Salbutamol
Salbutamol, called albuterol in the United States, is a bronchodilator that eases wheezing and breathlessness in asthma and COPD, and the listings here cover 100mcg inhalers, 2mg and 4mg tablets, and one combination inhaler.
Proair Inhaler
Salbutamol
100mcg
Proair Inhaler is a 100mcg salbutamol inhaler that relieves asthma and COPD symptoms, sold here as generic salbutamol metered-dose inhalers in packs of one or more.
Salbutamol
Salbutamol
100mcg
Salbutamol 100mcg inhaler, also known as albuterol, for quick relief of wheeze and chest tightness in asthma and COPD, available as a single inhaler or a multi-pack.
Ventolin Inhaler
Salbutamol
100mcg
Salbutamol 100mcg inhaler, used to manage asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. A beta-2 adrenergic agonist.
Ventolin Pills
Salbutamol
2/4mg
Salbutamol 2mg and 4mg tablets — the oral bronchodilator sold here as Ventolin Pills — for the wheeze, cough and chest tightness of asthma.
What salbutamol does
Salbutamol opens up tight airways. It belongs to a group of medicines called bronchodilators, and it works by relaxing the band of muscle that wraps around the bronchial tubes, so air passes through more freely. It is used to prevent and treat wheezing, shortness of breath, coughing and chest tightness in asthma and in COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, a group of long-term lung conditions). Inhaled salbutamol is also used shortly before exercise to stop breathing trouble starting. It calms symptoms rather than curing the condition behind them. In the United States the same medicine is called albuterol, so either name can turn up on a box.
Inhalers, tablets and a combination
Four of the five listings here are inhalers. Ventolin Inhaler, Proair Inhaler and Salbutamol each contain salbutamol at 100mcg per puff — same ingredient, same strength; the first two carry brand names and the third the ingredient name. Combivent is a combination inhaler: salbutamol with ipratropium bromide, a second bronchodilator that reaches the airways by a different route, and it is used in COPD and chronic bronchitis. Ventolin Pills come as 2mg and 4mg tablets, swallowed with water rather than inhaled. All five sit in the asthma and respiratory range.
Using an inhaler properly
Inhaled salbutamol is taken every four to six hours when symptoms flare. When it is used to keep breathlessness away during exercise, it goes 15 to 30 minutes before you start. Technique matters more than most people expect: shake the inhaler, breathe out fully, press the canister as you begin a slow breath in, then hold your breath for a few seconds before breathing out. If coordinating that is hard, a spacer (a plastic chamber between the inhaler and your mouth) helps more of the medicine reach the lungs. Before first use, or after the inhaler has been left alone for a couple of weeks, spray once or twice into the air to prime it. Keep the mouthpiece away from your eyes. Every canister is built to deliver a set number of puffs, commonly 60 or 200, and after that the spray may no longer carry a full dose even though it still fires, so keep count or watch the counter if your inhaler has one. Keep the canister below 30°C and out of direct sun, and never puncture it or throw it on a fire, even when it feels empty.
Side effects and interactions
A fine tremor in the hands is the one people notice most, along with nervousness, headache and a heartbeat that feels fast or pounding. These usually ease as the body adjusts. Larger or more frequent doses can also push down potassium levels, especially alongside some water tablets (diuretics) or steroid tablets. Wheezing that gets worse straight after a puff, chest pain, or swelling of the face, lips or throat are signs to treat as an emergency. Beta-blockers such as propranolol work against salbutamol and can tighten the airways further. Needing the reliever most days points to asthma that is not controlled.
Sources
- Albuterol: MedlinePlus Drug Information — MedlinePlus / National Library of Medicine
- DailyMed - ALBUTEROL SULFATE tablet — DailyMed
- Asthma | American Lung Association — American Lung Association
Can I order Salbutamol online in Hong Kong?
Salbutamol can be ordered online with delivery to Hong Kong. The page lists 100mcg inhalers as generic Ventolin Inhaler, generic Proair Inhaler and Salbutamol inhalers, the combination inhaler generic Combivent, and Ventolin Pills in 2mg and 4mg tablets. Tracked courier delivery to Hong Kong takes 5 to 9 business days and comes with online tracking.
How much does Salbutamol cost?
Each of the five salbutamol products has its own price per pack, shown on its page in HKD or your selected currency; larger packs usually cost less per unit.
Do I need a prescription to order Salbutamol?
PockDose does not ask you to upload a prescription when you order salbutamol. See the ordering FAQ for details.
What are the other names for salbutamol?
ProAir, Proventil and Ventolin are brand names of salbutamol, which is also sold as Aerolin, Airomir, Asmol, Asthalin and Salamol. Here, salbutamol can be bought online as generic Proair Inhaler, generic Ventolin Inhaler and salbutamol inhalers. These are generics, not the original brand.
Is salbutamol the same as albuterol?
Yes. Albuterol is the name used in the United States, while salbutamol is the name used in the UK, Hong Kong and most of Europe. They are the same medicine, and each puff of the 100mcg inhalers sold here gives the same 100 micrograms whichever name is on the box.
What is the difference between Ventolin Inhaler and Proair Inhaler?
Both are salbutamol inhalers delivering 100mcg per puff, so the active ingredient and the strength are the same. The difference is the brand: Ventolin and Proair are separate products, each with its own canister and mouthpiece, and the Salbutamol inhaler is the same medicine sold under the ingredient name. Pick whichever you have used before or prefer to keep on hand.
How quickly does a salbutamol inhaler work?
Relief usually arrives within a few minutes, and the effect fades after a few hours. That speed is why it is the inhaler people reach for when breathing suddenly tightens rather than one taken on a timetable. A preventer inhaler works differently, because it is taken regularly to keep symptoms away.
How long does one dose of salbutamol last?
Inhaled salbutamol is used every four to six hours when symptoms flare, so a dose is expected to see you through roughly that stretch. Used to prevent exercise-related breathlessness, it is taken 15 to 30 minutes before you start. How often you actually reach for it varies with how your lungs are on the day.
How many puffs of a 100mcg inhaler should I use?
Adults normally start with one or two puffs as symptoms begin. The leaflet in the box sets a daily maximum, and it is worth reading that number rather than guessing. A canister running out quickly suggests the asthma is not being kept in check.
Can I use salbutamol before exercise?
Yes. Inhaled salbutamol is used to prevent breathing difficulty during exercise and is taken 15 to 30 minutes before you begin, which gives it time to open the airways before your breathing rate climbs. It is the same inhaler you would reach for when symptoms flare, not a separate product.
Is Combivent the same as Ventolin?
No. Both inhalers contain salbutamol, but Combivent adds a second bronchodilator, ipratropium bromide, and is used for COPD and chronic bronchitis rather than asthma on its own. The two ingredients open the airways in different ways, which is why they are combined in one inhaler.
What do the 2mg and 4mg strengths on Ventolin Pills mean?
They are the amount of salbutamol in each tablet: 2mg or 4mg. Having two strengths allows a different dose from the same product, so a 4mg tablet is simply double the 2mg one. Inhalers are measured differently, in micrograms per puff, where 100mcg is a much smaller amount.