Drug
Formoterol Fumarate
Pronounced
"for-MOW-ter-all"
Uses
Formoterol is a long-acting bronchodilator used as a long-term (maintenance) treatment to prevent or decrease wheezing and trouble breathing caused by asthma or ongoing lung disease (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease-COPD, which includes chronic bronchitis and emphysema). It should only be used long-term if your asthma symptoms are not controlled by your other asthma medications (such as inhaled corticosteroids). Formoterol must not be used alone to treat asthma. (See also Warning section.) It works by relaxing the muscles around the airways so that they open up and you can breathe more easily. Controlling symptoms of breathing problems can decrease time lost from work or school.
This drug is also used to prevent breathing difficulties brought on by exercise (exercise-induced bronchospasm-EIB).
This medication should not be used for a severe/sudden asthma attack. For sudden attacks of asthma, use your quick-relief inhaler as prescribed. This medication is not a substitute for inhaled or oral corticosteroids (such as beclomethasone, fluticasone, prednisone). This medication should be used along with another controller-type asthma medication (such as inhaled corticosteroids). However, it should not be used with other long-acting beta-agonist inhalers (such as arformoterol, salmeterol) because doing so may increase your risk for side effects.
It is recommended that children and teenagers, who need to use formoterol to treat their asthma, should use a combination formoterol/budesonide product. Check with your child's doctor to see if this product is the right product for your child.
Warning
Rarely, in patients treated for asthma, serious (sometimes fatal) asthma-related breathing problems have occurred with the use of long-acting inhaled beta agonists (such as salmeterol). Because formoterol is similar to salmeterol, it may also cause these problems. In patients with asthma, this drug should only be prescribed when one long-term medication (such as inhaled corticosteroids) does not control breathing problems or when more than one long-term medication is clearly needed to control breathing problems. Formoterol must not be used alone to treat asthma. Before using this medication, it is important to learn how to use it properly. Discuss the risks and benefits of treatment with this medication with your doctor.
Once asthma symptoms are controlled, if possible, your doctor may stop treatment with formoterol and continue only your other asthma medications (such as inhaled corticosteroids). Follow your doctor's directions carefully.
How to Use This Medication
Read the Medication Guide 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.
Formoterol comes in a capsule. Do not swallow these capsules by mouth. Inhale the contents of the capsule by mouth using the inhaler device as directed by your doctor, usually one capsule twice daily (morning and evening, about 12 hours apart). Formoterol must always be used with its own special inhaler device. Use the new inhaler device that you get each time you refill your formoterol prescription. Always discard your old inhaler device. Do not use a "spacer" device with the inhaler.
Leave the capsule sealed in the foil packet until just before use. Wash and completely dry hands before touching the capsules. Be sure to inhale rapidly and deeply through the mouthpiece when using this drug. Open the inhaler after use. Check that the capsule is empty. If it is not empty, close the inhaler and repeat. Do not exhale into the inhaler.
If you are using this medication to prevent exercise-induced breathing problems (EIB), it should be used at least 15 minutes before exercising. Do not use any more doses of formoterol for the next 12 hours. If you are already using formoterol twice daily, do not use any more doses for EIB.
Your asthma must be stable (not worsening) before you start treatment with formoterol. Consult your doctor for more details.
If you are using other inhalers at the same time, wait at least 1 minute between the use of each medication.
Learn which of your inhalers you should use every day (controller drugs) 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, worsening peak flow meter readings, waking up at night with trouble breathing, if you use your quick-relief inhaler more often (more than 2 days a week), 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.
Using too much formoterol or using it too often may result in a decrease in drug effectiveness and an increase in serious side effects. Do not use more than the recommended dosage or take this drug more often than prescribed. Talk with your doctor right away if this medication stops working well. Do not stop or decrease the dose of other asthma medications (including inhaled corticosteroids such as beclomethasone) without your doctor's approval. If you are using short-acting bronchodilators on a regular schedule (such as every six hours), you should stop taking them while using this drug.