Clinical information
Common uses
- asthma, always together with a steroid inhaler
- preventing exercise-induced bronchospasm
- maintenance treatment of COPD
- not for relieving sudden attacks
Common side effects
- headache
- nasal or sinus congestion, sore throat
- cough and throat irritation (COPD)
- muscle and bone pain
- flu-like or viral respiratory infection
Cautions
- used alone in asthma it increases asthma-related death risk
- never used for acute attacks or rapidly worsening breathing
- not combined with another long-acting beta-agonist
- caution with heart disease, seizures, thyroid excess, diabetes
Interactions
- strong CYP3A4 inhibitors — ritonavir, ketoconazole, clarithromycin (not recommended)
- MAOIs and tricyclic antidepressants (extreme caution)
- beta-blockers (block effect; severe bronchospasm)
- non-potassium-sparing diuretics (low potassium may worsen)
Pregnancy: no drug-linked risk identified in studies
Reference information, not medical advice — always follow your doctor or pharmacist. Source: DailyMed, dailymed.nlm.nih.gov, Serevent Diskus (salmeterol xinafoate) label, setid 12d9728e-6b5c-4aee-bfb0-745e542ed2e4 (accessed 2026-08-16)