Ventolin Expectorant Indications/Uses

Salbutamol is a selective beta₂-adrenoceptor agonist. At therapeutic doses it acts on the beta₂-adrenoceptors of bronchial muscle, with little or no action on the beta₁-adrenoceptors of the heart. The combination of salbutamol with guaifenesin is designed to relieve respiratory obstruction and improve pulmonary ventilation.
Bronchodilators should not be the only or main treatment in patients with severe or unstable asthma. Severe asthma requires regular medical assessment as death may occur. Patients with severe asthma have constant symptoms and frequent exacerbations, with limited physical capacity, and PEF values below 60% predicted at baseline with greater than 30% variability, usually not returning entirely to normal after a bronchodilator. These patients will require high dose inhaled (e.g. greater than 1 mg/day beclometasone dipropionate) or oral corticosteroid therapy. Sudden worsening of symptoms may require increased corticosteroid dosage which should be administered under urgent medical supervision.
Respiratory disorders where bronchospasm and excessive secretion of tenacious mucus are complicating factors, e.g. bronchial asthma, chronic bronchitis and emphysema.