f you have not used it for more than 14 days, or if it has been dropped. To prime the inhaler, take the cap off the mouthpiece of the actuator. Then shake the inhaler well, and spray it into the air away from your face. Shake and spray the inhaler like this 3 more times to finish priming it. The counter should now read 200.
Instructions for taking a dose from your VENTOLIN HFA:
Read through the 6 steps below before using VENTOLIN HFA. If you have any questions, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
Take the cap off the mouthpiece of the actuator. Shake the inhaler well before each spray.
Image from Drug Label Content
Figure 2
Hold the inhaler with the mouthpiece down (see Figure 2). Breathe out through your mouth and push as much air from your lungs as you can. Put the mouthpiece in your mouth and close your lips around it.
Push the top of the canister all the way down while you breathe in deeply and slowly through your mouth (see Figure 3). Right after the spray comes out, take your finger off the canister. After you have breathed in all the way, take the inhaler out of your mouth and close your mouth.
Image from Drug Label Content
Figure 3
Hold your breath as long as you can, up to 10 seconds, then breathe normally.
If your doctor has prescribed more sprays, wait 1 minute and shake the inhaler again. Repeat steps 2 through 4.
Put the cap back on the mouthpiece after every time you use the inhaler, and make sure it snaps firmly into place.
When to Replace Your VENTOLIN HFA
When the counter reads 020, you should refill your prescription or ask your doctor if you need another prescription for VENTOLIN HFA.
Throw the inhaler away when the counter reads 000 or 6 months after you have taken the inhaler out of the foil pouch, whichever happens first. You should not keep using the inhaler when the counter reads 000 because you will not receive the right amount of medicine.
Do not use the inhaler after the expiration date, which is on the packaging it comes in.
How to Clean Your VENTOLIN HFA
It is very important to keep the plastic actuator clean so the medicine will not build-up and block the spray. Do not try to clean the metal canister or let it get wet. The inhaler may stop spraying if it is not cleaned correctly.
Wash the actuator at least once a week.
Cleaning instructions:
Take the canister out of the actuator, and take the cap off the mouthpiece. The strap on the cap will stay attached to the actuator.
Wash the actuator through the top with warm running water for 30 seconds (see Figure 4). Then wash the actuator again through the mouthpiece (see Figure 5).
Image from Drug Label Content
Figure 4
Image from Drug Label Content
Figure 5
Shake off as much water from the actuator as you can. Look into the mouthpiece to make sure any medicine build-up has been completely washed away. If there is any build-up, repeat step 2.
Let the actuator air-dry completely, such as overnight (see Figure 6).
Image from Drug Label Content
Figure 6
When the actuator is dry, put the canister in the actuator and make sure it fits firmly. Shake the inhaler well and spray it once into the air away from your face. (The counter will count down by 1.) Put the cap back on the mouthpiece.
If your actuator becomes blocked:
Blockage from medicine build-up is more likely to happen if you do not let the actuator air-dry completely. If the actuator gets blocked so that little or no medicine comes out of the mouthpiece (see Figure 7), wash the actuator as described in cleaning steps 1-5.
Image from Drug Label Content
Fig |
