum - Last Updated 2/11/2008