Rookie inhaler questions

[AirIsUnderrated]

I'm at the end of my first Salamol inhaler. I've been keeping a note of the usage and I'm at 220+ puffs. I do have another one to replace it.

There is still white mist coming out into my spacer, but could that be the propellent? It doesn't seem to be lasting, but that could be the heat - I'm worse in the heat. I'm shakier than usual tonight too. Could that mean that there is medicine left in the canister after all, or is it the propellent that gives the tremor?

So many questions that Google doesn't answer...

[EmmaF91 Community Ambassador]

Hi

The propellant can give the shakes and it it most likely run out and just giving you propellant. Start your new inhaler and see if it makes a difference... I highly suspect it will!!

If you take the canister out the plastic and give it a shake then compare it to the new one... the used out should feel light and empty, then new one will feel heavier and like there is liquid inside... it’s the liquid that is the salbutamol so if you can’t feel it sloshing about (or it’s very minimal) it usually means it’s VERY empty. You can also tell with the water test... empty will float, full/usable will sink

Hope this helps and explains your issues today

[AirIsUnderrated in reply to EmmaF91]

Well there you go, it floats like a balloon. I thought that the white mist was the salbutamol. It only occurred to me as I was typing that it might be the propellant. I’ll take it to the pharmacist for recycling or whatever they do.

Thank you so much!

[Jollygood in reply to AirIsUnderrated]

Good point airisunderrsted. Do they recycle them? I've always put them in the bin but it would be great to recycle.

[EmmaF91 Community Ambassador in reply to Jollygood]

healthunlocked.com/asthmauk...

You can recycle by returning your empty I bakers to participating pharmacies

[purple_pixel]

I don't know Salamol, is it your preventor inhaler?

It should list on the box how many actuation it has, if you have exceeded the number of actuation move on to the new inhaler. It sounds to me like you may well have as the highest number of actuations i have seen in the past was 200 (thats not to say some inhalers may have more)

If you need more piece of mind it may be worth speaking to your asthma nurse as some brands of inhalers keep track of the remaining dosages for you

[EmmaF91 Community Ambassador in reply to purple_pixel]

Salamol is a generic ventolin (salbutamol) inhaler so a reliever. You are correct tho, the MDI does usually contain 200 actuations