Impact of Inhalers
Reducing The Environmental Impact of Inhalers
As part of our commitment to help reduce the carbon footprint of the NHS, we have reviewed some types of inhalers we issue on prescription.
If you have either a Ventolin® cfc-free metered dose inhaler or a generic salbutamol inhaler on your repeat medication list, then this will apply to you.
Why are we making this change?
Metered dose inhalers (MDIs) use hydrofluoroalkanes (HFA) propellants which are potent greenhouse gases, 1000 – 3000 times more potent than carbon dioxide. MDIs account for almost 25% of a GP’s prescribing carbon footprint.
Ventolin® inhalers have more than double the carbon footprint of other salbutamol inhalers, so we have switched your inhaler to Salamol® which delivers the same amount of the active ingredient per spray (100mcg of salbutamol).
ONE Ventolin® inhaler has the same carbon footprint as the greenhouse gas emissions caused by driving 175 miles. The same as driving from Sheffield to London in a small car.
ONE Salamol® inhaler has the same carbon footprint as the greenhouse gas emissions caused by driving 74 miles. The same as driving from Sheffield to Leicester in a small car.#
Salamol® works in the same way as Ventolin® but it has a smaller propellent volume per spray which means less of the harmful propellant gas is released into the environment.
You may notice that you don’t feel the ‘spray’ of the inhaler as much because Salamol® delivers a ‘softer mist’. This is completely normal and providing you do a steady and slow inhale, the medicine will still work just as effectively. It will also work with your spacer if you use one.
The container is also slightly smaller, but it contains the same number of doses (200 per inhaler). Your pharmacy may have already given you this brand in the past if you have a generic salbutamol inhaler on your repeat medication list.
To keep your inhaler working correctly, please follow the cleaning instructions in the patient information leaflet every week.
For a reminder of how to use your inhaler, see: https://asthma.org.uk/advice/inhaler-videos/pmdi/
How should I dispose of my inhalers?
Please don’t put your inhaler in domestic recycling – it will not be recycled. Please return your unwanted or empty inhalers to your local pharmacy for disposal. The inhaler will be incinerated in medical waste, which is a surprisingly good way to dispose of them.
If you require any more information, please contact the surgery.
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