Comparing Asthma Inhalers for Tailored Treatment Options
If you’re somebody who has asthma, you know how critical is to find the right inhaler. When you suddenly feel like you can’t breathe, you need to be able to rely on an inhaler that’s effective and won’t falter. In the UK, Salbutamol or Ventolin inhalers are the most popular, and for a good reason.
These two inhalers are the best ones on the market right now for effective asthma treatment, but some people may also prefer the Symbicort inhaler. Let’s see how they differ from each other.
Salbutamol/Ventolin Inhaler
The Salbutamol or Ventolin inhaler is a type of medicine called “bronchodilator” because it dilates (widens) the air passages in your lungs.
This inhaler works by opening up the air passages in your lungs to allow oxygen to enter your lungs more freely. As a result, it can help relieve asthma symptoms and other diseases that may cause breathing problems.
Salbutamol takes a few minutes to take effect and usually lasts for about three to five hours.
However, it’s important to remember that it can’t prevent it from happening while it helps relieve breathlessness.
The medication may also be given as tablets, capsules, or syrup for people who cannot use an inhaler very well.
Symbicort Inhaler
On the other hand, the Symbicort inhaler shouldn’t be used for emergencies (unlike the Salbutamol one) because Symbicort isn’t a rescue medicine for asthma or bronchospasm attacks.
While Salbutamol can act relatively quickly to help relieve breathlessness symptoms, this one is intended as a longer-term solution.
That aside, you might want to know more about how Symbicort works. Well, the medicine is a combination of budesonide and formoterol.
Budesonide is a corticosteroid that reduces inflammation in the body and formoterol is a long-acting bronchodilator that relaxes muscles in the airways to improve breathing.
Which Inhaler Is Better?
In essence, the Symbicort inhaler is better suited for patients who experience more severe breathing problems and need a gradual treatment process. Due to this, your doctor may tell you to stop using it once your breathing seems under control. Moreover, remember that this inhaler can’t be used for emergencies.
Meanwhile, Salbutamol is excellent for temporary relief from breathing problems but shouldn’t be relied on for more than that. It should allow you to breathe for a few hours without any difficulties.
You can easily find both of these on Online pharmacies in the UK.
Authored By
HARMINDER ‘HARMY’ KAUR
BSc(hons) Pharmacy
GPhC Number: 2061107
Reviewed By
GURDEV SEHMI
BSc Pharm, MRPharmS, Independent Prescriber, Superintendent Pharmacist, Clinical Lead
GPhC Number: 2050925