ASTHMA DRUG SALBUTAMOL – THE FACTS

What is salbutamol and what is it for?

It is a medication that helps to open up the medium and large airways in the lungs.

It is a treatment for ailments such as asthma, chronic bronchitis and other breathing disorders.

Salbutamol is usually taken with an inhaler. When was salbutamol discovered?

A team at the Allen and Hanburys laboratory in Hertfordshire discovered it in 1966 and three years later it was commercially launched as Ventolin. How long does it take for the medication to work?

After using the inhaler, salbutamol swiftly eases breathing. One use of the inhaler equates to about a five-hour benefit. Are there any side effects of using salbutamol?

Salbutamol has very few side effects and it is considered a safe and effective medication.

Those users who might have side effects could experience a shaky feeling, faster heartbeat for a short period, headache or muscle cramps.

But they are not dangerous and do not last long.

Can salbutamol enhance an athlete’s performance?

Salbutamol is banned by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) when taken intravenously or in pill form – research suggests large doses administered like this can boost performance.

But asthma sufferers can take up to 1600 micrograms over 24 hours, without exceeding 800 micrograms every 12 hours.

A typical dosage or inhaler puff is 100 micrograms.