How many puffs of Ventolin is safe?

While many Ventolin users can recall the exact details of their action plan, many people understandably forget the course of action prescribed by their doctor.

This can even include how many puffs of Ventolin are safe or best for your needs. Yet, this is a very important part of your treatment as an asthma sufferer. Thus, we felt it was necessary to provide you with a refresher course on the correct way to use your Ventolin inhaler.

What Is Ventolin?

Ventolin inhalers are the aerosol form of Salbutamol, also known as Albuterol. While other forms of Salbutamol include capsules, pills and syrups, Ventolin works by being inhaled into the lungs through the mouth.

When inhaled, it relaxes the muscles surrounding the airways, allowing those who suffer from breathing and lung problems to inhale and exhale more easily. This makes Ventolin inhalers one of the fastest acting – and therefore, one of the most popular prescription treatments for people with asthma in the UK.

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How To Take Ventolin

Ventolin inhalers can be used with a spacer or straight from the inhaler itself. For those who have never used a Ventolin inhaler, it is essential to prime your inhaler first. To do this, start by removing the cap that covers the mouthpiece, then shake the inhaler.

Once the Ventolin has been shaken, hold the inhaler away from your face and spray the canister up to three times, or until the spray is consistent. If your inhaler has a counter, then you can spray your Ventolin under the counter reads either “200” or “060” depending on the type. After this, place your mouth around the inhaler's mouthpiece and spray while inhaling through your mouth simultaneously.

It is essential to inhale simultaneously with spraying the medicine to ensure that the medication reaches the lungs. If you are unsure about how to take Ventolin, speak to your GP or asthma nurse for advice.

How Many Puffs Of Ventolin Is Safe?

The number of puffs deemed suitable depends on several key factors. To start, the dose prescribed by your doctor should be known. This vital information can make a huge difference in the safety of Ventolin sprays. Otherwise, the general guidelines are as follows:

• Adults should be able to inhale their inhaler a maximum of 4 times a day (every 24 hours), regardless of the number of puffs taken each time.
• During an asthma attack, you can take a puff of your inhaler every 30-60 seconds, up to a maximum of 10 puffs.
• You can repeat this dose during an asthma attack 10 minutes later if your symptoms do not improve.
• If you find you need to use your inhaler more than 4 times every 24 hours, you should book an appointment with your doctor, as this is a sign your asthma is getting worse.

Read more: What to do after an asthma attack?

Once you have taken one or two puffs of your Ventolin inhaler, it should take effect within 15 minutes or less. The effects of the inhaler typically last around 5 hours, providing you with a bit of extra leeway in terms of timing between each dosage.

Of course, the final consideration as to how many puffs of Ventolin are safe can change depending on your circumstances, and you should always take the advice of your GP, asthma nurse or pharmacist, first and foremost.

Sources

https://www.nhs.uk/medicines/salbutamol-inhaler/

https://www.ventolin.com/about-ventolin-hfa/how-to-use.html

Authored & Reviewed By

Mohamed Imran Lakhi

MPharm - Lead Pharmacist

Imran Lakhi is the superintendent pharmacist and founder at Prescription Doctor. He has been at the core of our team.

Published on: 15/10/2019 Reviewed on: 05/06/2025