Pharmacy Guide
Patient leaflets and SmPCs, drug interaction checker, official dosages and NHS pharmacy opening hours — all in one place.
Pharmacy Guide
Patient leaflets and SmPCs, drug interaction checker, official dosages and NHS pharmacy opening hours — all in one place.
Ventolin Accuhaler 200 micrograms
⚠ This medicine appears to have been discontinued
The electronic medicines compendium (emc) no longer publishes a Summary of Product Characteristics for this product, which usually means it is no longer marketed in the UK. The patient leaflet below is kept for reference, but the product may not be available.
If you were prescribed this medicine, other products containing Salbutamol sulfate may still be available. Do not stop your treatment — ask your pharmacist or GP what to use instead.
What it is and what it is used for
for
Ventolin Accuhaler contains a medicine called salbutamol. This belongs to a group of medicines called fast-acting bronchodilators.
- Bronchodilators help the airways in your lungs to stay open. This makes it easier for air to get in and out.
- They help to relieve chest tightness, wheezing and cough. Ventolin Accuhaler is used to treat breathing problems in people with asthma and similar conditions. This includes relieving and preventing asthma brought on by exercise or other "triggers". These are things, which bring on asthma symptoms in some people. Common triggers include house dust, pollen, cats, dogs and cigarette smoke. In asthma, fast-acting bronchodilators including Salbutamol Accuhaler should not be the main or only treatment. It is recommended that Salbutamol Accuhaler should always be prescribed with an inhaled corticosteroid (anti-inflammatory) medicine.
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What you need to know before you take it
e Ventolin Accuhaler
Do not use Ventolin Accuhaler if:
- you are allergic to salbutamol sulfate or any of the other ingredients of this medicine (listed in section 6).
- you unexpectedly go into early labour (premature labour) or threatened abortion.
- you are allergic to lactose or milk protein. Ventolin Accuhaler should be used as required rather than regularly. Warnings and precautions Talk to your doctor, nurse or pharmacist before taking Ventolin Accuhaler if:
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- your asthma is active (for example you have frequent symptoms or flare ups, such as breathlessness that makes speaking, eating or sleeping difficult, cough, wheezing, tight chest or limited physical ability), you should tell your doctor right away who may start or increase a medicine to control your asthma such as an inhaled corticosteroid.
- you have high blood pressure
- 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. ➔ If your inhaler fails to give relief for a duration of at least 3 hours, check with your doctor as soon as possible. Other medicines and Ventolin Accuhaler 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. Ventolin Accuhaler with food and drink You can use Ventolin Accuhaler 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 planning to have a baby, ask your doctor, nurse or pharmacist for advice before taking this medicine. Driving and using machines Ventolin is not likely to affect you being able to drive or use any tools or machines. Ventolin Accuhaler contains lactose monohydrate If you have been told by your doctor that you have an intolerance to some sugars, contact your doctor before taking this medicinal product.
How to take it
Ventolin Accuhaler Always use this medicine exactly as your doctor has told you. Check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist if you are not sure. Adults, adolescents aged 12 years and over and children 4 to 11 years of age
- to relieve asthma symptoms/ attack – One inhalation (200 micrograms once a day).
- to prevent asthma symptoms/ attack – One inhalation (200 micrograms) 10 to 15 minutes before exercise or exposure to a "trigger". ➔ The maximum dose is 800 micrograms (one inhalation up to four times in a 24 hour period). Instructions for use
- Your doctor, nurse or pharmacist should show you how to use your inhaler. They should check how you use it from time to time. Not using the Ventolin Accuhaler properly or as prescribed may mean that it will not help your asthma as it should.
- The Ventolin Accuhaler device holds blisters containing Ventolin as a powder
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There is a counter on top of the Ventolin Accuhaler which tells you how many doses are left. It counts down to 0. The numbers 5 to 0 will appear in red to warn you when there are only a few doses left. Once the counter shows 0, your inhaler is empty.
Do not use your inhaler more often than the doctor told you to. Tell your doctor as soon as possible if your medicine does not seem to be working as well as usual (for example you need higher doses to relieve your breathing problems or your inhaler fails to give relief for at least 3 hours) as your asthma may be getting worse and you may need a different medicine. If you use Ventolin Accuhaler more than twice a week to treat your asthma symptoms, not including preventive use before exercise, this indicates poorly controlled asthma and may increase the risk of severe asthma attacks (worsening of asthma) that can have serious complications and may be life-threatening or even fatal. You should contact your doctor as soon as possible to review your asthma treatment. If you use a medicine against inflammation of your lungs daily, e.g., "inhaled corticosteroid", it is important to continue using it regularly, even if you feel better. Your doctor may have told you to take more than this as an emergency treatment if your wheezing or breathing gets very bad. It is very important that you keep to your doctor's instructions as to how many blisters to take and how often to use your inhaler. Using your inhaler 1 To open your Ventolin Accuhaler, hold the outer case 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. You will hear a click. This will open a small hole in the mouthpiece.
2 Hold your Ventolin Accuhaler with the mouthpiece towards you. You can hold it in either your right or left hand. Slide the lever away from you as far as it will go. You will hear a click. This places a dose of your medicine in the mouthpiece. Every time the lever is pushed back a blister is opened inside and the powder made ready for you to inhale. Do not play with the lever as this opens the blisters and wastes medicine. 3 Hold the Ventolin Accuhaler away from your mouth, breathe out as far as is comfortable. Do not breathe into your Ventolin Accuhaler. Do not breath in again yet.
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4 Put the mouthpiece to your lips; breathe in steadily and deeply through the Ventolin Accuhaler with your mouth, not through your nose. Remove the Ventolin Accuhaler from your mouth. Hold your breath for about 10 seconds or for as long as is comfortable. Breathe out slowly.
5 To close the Ventolin Accuhaler, slide the thumbgrip back towards you, as far as it will go. You will hear a click. The lever will return to its original position and is reset. Your Accuhaler is now ready for you to use again.
Cleaning your inhaler Wipe the mouthpiece of the Accuhaler with a dry tissue to clean it. If you use more Ventolin than you should If you use more than you should, talk to a doctor as soon as possible. The following effects may happen: • your heart beating faster than usual • you feel shaky. • hyperactivity These effects usually wear off in a few hours. If you forget to use Ventolin Accuhaler
- If you forget a dose, take it as soon as you remember it
- However, if it is time for the next dose, skip the missed dose
- Do not take a double dose to make up for a forgotten dose. If you stop using Ventolin Accuhaler Do not stop using Ventolin Accuhaler without talking to your doctor. If you have any further questions on the use of this medicine, ask your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.
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Possible side effects
If your breathing or wheezing gets worse straight after taking this medicine, stop using it immediately, and tell your doctor as soon as possible. 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 (may affect up to 1 in 10,000 people)
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If you have an allergic reaction, stop taking Ventolin 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 may affect up to 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: Common (may affect up to 1 in 10 people)
- feeling shaky
- headache. Uncommon (may affect up to 1 in 100 people)
- mouth and throat irritation
- muscle cramps. Rare (may affect up to 1 in 1,000 people)
- a low level of potassium in your blood
- increased blood flow to your extremities (peripheral dilatation). Very rare (may affect up to 1 in 10,000 people)
- changes in sleep patterns and changes in behaviour, such as restlessness and excitability. The following side effects can also happen but the frequency of these are not known:
- chest pain, due to heart problems such as angina. Tell your doctor, nurse or pharmacist if this occurs. Do not stop using this medicine unless told to do so. If you think this medicine is not working well enough for you If your medicine does not seem to be working as well as usual, talk to your doctor as soon as possible. Your chest problem may be getting worse and you may need a different medicine. Do not take extra doses of Ventolin Accuhaler unless your doctor tells you to. Reporting of side effects If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor, pharmacist or nurse. This includes any
Possible side effects
not listed in this leaflet. You can also report side effects directly via the Yellow Card Scheme at: www.mhra.gov.uk/yellowcard By reporting side effects you can help provide more information on the safety of this medicine.
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How to store it
Ventolin Accuhaler
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Keep this medicine out of the sight and reach of children. Do not store above 30°C.
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Do not use this medicine after the expiry date, which is stated on the label and carton after 'EXP'. The expiry date refers to the last day of that month.
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If you are told to stop taking this medicine return any unused Ventolin Accuhaler to your pharmacist to be destroyed.
Do not throw away medicines via wastewater or household waste. Ask your pharmacist how to throw away medicines you no longer use. These measures will help to protect the environment.
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Contents of the pack and other information
What Ventolin Accuhaler contains
- The active substance is salbutamol sulfate.
- The other ingredient is lactose (contains milk protein).
- Each blister contains 200 micrograms of salbutamol sulfate. What Ventolin Accuhaler looks like and contents of the pack Ventolin Accuhaler contains a foil strip. The foil protects the powder for inhalation from the effects of the atmosphere. Each dose is pre-dispensed. Each inhaler contains 60 doses of 200 micrograms of salbutamol sulfate. Marketing Authorisation holder Glaxo Wellcome UK Limited GSK Medicines Research Centre Gunnels Wood Road Stevenage Hertfordshire SG1 2NY UK Manufacturer Glaxo Wellcome Production Zone Industrielle No.2 23 Rue Lavoisier 27000 Evreux France Other formats: To listen to or request a copy of this leaflet in Braille, large print or audio please call, free of charge:
0800 198 5000 (UK only) Please be ready to give the following information: Product name Reference number
Ventolin Accuhaler PL 10949/0252
This is a service provided by the Royal National Institute of Blind People. This leaflet was last revised in September 2025 Ventolin and Accuhaler are registered trade marks of the GSK group of companies © 2025 GSK group of companies. All rights reserved.
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Frequently asked questions about Ventolin Accuhaler 200 micrograms
What is the active substance in Ventolin Accuhaler 200 micrograms?
The active substance in Ventolin Accuhaler 200 micrograms is salbutamol sulfate.
Are there equivalent medicines to Ventolin Accuhaler 200 micrograms?
Medicines with the same active substance, strength and form include: Easyhaler Salbutamol 200mcg. They are interchangeable only if your prescriber or pharmacist says so.
Where does this information come from?
This leaflet reproduces the patient information leaflet approved for Ventolin Accuhaler 200 micrograms, as published on the electronic medicines compendium (emc). The version printed inside your medicine’s packaging is the one that applies to you.
Can I get Ventolin Accuhaler 200 micrograms without a prescription?
Whether a medicine is available over the counter or on prescription only depends on its licence. Check the leaflet, or ask your pharmacist — they can tell you straight away.
About this leaflet
The text above reproduces the patient information leaflet approved for this medicine, restructured for easier reading.
- Source: electronic medicines compendium (emc), Datapharm
- Active substance: salbutamol sulfate
- Official document: view the original leaflet on emc →
⚕For healthcare professionals — Summary of Product Characteristics (SmPC)Full SmPC: dosage, interactions, contraindications, warnings+
4.1. Therapeutic indications
Ventolin Accuhaler is indicated in adults, adolescents and children aged 4 to 11 years.
Ventolin Accuhaler can be used in the management of asthma, bronchospasm and/or reversible airways obstruction.
Ventolin Accuhaler is particularly suitable for the relief of asthma symptoms. It should be used to relieve symptoms when they occur, and to prevent them in those circumstances recognised by the patient to precipitate an asthma attack (e.g. before exercise or unavoidable allergen exposure).
In asthma, short acting beta-2 agonists including Salbutamol Accuhaler should not be the main or only treatment. It is recommended that short acting beta-2 agonists should be prescribed with concomitant inhaled corticosteroid (anti-inflammatory).
4.2. Posology and method of administration
Posology
Adults (including the elderly)
For the relief of acute bronchospasm, 200 micrograms as a single dose. The maximum daily dose is 200 micrograms four times a day.
To prevent allergen- or exercise-induced symptoms, 200 micrograms should be taken 10‑15 minutes before challenge.
Paediatric Population
Relief of acute bronchospasm
Children aged 4 to 11 years 200 micrograms as required.
Children aged 12 years and over: Dose as per adult population.
Prevention of allergen or exercise-induced bronchospasm
Children aged 4 to 11 years 200 micrograms before challenge or exertion.
Children aged 12 years and over: Dose as per adult population.
Chronic therapy
Children aged 4 to 11 years 200 micrograms four times a day.
On-demand use of Ventolin Accuhaler should not exceed four times daily. Reliance on such frequent supplementary use, or a sudden increase in dose, indicates poorly controlled or deteriorating asthma (see section 4.4).
Children aged 12 years and over: Dose as per adult population.
Method of Administration
Ventolin Accuhaler is for inhalation use only. Ventolin Accuhaler is suitable for many patients including those who cannot use a metered-dose inhaler successfully.
Salbutamol inhaled formulations are administered by the inhaled route only, to be breathed in through the mouth.
4.3. Contraindications
Hypersensitivity to the active substance or any of the excipients listed in section 6.1.
Non-IV formulations of salbutamol must not be used to arrest uncomplicated premature labour or threatened abortion.
Ventolin Accuhaler is contraindicated in patients with severe milk-protein allergy.
4.4. Special warnings and precautions for use
Bronchodilators should not be the only or main treatment in patients with severe or unstable asthma. Severe asthma requires regular medical assessment, including lung-function testing, as patients are at risk of severe attacks and even death. Physicians should consider using the maximum recommended dose of inhaled corticosteroid and/or oral corticosteroid therapy in these patients.
Patients who are prescribed regular anti-inflammatory therapy (e.g., inhaled corticosteroids) should be advised to continue taking their anti-inflammatory medication even when symptoms decrease, and they do not require Ventolin Accuhaler.
Increasing use of bronchodilators, in particular short-acting inhaled β2-agonists to relieve symptoms, indicates deterioration of asthma control, and patients should be warned to seek medical advice as soon as possible. Under these conditions, the patient's therapy plan should be reassessed.
Overuse of short-acting beta-agonists may mask the progression of the underlying disease and contribute to deteriorating asthma control, leading to an increased risk of severe asthma exacerbations and mortality.
Patients who take more than twice a week “as needed” salbutamol, not counting prophylactic use prior to exercise, should be re-evaluated (i.e., daytime symptoms, night-time awakening, and activity limitation due to asthma) for proper treatment adjustment as these patients are at risk for overuse of salbutamol.
Sudden and progressive deterioration in asthma control is potentially life-threatening and consideration should be given to starting or increasing corticosteroid therapy. In patients considered at risk, daily peak flow monitoring may be instituted.
The patient should be instructed to seek medical advice if short-acting relief bronchodilator treatment becomes less effective, or more inhalations than usual are required. In the event of a previously effective dose of inhaled salbutamol now failing to give relief for a duration of at least three hours following administration, the patient should be advised to promptly seek medical advice in order that any necessary additional steps may be taken. In this situation the patient should be assessed and consideration given to the need for increased anti-inflammatory therapy (e.g. higher doses of inhaled corticosteroid or a course of oral corticosteroid).
Severe exacerbations of asthma must be treated in the normal way.
Cardiovascular effects may be seen with sympathomimetic drugs, including salbutamol. There is some evidence from post-marketing data and published literature of rare occurrences of myocardial ischaemia associated with salbutamol. Patients with underlying severe heart disease (e.g. ischaemic heart disease, arrhythmia or severe heart failure) who are receiving salbutamol should be warned to seek medical advice if they experience chest pain or other symptoms of worsening heart disease. Attention should be paid to assessment of symptoms such as dyspnoea and chest pain, as they may be of either respiratory or cardiac origin.
Salbutamol should be administered cautiously to patients suffering from thyrotoxicosis.
Increasing use of β2-agonists may be a sign of worsening asthma. Under these conditions a reassessment of the patient's therapy plan may be required and concomitant corticosteroid therapy should be considered.
As there may be adverse effects associated with excessive dosing, the dosage or frequency of administration should only be increased on medical advice.
Potentially serious hypokalaemia may result from β2-agonist therapy, mainly from parenteral and nebulised administration. Particular caution is advised in acute severe asthma as this effect may be potentiated by hypoxia and by concomitant treatment with xanthine derivatives, steroids and diuretics. Serum potassium levels should be monitored in such situations.
As with other inhalation therapy, paradoxical bronchospasm may occur with an immediate increase in wheezing after dosing. This should be treated immediately with an alternative presentation or a different fast-acting inhaled bronchodilator. Ventolin Accuhaler should be discontinued immediately, the patient assessed, and if necessary a different fast-acting bronchodilator instituted for on-going use.
Patients with rare hereditary problems of galactose intolerance, the Lapp lactase deficiency or glucose-galactose malabsorption should not take this medicine.
4.5. Interaction with other medicinal products and other forms of interaction
Salbutamol and non-selective β-blocking drugs such as propranolol, should not usually be prescribed together.
4.6. Fertility, pregnancy and lactation
Pregnancy:
Administration of drugs during pregnancy should only be considered if the expected benefit to the mother is greater than any possible risk to the foetus. As with the majority of drugs, there is little published evidence of the safety of salbutamol in the early stages of human pregnancy, but in animal studies there was evidence of some harmful effects on the foetus at very high dose levels.
Breast-feeding:
As salbutamol is probably secreted in breast milk, its use in nursing mothers requires careful consideration. It is not known whether salbutamol has a harmful effect on the neonate, and so its use should be restricted to situations where it is felt that the expected benefit to the mother is likely to outweigh any potential risk to the neonate.
Fertility:
There is no information on the effects of salbutamol on human fertility. There were no adverse effects on fertility in animals (see section 5.3).
4.7. Effects on ability to drive and use machines
None reported.
4.8. Undesirable effects
Adverse events are listed below by system organ class and frequency. Frequencies are defined as: very common (≥1/10), common (≥1/100 to <1/10), uncommon (≥1/1000 to <1/100), rare (≥1/10,000 to <1/1000) and very rare (<1/10,000) including isolated reports. Very common and common events were generally determined from clinical trial data. Rare, very rare and unknown events were generally determined from spontaneous data.
Immune system disorders
Very rare:
Hypersensitivity reactions including angioedema, urticaria, bronchospasm, hypotension and collapse
Metabolism and nutrition disorders
Rare:
Hypokalaemia.
Potentially serious hypokalaemia may result from beta2 agonist therapy.
Nervous system disorders
Common:
Tremor, headache.
Very rare:
Hyperactivity.
Cardiac disorders
Common:
Tachycardia.
Uncommon:
Palpitations.
Very rare:
Cardiac arrhythmias including atrial fibrillation, supraventricular tachycardia and extrasystoles
Unknown:
Myocardial ischaemia* (see section 4.4)
Vascular disorders
Rare:
Peripheral vasodilatation.
Respiratory, thoracic and mediastinal disorders
Very rare:
Paradoxical bronchospasm.
Gastrointestinal disorders
Uncommon:
Mouth and throat irritation.
Musculoskeletal and connective tissue disorders
Uncommon:
Muscle cramps.
* reported spontaneously in post-marketing data therefore frequency regarded as unknown
Reporting of suspected adverse reactions Reporting suspected adverse reactions after authorisation of the medicinal product is important. It allows continued monitoring of the benefit/risk balance of the medicinal product. Healthcare professionals are asked to report any suspected adverse reactions via the Yellow Card Scheme Website: www.mhra.gov.uk/yellowcard or search for MHRA Yellow Card in the Google Play or Apple App Store.
4.9. Overdose
The most common signs and symptoms of overdose with salbutamol are transient beta agonist pharmacologically mediated events, including tachycardia, tremor, hyperactivity and metabolic effects including hypokalaemia (see sections 4.4 and 4.8).
Hypokalaemia may occur following overdose with salbutamol. Serum potassium levels should be monitored. Lactic acidosis has been reported in association with high therapeutic doses as well as overdoses of short-acting beta-agonist therapy, therefore monitoring for elevated serum lactate and consequent metabolic acidosis (particularly if there is persistence or worsening of tachypnea despite resolution of other signs of bronchospasm such as wheezing) may be indicated in the setting of overdose.
💬 Ask about this leaflet
Ask anything about Ventolin Accuhaler 200 micrograms. The assistant answers only from this leaflet — if the leaflet does not cover it, it will say so. It does not give medical advice.
Answers come from the patient leaflet published on the electronic medicines compendium (emc). They are not medical advice. Ask a pharmacist or your GP if you are unsure. For urgent help call NHS 111, or 999 in an emergency.
Medicines containing Salbutamol sulfate
- Asthalin 100 micrograms Inhaler
- Easyhaler Salbutamol 100mcg
- Easyhaler Salbutamol 200mcg
- Salamol CFC-Free MDI Inhaler 100mcg
- Salamol Easi-Breathe CFC-Free Inhaler
- Salbulin Novolizer 100 micrograms / dose Inhalation Powder
- Salbutamol 1mg/ml nebuliser solution
- Salbutamol 2mg/ml nebuliser solution
- Ventolin Evohaler 100 micrograms
- Ventolin Injection 500 micrograms
- Ventolin Respirator Solution 5 mg/ml
- Ventolin Solution for IV Infusion
- Ventolin Syrup