How many days does your blue inhaler ... - Lung Conditions C...
How many days does your blue inhaler (salamol) last -approx?
It depends how often you use it and how many you have on the go.
Many long term sufferers will have a few kicking about, bedside table, coat pocket, kitchen worktop, in the car. Always there to be reached for when needed.
Some are told to use the inhaler 2 puffs 4 times a day, so it will last 25 days at that as they have 200 doses when new.
Mine just says 'as required' and that can be from none some days to maybe 8 double blasts in a day.
I meant to put - I get 2 per month on repeat prescription, and can ask for more if I need them.
Hi,iv just had my asthma check today, and wad told my blue inhaler should be lasting 12 months,and the one puff morning and evening is all wrong.And the fact I might use it twice during the day,my asthma is out of control .
I use a ventolin inhalor about every two to three weeks and I have just been told by my long term gp I should use one per year after 35 years of use similar to now! why the sudden change of advice? an if I had one per year I'd be dead!
I ask because OH seems to be always running out he can use 2 puffs when required and often requires it so 1 inhaler lasts 4-5 days at best, last week by chance he was given he a slightly larger one which lasted longer but the small one he normally gets runs out so quickly.
He also only has one inhaler on the go at once dont ever have enough to have others in different pockets
He needs to go see someone, that's using far too much. You should not use the blue inhaler more than 8 puffs in 24 hours without medical advice.
At best he will have a very dry mouth and throat, at worst he can actually overdose on the stuff and would need urgent medical attention.
Before considering getting 'spares', please get him to talk to his GP about this. 
Gordon, I am sorry to disagree with you as you are usually so right but when I went to PR we were told we could use the blue inhaler as much as we felt we needed as 12 puffs at one time was about equal to a salbutamol nebulise. I have never used it that much but often have 4 puffs at a time and use it about every 3 hrs. I try not to use it in between as I just stop and let my breathing calm by itself.
Hi Carole, feel free to disagree but I did qualify it in the first paragraph - "without medical advice" 
Yes, there are many who are told about the emergency use as a nebulsier, as you've described. Some like you and I will use a lot more than 8 puffs a day.
This was a 'general use' type question, how long should one last, which is how I answered it 
Yeah, I have the same trouble (recognising when it has run out) the amount of shots available is displayed I believe , but who keeps count? Since the change from Ventolin to Salamol I noticed that the container is much smaller but apparently holds the same amount.
I think that they should incorporate some kind of marker to let you know how much is left, otherwise you can go for a long while inhaling fresh air !
The 'change' was probably based on cost, Salamol is about 19p cheaper than Ventolin per unit, but the active ingredient is the same dose of salbutamol.
The Salamol spray can get clogged, according to information I have read, the manufacturers suggest cleaning weekly. To add a counter would greatly increase the cost.
Salamol is a softer spray, it uses a different CFC-free gas to propel the medication. Some people are not sure if it's worked, so they keep pressing ! Patients are not being told about the differences so assume it's 'not working' or is empty because they can't feel or taste it.
Have to disagree a little with Gordon, in an acute Asthma attack or acute breathlessness in COPD then up to 25 puffs of Salbutamol over a short period is ok, = to using via a nebuliser. Although do agree if such use is required longer term then do discuss with your prescriber about ongoing use.
As mentioned in my response to Carole above, there are some of us who will use a lot more
The enquiry was about general use, so I followed the manufacturers information, as shown on the leaflet in every pack, not to exceed 8 puffs in 24 hours, and had said not to exceed this without medical advice. To use a whole inhaler in a few days is excessive, even for me
There are so many varying attitudes to the use of Ventolin inhalers. I have been told I dont need them by one and another says I should be using them. I personally think I need them!!
There is a counter available in the states that attaches to the top of the inhaler. It counts every time you press it. But I can't find one in UK which seems a shame. Currently, I dunk the inhaler minus cover in water. If it floats then it is finished.
If I think my Ventolin is low I just puff once into the air to see how much comes out.!!
not much....then its nearly had it !!
hmm well plenty to think about I think, thanks for all your replies
About 4 weeks it depends on how much you use it if you use it a lot because of servere symptoms then 2 weeks
If you have a digital kitchen scale, why not weigh a full inhaler and an empty one? As each dose is 100mcg and there are supposed to be 200 doses, I'd guess the difference in weight will be around 20g (200 x 100mcg), or a little more to allow for the weight of the propellant. Once you know what the empty and full weights are it should be pretty easy to work out how many doses you have used and how many are left.
200 times 100mcg (microgram) is 20 milligram, not 20 gram! A new inhaler (without the cover) weighs 15,44 gram. An empty one about 9,5 gram I believe. Each dose weighs about 0,0295 gram i.e. 29,5 mg. You mustn't forget that a dose consists not only of the active ingredient (salbutamol) but also of the helping agents (is that excipients in English?)
