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Vannair

Key points about Vannair

Vannair® is a combination of 2 medicines, budesonide and formoterol, in a single inhaler.
The combination is used to treat the symptoms of asthma and COPD and to prevent them from recurring.
Find out how to take it safely and possible side effects.

HN 0789 female pharmacist working in dispensary of community pharmacy

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Vannair® is a combination of 2 medicines, budesonide and formoterol, in a single inhaler. The combination is used to treat the symptoms of asthma and COPD and to prevent them from recurring.

Budesonide is a corticosteroid. When inhaled prevents swelling and irritation in the walls of the small air passages in your lungs. It is also called a preventer because when used every day it prevents asthma attacks.
Formoterol is a long-acting, fast onset bronchodilator. It relaxes and opens up your air passages, making breathing easier.

In Aotearoa New Zealand, Vannair is available as a metered dose inhaler (MDI) in different strengths: Vannair 100/6 and Vannair 200/6.

Using Vannair for COPD

Use Vannair twice a day every day as a preventer, to prevent shortness of breath and wheezing. Read more about medicines for COPD.

Using Vannair for asthma

Use Vannair as regular preventer for moderate to severe asthma, every day, once or twice daily. You'll use another inhaler for relief of symptoms such as salbutamol. Read more about asthma first aid.

Always use your inhaler exactly as your doctor has told you: The pharmacy label on your medicine tells you how much to take, how often to take it and any special instructions.
Vannair inhalers are available in different strengths: Ask your doctor or pharmacist which strength you are taking. If your inhaler looks different to what you were expecting, ask your pharmacist about this.
Rinse your mouth after each use: Vannair can cause a sore throat and hoarse voice. Rinse your mouth after each use to prevent this.
Expiry: Some inhalers have a shorter expiry date when they are removed from their packaging. It's a good idea to write the date the inhaler is removed from it's packaging on the label of the inhaler. Check the manufacturer's advice on when the inhaler should be discarded as this varies depending on the device and medicine.

Use your MDI with a spacer

A spacer is an attachment to use with your inhaler. It's a chamber that holds the medication before you inhale, giving you a more controlled, deeper inhalation. This can be especially helpful if you are short of breath.
Using your MDI with a spacer makes it easier to use the inhaler and helps to get the medicine into your lungs, where it’s needed (with less medicine ending up in your mouth and throat).

Check your technique

To get the most benefit from your inhaler, it's important to use the correct technique.
Ask your healthcare provider to show you how to use your MDI and spacer devices.
Even if you’ve been shown before, ask your healthcare provider to explain how to use your inhaler if you still have any questions.

The videos below provide some guidance on how to use a spacer with your MDI. Note: Your MDI or spacer may look different to the one in the videos below.

Video: How to use your spacer device

(Healthify He Puna Waiora, NZ and Auckland District Health Board, 2018)

Video: MDI and spacer

(Asthma Waikato, NZ, 2018)

Like all medicines Vannair can cause side effects, although not everyone gets them. Often side effects improve as your body adjusts to the new medicine.

Side effects	What should I do?
Change in voice (hoarse voice) Different taste in your mouth Dry mouth or throat Cough	These are quite common when you first start using your inhaler and usually go away with time. Rinse your mouth after each use Tell your doctor if these bother you.
Signs of oral thrush (a fungal infection in your mouth) such as a very sore tongue, throat or mouth, with white sores on your tongue or in your mouth	Tell your doctor or pharmacist.
Feeling shaky Nervousness Tremor Headache Muscle cramps Problems sleeping	These are quite common when you first start using your inhaler and usually go away with time. Tell your doctor if these bother you.
Changes in your heartbeat (faster) Chest pain Sudden changes in your mood Blurred vision or changes to your eyesight	Tell your doctor or phone Healthline 0800 611 116.