Can anyone advise - inhaler non asthmatic

[wedding33]

DS at uni. Self isolating and has had increasingly difficult symptoms last few days. Has followed 111 online advice.
But his friend has (prescribed)inhalers and when DS breathless earlier he gave him his blue one to use. (The friend apparently has plenty)
It wouldn't enter my head to use a medication that wasn't prescribed for me and DS claims it is completely safe for him to use.
Does anyone know ? It's really difficult supporting / advising from a distance

It might help short term but won't address any underlying infection.

It’s a prescription only medication and should not be used by someone it wasn’t prescribed for.

It may alleviate some shortness of breath but doesn’t deal with underlying infection or pathology. He should only use an inhaler if prescribed one by a medic.

You can overdose on salbutamol (blue inhaler) so he needs to be careful. As an asthmatic I understand that 2 puffs 4 times a day is really the maximum I should be taking.
Can your son speak to his GP for advice? Or do you know anything GPs to ask?

Thanks so much for quick replies. I'm finding it really difficult with him so far away and he's not really listening. I think he's actually quite worried under his bravado

Ventolin/salbutamol can increase your heart rate if you take too much but DD (asthmatic) often uses 10 puffs via her spacer when her chest is really bad. However, he's not asthmatic and shouldn't be using an inhaler without seeking advice from a medic.

Thank you ! I've passed on all these messages

I looked this up for myself and found the following www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/02/200206110703.htm

The blue ventolin inhalers don't contain steroids I think. Using it won't do your ds any harm unless he takes way too much, but it won't treat the infection.

As an asthmatic I understand that 2 puffs 4 times a day is really the maximum I should be taking.

I’m fairly sure this isn’t true. It’s just that if you need this many then you need to be talking to your doctor or asthma nurse.

It’ll give him a fast heart rate if he takes a lot, but as drugs go it’s relatively safe. He really shoudn’t be taking it though. And his friend is a bloody idiot to be giving his reliever inhaler to someone with corona virus to use.

He can’t use the inhaler now, so hopefully he’s got a spare.

He’d be better with his head over a steaming bowl of water to get the crap loosened up on his lungs so he can cough it up and get rid of it surely? I don’t think inhalers do that?

If he’s breathless he’d be better calling 111 for advice rather than taking someone else’s medication.

Thanks everyone - I really appreciate it.
(Both him and his housemate have got it.)

They are looking after each other and another friend is dropping food off in the doorstep.
I desperately want to go and get him but I know that's not the right thing for everyone else (and he wouldn't let me anyway because he's been very strict with his isolation.)

(They spoke to 111 on phone yesterday. They said based on symptoms very likely that they both have CV.)