What does it do?

Terbutaline is used to relieve breathing problems such as asthma. It opens narrowed airways in the lungs making it easier to breathe.

Before you start

• Tell your doctor if you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or breastfeeding.

How should you use it?

Inhale terbutaline as directed by your healthcare professional.

Only twist the base of your inhaler when you are ready to inhale the dose. If you do this more than once, you will only get one dose and the others will be lost.

Can you take other medicines?

Tell your pharmacist or doctor about all medicines or treatments that you may be taking, including vitamins, herbal products or recreational drugs.

What side effects might you notice?

Side Effects	Recommended action
Symptoms of a fast or irregular heartbeat including: fluttering, pounding or pain in your chest, dizziness or fainting	Tell your doctor immediately
Shaking, muscle cramps Nervousness	Tell your doctor if troublesome

If you notice any other effects, discuss them with your doctor or pharmacist.

Other information:

• Some people with asthma may get short of breath after taking certain pain-relieving medicines such as aspirin (e.g. Aspec®), diclofenac (e.g. Voltaren®) or ibuprofen (e.g. Nurofen®). Talk to your healthcare professional.
• If you need to use terbutaline several times each week, your doctor may give you a ‘preventer’ inhaler. Preventers help reduce asthma symptoms and breathing problems.
• Using inhalers can very rarely make breathing worse. Discuss this with your healthcare professional.
• Keep your terbutaline handy at all times, so you know where it is when you need it.