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Vannair for asthma

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 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

Vannair® is a combination of 2 medicines, budesonide and formoterol, in a single inhaler. The combination is used everyday as a regular preventer for moderate to severe asthma, once or twice daily. You'll use another inhaler, such as salbutamol or terbutaline, for the immediate relief of symptoms.

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. The higher strength can also be used for COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease). See Vannair for COPD.

In Aotearoa New Zealand, Vannair is a metered dose inhaler (MDI) that comes in two different strengths – Vannair 100/6 and Vannair 200/6.

The usual dose is 1 or 2 puffs, inhaled once or twice daily; maximum 4 puffs daily.

Always use Vannair exactly as your healthcare provider has told you. The pharmacy label on your medicine will tell you how much to take, how often to take it and any special instructions.

Always use Vannair 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 most of the medicine into your lungs, where it’s needed (with less medicine ending up in your mouth and throat).

Here are some things to know when you're using Vannair. Other things may be important as well, so ask your healthcare provider what you should know about.

Rinse your mouth after each use: Vannair can cause a sore throat and hoarse voice. Rinse your mouth after each use to prevent this
Vannair is available in different strengths: Ask your doctor or pharmacist which strength you're taking. If your inhaler looks different to what you were expecting, ask your pharmacist about this.
Keep track of your symptoms: Your healthcare provider will ask you about the number of exacerbations (flare ups) you have. Make a note of these so you can discuss your treatment with them, and whether you need to try a different inhaler.

Clean your MDI once a week

Clean your inhaler every week to ensure it doesn't get blocked. It's best to follow the cleaning instructions that come with your inhaler, but here is some general guidance.

To clean the inhaler, remove the mouthpiece cap and metal canister from the plastic case.
Rinse the plastic part under warm running water for at least 30 seconds.
Shake off the water, and let it air-dry.
Once dry, put the metal canister back into the plastic case.
Test your inhaler by pressing down to release one puff into the air, then replace the cap.

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 most of 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.
Even if you’ve been shown before, if you still have any questions, ask your healthcare provider to explain how to use your inhaler.

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. If you're concerned about any symptoms you think might be related to your medicine, talk to your healthcare provider. The following information offers some guidance but doesn't include all possible side effects.

Common side effects

Tell your healthcare provider if they bother you.

Change in voice (hoarse voice), different taste in your mouth: Rinse your mouth after each use
Dry mouth or throat, cough
Feeling shaky, nervousness, have a tremor
Headache
Muscle cramps
Problems sleeping

Tell your healthcare provider

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.