Salbutamol+ambroxol
About
Salbutamol+ambroxol is a respiratory combination medication primarily used to treat cough associated with respiratory disorders like asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases (COPD). Asthma is a breathing problem in which airways narrow, swell, and produce extra mucus, leading to difficulty breathing. COPD is a group of lung diseases with emphysema (shortness of breath) and chronic bronchitis (inflammation of the lining of your bronchial tubes). Coughing occurs as a reflex action in the throat when there is mucus or any other foreign irritant in it.
Salbutamol+ambroxol consists of two medicines, namely: Salbutamol (widens narrowed airways) and Ambroxol (dilutes viscous cough). Salbutamol belongs to the class of drugs known as 'bronchodilators' that works by widening and relaxing the airways (bronchi) of the lungs. On the other hand, Ambroxol is an 'expectorant' (promotes the secretion of sputum/cough) and 'mucolytic agent' (makes sputum less viscous) to make breathing easier in asthma, and COPD patients who have laboured breathing.
Your doctor will advise on how often you take Salbutamol+ambroxol based on your medical condition. The common side effects of Salbutamol+ambroxol include nausea, vomiting, restlessness, tremor, headache, muscle cramp, dizziness, sleepiness and increased heart rate. Most of these side effects of Salbutamol+ambroxol do not require medical attention and gradually resolve over time. However, if the side effects are persistent, reach out to your doctor. Avoid drinking alcohol while taking this medicine as it can worsen your sleepiness.
Try not to stop taking this medicine of your own. Brief your medical history if you have heart, liver, kidney diseases, stomach ulcer, seizure (fits), high blood pressure, and diabetes before taking Salbutamol+ambroxol. Check with your doctor if you are pregnant, currently breastfeeding, or taking any other prescribed or non-prescribed medicines. Salbutamol+ambroxol causes dizziness and sleepiness, hence drive only when you are alert. Alcohol consumption also may lead to increased dizziness and sleepiness, so it is recommended to avoid it.
Uses of Salbutamol+ambroxol
Medicinal Benefits
Salbutamol+ambroxol is a combination of two medicines: Salbutamol and Ambroxol. Salbutamol is a bronchodilator that works by widening and relaxing the airways (bronchi) of the lungs. Ambroxol is an expectorant (relieves congestion) and mucolytic agent (dilutes viscous cough/mucus) that loosens the mucus to make the breathing easier. Salbutamol+ambroxol is used to treat cough associated with respiratory disorders like asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases (COPD). Salbutamol+ambroxol effectively treats COPD like emphysema (shortness of breath) and chronic bronchitis (inflammation of the lining of your bronchial tubes).
Directions for Use
Storage
Side Effects of Salbutamol+ambroxol
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Restlessness
- Tremors/shakiness
- Headache
- Muscle cramps
- Dizziness
- Sleepiness
- Increased heart rate
In-Depth Precautions and Warning
Drug Warnings
Before taking Salbutamol+ambroxol, let your doctor know if have a history of heart, liver and kidney diseases. Also tell your doctor if you have a stomach ulcer, seizure (fits), high blood pressure, and diabetes before taking Salbutamol+ambroxol. Salbutamol+ambroxol causes hypokalaemia (low potassium levels in the blood), therefore should be used with caution in patients with bronchospasm. Special precautions should be taken in patients with hyperthyroidism and epilepsy. Salbutamol+ambroxol can cause a rise in blood glucose levels. Hence monitor your blood glucose levels if you have diabetes and inform your doctor so that the dose can be adjusted accordingly. Also, let your doctor know if you plan to become pregnant or already pregnant and a lactating mother.
Drug Interactions
Drug-Drug Interaction: Salbutamol+ambroxol may interact with respiratory-related medicines (beclomethasone, aminophylline, theophylline), blood pressure medicines (propranolol), antidepressants (isocarboxazid, phenelzine, clomipramine, tranylcypromine), Parkinson's disease medication (rasagiline, selegiline), fluid retention drugs (bendroflumethiazide, indapamide, bumetanide, furosemide), corticosteroids (betamethasone, prednisolone, triamcinolone), and heart-related drugs (digoxin).
Drug-Food Interaction: Limit alcohol intake since it may cause a rise in blood pressure leading to heart diseases. Avoid fatty foods and control your cholesterol and triglyceride levels.
Drug-Disease Interaction: Brief your doctor if you have a medical history of allergic reactions to medicines, diabetes, bronchospasm, stomach ulcer, seizure (fits), high blood pressure (hypertension), hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid), epilepsy, heart, liver, and kidney diseases before taking Salbutamol+ambroxol.
Drug-Drug Interactions Checker List:
Safety Advice
Alcohol
unsafeAvoid drinking alcohol while taking this medicine as it can worsen your condition, causing sleep disturbances (sleep apnoea).
Pregnancy
cautionThere is limited data on how the Salbutamol+ambroxol affects pregnancy. Please consult your doctor if you are planning to become pregnant or already pregnant before starting Salbutamol+ambroxol.
Breast Feeding
cautionThere is limited data on how Salbutamol+ambroxol affects breastfeeding. Please consult your doctor before starting Salbutamol+ambroxol.
Driving
cautionDo not drive or operate machinery if you experience drowsiness, increased/uneven heart rate and shakiness while using Salbutamol+ambroxol. This may affect your ability to drive. Seek medical attention if the symptoms persist longer.
Liver
cautionSalbutamol+ambroxol should be used with caution in patients with liver diseases. Let your doctor know if you have any history of liver diseases or hepatic impairment. Your doctor will weigh the benefits and potential risks before prescribing Salbutamol+ambroxol.
Kidney
cautionSalbutamol+ambroxol should be used with caution in patients with kidney diseases. Let your doctor know if you have any history of kidney diseases. Your doctor will weigh the benefits and potential risks before prescribing Salbutamol+ambroxol.
Children
cautionSalbutamol+ambroxol is not recommended for children less than 4 years of age. However, it can be given to the children above 4 years of age if prescribed by the doctor.
Habit Forming
Diet & Lifestyle Advise
- Take the medication as directed by the doctor and at regular intervals. Do not use other over the counter medications, herbal or vitamin supplements without informing your pharmacist or doctor when you take Salbutamol+ambroxol.
- Know your triggers like allergens, such as pollen, dust, and food items that make your asthma severe.
- Quit smoking and avoid passive smoking. Smoking also reduces the effectiveness of the medicine.
- Eat a healthy diet and exercise regularly to strengthen your breathing muscles and boost your immune system.
- Learning breathing exercises will help you move more air in and out of your lungs.
Patients Concern
Disease/Condition Glossary
Cough: Coughing is a body’s way of clearing irritants (like allergens, mucus or smoke) from airways and preventing infection. Coughs may be dry or productive. A productive cough (wet cough) brings up sputum (phlegm, mucus and other matter) from the lungs. Cough is commonly caused as a response to allergy or viral infection but coughing up mucus is possibly an indication of infection in the respiratory tract. If you are coughing thick, solid white mucus, it indicates you may have a bacterial infection in the airways. If the mucus is clear or light-coloured, it indicates you may have allergies or minor infection in the respiratory tract, and yellow or green mucus indicates a respiratory infection
FAQs
Salbutamol+ambroxol contains Salbutamol and Ambroxol. Salbutamol is a bronchodilator that works by relaxing muscles and widening the airways of the lungs. Ambroxol is a mucolytic agent (cough/sputum thinner) that works by thinning and loosening phlegm (mucus) in the lungs, windpipe and nose. Thereby, it helps to cough out easily.
Salbutamol+ambroxol can cause a rise in blood glucose levels. Hence monitor your blood glucose levels if you have diabetes and inform your doctor so that the dose can be adjusted accordingly.
Yes, you may experience headaches and shakiness after using Salbutamol+ambroxol. Drink plenty of water and take rest to manage your headache. Shakiness goes away gradually. Consult your doctor if these symptoms persist longer.
Yes, Salbutamol+ambroxol may cause hypokalemia (low potassium level), therefore should be used with caution in patients with bronchospasm. Consult your doctor before taking Salbutamol+ambroxol.
Take the missed dose as soon as possible. However, if it is time for the next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule.
No, Salbutamol+ambroxol should not be taken with any medication used for seizures or fits as it might worsen your condition.
Do not take Salbutamol+ambroxol and let your doctor know before using Salbutamol+ambroxol if you have any diseases affecting the heart or blood vessels, any infection in your lungs, overactivity of the thyroid gland, low levels of potassium in your blood, diabetes or hereditary problems of galactose intolerance, the Lapp lactase deficiency or glucose-galactose malabsorption. Taking Salbutamol+ambroxol in these conditions can make your health condition worsen even hospitalization.
