Read the Patient Information Leaflet and Instructions for Use provided by your pharmacist before you start using this medication and each time you get a refill. Follow the illustrated directions for the proper use of this medication. If you have any questions, ask your doctor or pharmacist.

Inhale this medication by mouth as directed by your doctor, usually once daily. Do not use more than 1 inhalation daily. If you open and close the cover without inhaling this medication, you will lose the dose. If this happens, you should load a new dose and inhale it.

If you have been using a quick-relief inhaler (such as albuterol, also called salbutamol in some countries) on a regular daily schedule (such as 4 times daily), you must stop this schedule and only use it as needed for sudden shortness of breath. Contact your doctor for details.

If you are using other inhalers at the same time, wait at least 1 minute between the use of each medication, and use this drug last.

To prevent dry mouth, hoarseness, and oral yeast infections from developing, gargle, rinse your mouth with water and spit out after each use. Do not swallow the rinse water.

Use this medication regularly to get the most benefit from it. To help you remember, use it at the same time each day. Do not increase your dose, use this medication more often, or stop using it without talking to your doctor. Also, do not use other long-acting beta agonists while using this medication.

If this medication stops working well, or you need to use your quick-relief inhaler more often than usual (4 or more puffs daily or use of more than 1 inhaler every 8 weeks), get medical help right away. It may be a sign of worsening asthma or COPD, which is a serious condition.

Learn which of your inhalers you should use every day and which you should use if your breathing suddenly worsens (quick-relief drugs). Ask your doctor ahead of time what you should do if you have new or worsening cough or shortness of breath, wheezing, increased sputum, waking up at night with trouble breathing, if you use your quick-relief inhaler more often, or if your quick-relief inhaler does not seem to be working well. Learn when you can treat sudden breathing problems by yourself and when you must get medical help right away.

If you are regularly taking corticosteroids by mouth (such as prednisone), continue to follow your doctor's instructions on taking them. Do not stop taking them. Your doctor may want you to reduce your dose gradually.

It may take several weeks or longer before you get the full benefit of this drug. Tell your doctor if your condition does not improve or if it worsens.