Serevent Uses

Serevent is used for preventing asthma attacks rather than treating attacks as they occur. Because Serevent is a controller medication, people who use it should also have access to a rescue medication (such as an albuterol inhaler) in case an asthma attack occurs. Serevent is approved for use in adults and children at least four years old. There are currently no universally accepted off-label Serevent uses.

 

An Overview of Serevent Uses

Serevent® (salmeterol xinafoate) is a prescription medication used to treat asthma and other similar lung problems. It is part of a class of asthma drugs known as beta-adrenergic receptor agonists, or beta agonists for short.
 

Serevent for Bronchospasm in Asthma or COPD

Asthma is a chronic disease that affects your airways, which are the tubes that carry air into and out of your lungs. If you have asthma, the inside walls of your airways are inflamed (swollen). The inflammation makes the airways very sensitive, and they tend to react strongly to things that you are allergic to or find irritating. When the airways react, they narrow and less air flows to your lungs. This is called bronchospasm. It causes asthma symptoms like wheezing (a whistling sound when you breathe), coughing, tightness in the chest, and trouble breathing.
 
While there is no asthma cure, asthma can be controlled. There are many different asthma treatments, including fast-acting "rescue medications" for treating an asthma attack and longer-acting "controller medications" used to prevent asthma attacks. Serevent is a controller medication, used to help prevent asthma attacks (but not to treat an attack). Everyone who takes Serevent should also have a rescue medication available (such as an albuterol inhaler) for emergency situations. Serevent is also useful for preventing exercise-induced asthma (see Asthma and Exercise for more information).
 
Asthma is not the only cause of bronchospasm. Serevent can also treat bronchospasm due to other lung problems, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), which includes emphysema and chronic bronchitis.
 
(Serevent Uses Continued: Page 2)
Add this article to your Favorites     Email this article     Print
Written by/reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD; Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD;