Drug Uses
Serevent is used for long–term treatment of asthma. It may be used to prevent breathing problems in certain patients, including patients with night–time asthma, or breathing problems caused by exercise. It may be used for long–term treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). It may also be used for other conditions as determined by your doctor.

How Taken
Use Serevent as directed by your doctor. Do not try to use a spacer device with Serevent. To prepare the device for use, open the protective foil pouch and remove the inhaler device. Hold the device in one hand. Use the thumb of the opposite hand to push the thumbgrip as far away from you as it will go. The mouthpiece will appear and snap into position. Hold the device in a level, flat position with the mouthpiece towards you. Use your thumb to slide the lever away from you as far as it will go. You should hear a click. The device is now ready for use. To use a dose of Serevent, hold the inhaler level and away from your mouth. Breathe out fully. Do not exhale into the device for any reason. Put the mouthpiece to your lips. Breathe in quickly and deeply through your mouth and hold your breath. Remove the inhaler from your mouth. Continue to hold your breath for 10 seconds or as long as possible. Then, breathe out slowly. Close the device when you are finished taking a dose. Slide the thumbgrip back towards you as far as it will go. The device will click shut, and the lever will return to its original position. If you are using Serevent to prevent breathing problems caused by exercise, use it at least 30 minutes before you start to exercise. Do not use another dose for at least 12 hours. If you already use Serevent twice daily on a regular basis, do not take an extra dose before you exercise. Discard the inhaler 6 weeks after removing it from the protective foil pouch or after all the blisters have been used, whichever comes first. Never wash the mouthpiece or any other part of the inhaler. Keep it dry and always store it in a dry place.

Warnings/Precautions
Before taking Serevent, tell your doctor or pharmacist if you have any medical conditions, especially if you have allergies to medicines, foods, or other substances, if you are allergic to any ingredient in Serevent, if you have had a severe allergic reaction to milk protein, have a history of liver problems, diabetes, heart problems, high blood pressure, low blood potassium levels, seizures, an adrenal gland tumor (pheochromocytoma), or an overactive thyroid, if you have recently been to an emergency room for asthma, have a history of frequent hospitalizations for asthma, or have ever had a life–threatening asthma attack, if you have had an unusual reaction to a sympathomimetic medicine (eg, Albuterol), such as fast or irregular heartbeat, overexcitement, or severe trouble sleeping or you are taking a MAOI (eg, phenelzine) or a tricyclic antidepressant (eg, amitriptyline) or you have taken any of these medicines within the last 14 days, if you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant or are breast–feeding. If you become pregnant, contact your doctor. You will need to discuss the benefits and risks of using Serevent while you are pregnant. It is not known if Serevent is found in breast milk. If you are or will be breast–feeding while you use Serevent, check with your doctor. Discuss any possible risks to your baby. Some medicines may interact with Serevent. Therefore tell your doctor of all prescription or nonprescription medicine, herbal preparation, or dietary supplement that you are taking. Do not use Serevent if you are already using another medicine that has a long–acting beta–agonist (eg, fluticasone/salmeterol, formoterol) in it or if you have an asthma attack. Be sure to carry a short–acting bronchodilator with you at all times to treat any breathing problems that may occur between doses of Serevent (eg, severe or sudden onset of wheezing or shortness of breath). If you have been regularly using a short–acting bronchodilator inhaler (eg, Albuterol), talk with your doctor about how to use it with Serevent. Short–acting bronchodilators are normally only used with Serevent to treat breathing problems that may occur between doses. The risk of serious heart problems (eg, irregular heartbeat) may be greater if you use Serevent in high doses. Tell your doctor at once if you notice that your short–acting bronchodilator inhaler does not work as well, if you need to use it often (eg, 4 or more times a day for more than 2 days in a row, more than 1 canister in 8 weeks), or if you have a decrease in your peak flow meter results. Serevent is not to be used in place of a corticosteroid. If you are using a corticosteroid medicine for asthma, do not stop or reduce the dose unless your doctor tells you to. Serevent may sometimes cause severe breathing problems right after you use a dose. If this happens, use your short–acting bronchodilator. Contact your doctor or seek other medical care at once. Elderly patients may be more sensitive to the effects of this medication. Serevent should be used with extreme caution in children younger than 4 years old, safety and effectiveness in these children have not been confirmed.

Missed Dose
If you miss a dose take it as soon as you remember. However if it is almost time for the next dose, skip the Missed Dose and continue your regular dosing schedule. Do not take a double dose to make up for a missed one.

Possible Side Effects
Some of the Possible Side Effects are– Headache, nasal or sinus congestion, nervousness, stuffy nose, throat irritation, tremor. Contact your doctor if any of these or other side effects occur. If you experience any of the following serious side effects, you should seek medical attention immediately– allergic reactions (rash, hives, itching, difficulty breathing, tightness in the chest, swelling of the mouth, face, lips, tongue, or throat, unusual hoarseness), chest pain, choking, fast or irregular heartbeat, fever, new or worsening asthma symptoms (eg, increased chest tightness, coughing, shortness of breath, or wheezing), overexcitement, severe or persistent headache or dizziness, severe or persistent muscle pain or cramps.

Storage
Store Serevent at 68 – 77 °F (20 – 25 °C). Store away from heat, moisture, and light. Do not store in the bathroom. Keep Serevent out of the reach of children.

Overdose
If overdose is suspected seek medical attention immediately. Some of the symptoms of Serevent overdose are– chest pain, fast or irregular heartbeat, severe or persistent dizziness, fatigue, headache, muscle pain or cramps, nausea, nervousness, trouble sleeping, or tremors.

More Information
Serevent delivers your dose as a very fine powder. Most, but not all, patients can taste or feel it. Even if you cannot feel it, do not use more than the recommended dose. If you are not sure if you are receiving your dose, contact your doctor. Serevent may cause dizziness. These effects may worsen if Furosemide is taken with alcohol or certain other medications. Use Furosemide with caution. Do not drive or perform other possibly unsafe tasks until you know how you react to this drug. If your symptoms do not improve or if they worsen, contact your doctor. Serevent should be used only by the patient for whom it has been prescribed. Do not take less or more or take it more often than prescribed by your doctor.

Disclaimer
This is only general information, it does not cover all directions, drug integrations or precautions. You should not rely on it for any purpose, it does not contain any specific instructions for a particular patient. We disclaim all responsibility for the accuracy and reliability of this information. We`re not responsible for any damage.