Serevent (salmeterol)

How can this medicine affect other medicines?

It is important to tell your doctor or pharmacist what medicines you are already taking, including those bought without a prescription and herbal medicines, before you start treatment with this medicine. Similarly, check with your doctor or pharmacist before taking any new medicines while taking this one, to ensure that the combination is safe.

This medicine should not be taken with beta-blockers, such as atenolol, propranolol or timolol. This is because beta-blockers have an opposite action to this medicine and cause the airways to narrow. This can result in breathing difficulties for people with asthma or COPD. This problem has sometimes been seen with eye drops containing beta-blockers, eg used for glaucoma.

Salmeterol can potentially cause a serious decrease in the levels of potassium in the blood (hypokalaemia), which may result in adverse effects. This effect can be increased by the following medicines, which can also lower potassium in the blood:

- xanthine derivates, such as theophylline or aminophylline
- corticosteroids, such as beclometasone and prednisolone
- other beta 2 agonists, such as salbutamol
- diuretics, such as bendroflumethiazide and furosemide.

This is why people with severe asthma or COPD, who may be taking several of these medicines, should have their blood potassium levels monitored regularly.

Other medicines containing the same active ingredient

There are currently no other medicines available in the UK that contain salmeterol as the sole active ingredient.

<<Go To Page 1

The documents contained in this web site are presented for information purposes only. The material is in no way intended to replace professional medical care or attention by a qualified practitioner. The materials in this web site cannot and should not be used as a basis for diagnosis or choice of treatment. Conditions for use



© Copyright 1998 - 2004 NetDoctor.co.uk - All rights reserved