Prospecto: information for the user
Serevent 25 micrograms/inhalation, suspension for inhalation in a pressurized container
salmeterol (xinafoate)
Read this prospect carefully before starting to use this medicine, as it contains important information for you.
1.What Serevent is and for what it is used
2.What you need to know before starting to use Serevent
3.How to use Serevent
4.Possible adverse effects
5.Storage of Serevent
6.Contents of the container and additional information
Serevent belongs to a group of medicines called bronchodilators.
Serevent is indicated for the regular long-term treatment of reversible airway obstruction caused by asthma and chronic bronchitis (COPD). In asthma, it will be administered in combination with a long-term anti-inflammatory therapy with inhaled or oral glucocorticoids.
Do not use Serevent
Warnings and precautions
Consult your doctor or pharmacist before starting to use Serevent:
If you are using Serevent for asthma treatment, your doctor will want to see you regularly to check your symptoms. Go to your doctor immediately if:
If any of the above situations occur, do not increase the number of Serevent applications (your respiratory condition may worsen and you may become seriously ill). Go to your doctor as it may be necessary to change your asthma medication.
Patients who have been previously treated with Serevent should know that it no longer contains chlorofluorocarbon (CFC) propellants for aerosols. It should be used exactly as instructed by your doctor. Your doctor may change your dosage regimen.
The active ingredient in Serevent without CFCs is exactly the same as the one in the Serevent that contained CFCs. The only differences you may notice are the taste and the sensation of the spray in your mouth, as well as the sound of the inhaler during use. This is due to the change of propellant to eliminate the CFCs. This modification does not affect the mechanism of action of the medication. Serevent without CFCs can be used in the same way as the previous one.
Other medications and Serevent
Inform your doctor or pharmacist if you are using, have used recently, or may need to use any other medication.
Pregnancy and breastfeeding
If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, or think you may be pregnant, consult your doctor or pharmacist before using this medication.
Important information about some of the components of Serevent
Use in athletes: this medication contains salmeterol, which may produce a positive result in doping control tests.
Follow exactly the administration instructions of this medication as indicated by your doctor. In case of doubt, consult your doctor or pharmacist again.
Remember to use your medication. IT IS VERY IMPORTANT THAT IT IS USED REGULARLY EVERY DAY. This will help you stay free of symptoms throughout the day and at night.
Your doctor will indicate the duration of your treatment with Serevent. Do not suspend treatment before, even if you feel better, unless your doctor tells you to.
Serevent should only be used by inhalation and should not be used in children under 4 years old.
If you have been prescribed Serevent for your asthma, you must continue using any other medication you are taking to control your asthma. These should include an inhaled corticosteroid or tablets. Continue taking the same doses as before, unless your doctor tells you otherwise. Do this even if you feel better. Do not stop taking your inhaled corticosteroid (or tablets) when you start using Serevent.
It is very important that you follow your doctor's instructions on how many times and how often you should use Serevent. The usage instructions are given below. If you have difficulties or do not understand the instructions, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
The recommended dose is:
Adults
Use in children and adolescents
If you estimate that the action of Serevent is too strong or too weak, inform your doctor or pharmacist.
Usage instructions:
Before using for the first time the inhaler or if it has not been used for a week or more, remove the mouthpiece protector by pressing it gently on both sides, shake the inhaler well, and release two puffs into the air to ensure the inhaler's proper functioning.
Using the inhaler:
Do not perform steps 5, 6, and 7 quickly. It is essential to start breathing as slowly as possible, just before pressing the inhaler.
Practice in front of a mirror during the first times. If you notice a "kind of fog" coming out of the top of the inhaler or from the sides of the mouth, start again from step 2.
Patients who find difficulty in coordinating the inhaler's handling with the inhalation may use an appropriate inhalation chamber (BABYHALER, inhalation chamber for children up to 5 years old).
Small children may need help, with their parents handling the inhaler for them. Encourage the child to breathe in and handle the inhaler just after the child starts breathing in. Practice together the technique. Older children or people with fragile hands should hold the inhaler with both hands; for this, they will place the two index fingers on the top of the inhaler and the two thumbs on the base, below the mouthpiece.
If your doctor has given you different instructions for using the inhaler, follow them carefully. Inform your doctor if you have any difficulties.
Clean the inhaler at least once a week.
DO NOT SUBMERGE THE METAL CONTAINER IN WATER.
Consult your doctor or pharmacist if you have any doubts.
If you use more Serevent than you should
If you have used Serevent more than you should, you may notice: that your heart beats faster than usual, headache, tremors, increased blood pressure, low potassium levels in the blood, feeling agitated and/or dizzy. Consult your doctor or pharmacist immediately or the Toxicological Information Service, phone: 91 562 04 20. If the dose taken was very high, go to your doctor immediately or to the nearest hospital emergency room. Bring this leaflet or the medication with you.
If you forgot to use Serevent
If you forget a dose, do not worry. Inhale a dose when you remember and then continue as before.
Do not take a double dose to compensate for the missed doses.
If you have any other doubts about the use of this product, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
Like all medicines, this medicine may cause side effects, although not everyone will experience them.
Some people may be allergic to medicines. If you have any of the following symptoms shortly after using Serevent, STOP taking this medicine and inform your doctor immediately:
Some people, particularly those taking high doses of this type of medicine, may occasionally feel a bit agitated, have headaches, or notice that their heart beats a bit faster than normal, but these effects usually disappear as treatment continues. If this feeling persists, inform your doctor, but do not stop treatment unless they tell you to.
The following are side effects associated with salmeterol.Inform your doctor if you have any of the following symptoms:
Frequent side effects(may affect up to 1 in 10 people)
Less frequent side effects (may affect up to 1 in 100 people)
Rare side effects (may affect up to 1 in 1,000 people)
Very rare side effects (may affect up to 1 in 10,000 people)
Reporting side effects
If you experience any type of side effect, consult your doctor or pharmacist, even if it is a possible side effect not listed in this prospectus. You can also report them directly through the Spanish System for Pharmacovigilance of Medicines for Human Use:www.notificaRAM.es. By reporting side effects, you can contribute to providing more information on the safety of this medicine.
Push the mouthpiece cap firmly and close it with a snap so that the cap stays in place.
Keep this medication out of the sight and reach of children.
Do not store at a temperature above 86°F (30°C). Do not freeze.
Store in the original packaging to protect it from direct sunlight.
If the inhaler is very cold, remove the cartridge andwarm it with your handfor a few minutes before using.Do not use any other method to warm it.
The cartridge contains a pressurized liquid. Do not expose to temperatures above 122°F (50°C). Do not pierce, break, or burn the cartridge even if it is empty.
Do not use this medication after the expiration date that appears on the packaging after CAD. The expiration date is the last day of the month indicated.
Medications should not be disposed of through drains or in the trash. Dispose of the packaging and medications you no longer need at the SIGRE collection point at the pharmacy. If in doubt, ask your pharmacist how to dispose of the packaging and medications you no longer need. By doing so, you will help protect the environment.
This medication contains fluorinated greenhouse gases.
Each inhaler contains 12 g of HFC-134a (also known as norflurano or HFA 134a) corresponding to 0.0172 tons of CO2 equivalent (global warming potential PCG = 1,430).
Appearance of the product and contents of the packaging
Serevent is a pressurized inhalation suspension. Each inhaler provides 120 applications.
Holder of the marketing authorization and responsible manufacturer
Holder of the marketing authorization:
GlaxoSmithKline, S.A.
P.T.M. C/ Severo Ochoa, 2
28760 Tres Cantos (Madrid)
Tel: +34 900 202 700
Responsible manufacturer:
Glaxo Wellcome Productions, S.A.S
23, Rue Lavoisier - Zone Industrielle Nº 2 (Evreux La Madeleine) - F-27000 - France
or
Glaxo Wellcome, S.A.
Avda. de Extremadura, 3
Aranda de Duero (Burgos) - Spain.
Last review date of this leaflet: 01/2025
The detailed and updated information on this medication is available on the website of the Spanish Agency for Medicines and Medical Devices (AEMPS) http://www.aemps.gob.es /
Have questions about this medication or your symptoms? Connect with a licensed doctor for guidance and personalized care.