SALBUTAMOL nebuliser solution

Therapeutic action

• Short-acting beta-2 agonist bronchodilator 

Indications

• Symptomatic treatment of severe asthma attack, in combination with ipratropium

Forms and strengths

• Solution for inhalation, in unit dose vial of 5 mg in 2.5 ml (2 mg/ml), to be administered via a nebuliser 

Dosage and duration

• Child under 5 years: 2.5 mg (1.25 ml) per nebulisation every 20 minutes for the first hour
• Child 5 to 11 years: 2.5 to 5 mg (1.25 to 2.5 ml) per nebulisation every 20 minutes for the first hour
• Child 12 years and over and adult: 5 mg (2.5 ml) per nebulisation every 20 minutes for the first hour

Then:

• If symptoms do not improve, continue treatment every 20 minutes.
• If symptoms improve, reduce gradually the frequency of nebulisations then change to salbutamol metered dose inhaler. 

Contra-indications, adverse effects, precautions

• May cause: headache, tremor and tachycardia, hyperglycaemia; hypokalaemia (after high doses).
• Never use nebuliser solution by the parenteral route.
• Pregnancy: no contra-indication
• Breast-feeding: no contra-indication

Remarks

• Nebulised salbutamol should be reserved for severe asthma attacks. Otherwise, salbutamol should be delivered via a metered-dose inhaler with a spacer: administration is easier and faster, the treatment is as effective, or even more effective, than with a nebuliser and causes fewer adverse effects.
• Volumes of nebuliser solution to be administered are insufficient to obtain efficient nebulisation in most nebulisers: dilute salbutamol solution with 0.9% sodium chloride to obtain a total volume of 4 ml in the reservoir of the nebuliser. Stop the nebulisation when the reservoir is empty (after around 10 to 15 minutes).

Storage