SEREVENT

Who is Serevent for ?

Salmeterol is used to treat wheezing, shortness of breath, and troubled breathing caused by asthma, chronic bronchitis, emphysema, and other lung diseases. It also is used to prevent breathing difficulties (bronchospasm) during exercise. this medication is sometimes prescribed for other uses; ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

Salmeterol is an inhaled Beta-2 Agonist that works in the lungs to relax and open your airways to allow for easier breathing. It does this by stimulating the beta-2 receptors, which are a certain type of receptor located in your lungs that helps regulate constriction and dilation of the airways.

When should I be careful taking Serevent ?

Before using salmeterol,

• tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic to salmeterol or any other drugs.
• tell your doctor and pharmacist what prescription medications you are taking, especially atenolol (Tenormin), carteolol (Cartrol), labetalol (Normodyne, Trandate), metoprolol (Lopressor), nadolol (Corgard), phenelzine (Nardil), propranolol (Inderal), sotalol (Betapace), theophylline (Theo-Dur), timolol (Blocadren), tranylcypromine (Parnate), other medications for asthma, heart disease, or depression.
• tell your doctor and pharmacist what nonprescription medications and vitamins you are taking, including ephedrine, phenylephrine, phenylpropanolamine, or pseudoephedrine. Many nonprescription products contain these drugs (e.g., diet pills and medications for colds and asthma), so check labels carefully. Do not use any of these medications without talking to your doctor (even if you never had a problem using them before).
• tell your doctor if you have or have ever had irregular heartbeats, increased heart rate, glaucoma, heart disease, high blood pressure, an overactive thyroid gland, diabetes, or seizures.
• tell your doctor if you are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding. If you become pregnant while using salmeterol, call your doctor.
• if you are having surgery, including dental surgery, tell the doctor or dentist that you are using salmeterol.

Side Effects

Although side effects from salmeterol are not common, they can occur. Tell your doctor if any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away:

• tremor
• nervousness
• dizziness
• headache
• upset stomach
• diarrhea
• cough
• dry mouth
• throat irritation

If you experience any of the following symptoms, call your doctor immediately:

• increased difficulty breathing
• rapid or increased heart rate
• irregular heartbeat
• chest pain or discomfort