What is formoterol?
Formoterol is a long-acting bronchodilator that relaxes muscles in the airways to improve
breathing.
Formoterol inhalation is used to prevent bronchospasm in people with reversible
obstructive airways disease, including symptoms of night-time asthma. It is also used in people
with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) such as emphysema and chronic bronchitis.
Formoterol inhalation may also be used for other purposed not listed in this medication
guide.
What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking formoterol?
Formoterol may increase the risk of asthma-related death. It is critical that you use
only the prescribed dose of this medicine and follow all patient instructions for safe use. Talk
with your doctor about your individual risks and benefits in using formoterol inhalation.
Before using this medication, tell your doctor if you are allergic to formoterol, or if you
have:
If you have any of these conditions, you may need a dose adjustment
or special tests to safely use formoterol inhalation.
FDA pregnancy category C. This medication may be harmful to an unborn baby. Tell
your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant during treatment.
It is not known whether this medication passes into breast milk or if it could harm a
nursing baby. Do not use formoterol inhalation without telling your doctor if you are
breast-feeding a baby.
Do not give this medication to a child younger than 5 years old.
How should I take formoterol?
Use this medication exactly as it was prescribed for you. Do not use the medication in
larger amounts, or use it for longer than recommended by your doctor. Follow the directions on
your prescription label.
Do not
use formoterol inhalation to treat an asthma attack that has
already begun. It will not work fast enough to reverse your symptoms. Use another, short-acting
inhalation medication to treat an asthma attack.
This medication comes with patient instructions for safe and effective use. Follow these
directions carefully. This device is not to be used with a spacer. Ask your doctor or pharmacist
if you have any questions.
Formoterol capsules are for use only in the Foradil Aerolizer device. Use only one
capsule at a time.
Do not take the capsules by mouth.
Never place a capsule
in the mouthpiece of the inhaler.
If you are using formoterol inhalation to prevent exercise-induced asthma, use the
medicine 15 minutes before exercising, or as directed by your doctor. Allow at least 12 hours to
pass before you use the medicine again.
It is important to use formoterol inhalation regularly to get the most benefit. Get your
prescription refilled before you run out of medicine completely.
Asthma is usually treated with a combination of different drugs. To best treat your
condition, use all of your medications as directed by your doctor. Do not change your doses or
medication schedule without advice from your doctor.
Seek medical attention if you think any of your asthma medications are not working
as well as usual. An increased need for medication could be an early sign of a serious asthma
attack.
Store formoterol at room temperature, away from moisture, light, and heat. Keep
each capsule in the blister pack until you are ready to use one. Be sure your hands are dry when
handling a formoterol capsule.
Do not try to clean or take apart the Aerolizer device. Throw it away when your capsules
run out. Always use the new device provided with the medication when you get your
prescription refilled.
What happens if I miss a dose of formoterol?
Use the medication as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for the next dose, skip
the missed dose and use the medicine at the next regularly scheduled time.
Do not
use extra medicine to make up the missed dose.
Where can I get more information about formoterol?
Your pharmacist has information about formoterol written for health professionals that you may read.
What are the possible side effects of formoterol?
Get emergency medical help if you have any of these
signs of an allergic
reaction:
hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.
Call your doctor at once if you have any of these serious side effects:
-
chest pain, fast or pounding heartbeats, tremors, shaking, or
restless feeling;
-
wheezing, choking, or other breathing problems after using
this medication;
-
increased thirst or hunger, urinating more than usual; or
-
worsening asthma symptoms.
Less serious side effects may include:
-
dizziness, anxiety, headache;
-
sleep problems (insomnia);
-
back pain, muscle cramps;
-
sore throat, dry mouth, cough, stuffy nose;
-
skin rash, itching; or
-
changes in your voice.
This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Tell
your doctor about any unusual or bothersome side effect. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
What is the most important information I should know about formoterol?
Formoterol capsules are for use only in the Foradil Aerolizer device. Use only one
capsule at a time.
Do not take the capsules by mouth.
Never place a capsule
in the mouthpiece of the inhaler.
Do not
use formoterol inhalation to treat an asthma attack that has
already begun. It will not work fast enough to reverse your symptoms. Use another, short-acting
inhalation medication to treat an asthma attack.
Asthma is usually treated with a combination of different drugs. To best treat your
condition, use all of your medications as directed by your doctor. Do not change your doses or
medication schedule without advice from your doctor.
Seek medical attention if you think any of your asthma medications are not working
as well as usual. An increased need for medication could be an early sign of a serious asthma
attack.
Formoterol inhalation may increase the risk of asthma-related death. It is critical that
you use only the prescribed dose of this medicine and follow all patient instructions for safe use.
Talk with your doctor about your individual risks and benefits in using formoterol inhalation.
What should I avoid while taking formoterol?
Avoid using other long-acting inhaled bronchodilators such as salmeterol (Advair,
Serevent) while you are using formoterol inhalation.
What other drugs will affect formoterol?
Before using formoterol inhalation tell your doctor if you are taking any of the following
medicines:
-
cisapride (Propulsid);
-
droperidol (Inapsine);
-
methadone (Methadose);
-
pentamidine (NebuPent, Pentam);
-
caffeine, diet pills, cold medicine, or a stimulant
medication;
-
antibiotics such as azithromycin (Zithromax),
clarithromycin (Biaxin), dirithromycin (Dynabac), erythromycin (E-Mycin, E.E.S., Erythrocin,
Ery-Tab), telithromycin (Ketek);
-
medicines to treat psychiatric disorder, such as pimozide
(Orap), haloperidol (Haldol), or thioridazine (Mellaril);
-
heart rhythm medicine such as amiodarone (Cordarone,
Pacerone), dofetilide (Tikosyn), disopyramide (Norpace), procainamide (Procan), quinidine
(Cardioquin, Quinaglute), or sotalol (Betapace);
-
a beta-blocker such as acebutolol (Sectral), atenolol
(Tenormin), betaxolol (Kerlone), bisoprolol (Zebeta), carteolol (Cartrol), carvedilol (Coreg),
esmolol (Brevibloc), labetalol (Normodyne, Trandate), metoprolol (Lopressor, Toprol), nadolol
(Corgard), penbutolol (Levatol), pindolol (Visken), propranolol (Inderal, InnoPran), sotalol
(Betapace), or timolol (Blocadren);
-
antidepressants such as amitriptyline (Elavil, Etrafon),
amoxapine (Ascendin), clomipramine (Anafranil), desipramine (Norpramin), imipramine
(Janimine, Tofranil), nortriptyline (Pamelor), protriptyline (Vivactil), or trimipramine
(Surmontil);
-
a diuretic (water pill) such as bumetanide (Bumex),
chlorthalidone (Hygroton, Thalitone), ethacrynic acid (Edecrin), furosemide (Lasix),
hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ, HydroDiuril), indapamide (Lozol), metolazone (Mykrox, Zarxolyn),
torsemide (Demadex); or
-
an MAO inhibitor such as isocarboxazid (Marplan),
phenelzine (Nardil), rasagiline (Azilect), selegiline (Eldepryl, Emsam), or tranylcypromine
(Parnate).
This list is not complete and there may be other drugs that can interact
with formoterol inhalation. Tell your doctor about all the prescription and over-the-counter
medications you use. This includes vitamins, minerals, herbal products, and drugs prescribed by
other doctors. Do not start using a new medication without telling your doctor.
What happens if I have an overdose of formoterol?
