Ciclesonide

What it is used for

ALVESCO is a prescription medicine used for the control and prevention of asthma in adults and children 12 years of age and older.

ALVESCO contains ciclesonide, which is a man-made (synthetic) corticosteroid. Corticosteroids are natural substances found in the body and reduce inflammation. When you inhale ALVESCO it may help to control and prevent your symptoms of asthma by reducing your airway inflammation.

ALVESCO is not for the relief of acute bronchospasm. ALVESCO is not a bronchodilator and does not treat sudden symptoms of an asthma attack such as wheezing, cough, shortness of breath, and chest pain or tightness. Always have a fast-acting bronchodilator medicine (rescue inhaler) with you to treat sudden symptoms.

It is not known if ALVESCO is safe and effective in children 11 years of age and younger.

How to take it

• Read the Instructions for Use at the end of this leaflet for specific information about the right way to use ALVESCO.
• ALVESCO exactly as your healthcare provider tells you to use it. Do not take more of your medicine, or take it more often than your healthcare provider tells you.
• You must use ALVESCO regularly. It may take 4 weeks or longer after you start using ALVESCO for your asthma symptoms to get better. Do not stop using ALVESCO even if you are feeling better, unless your healthcare provider tells you to.
• If your symptoms do not improve or get worse, call your healthcare provider.
• Your healthcare provider may prescribe a rescue inhaler for emergency relief of sudden asthma attacks. Call your healthcare provider if you have:
  • an asthma attack that does not respond to your rescue inhaler or
  • you need more of your rescue inhaler than usual.
• If you use another inhaled medicine, ask your healthcare provider for instructions on how to use it while you use ALVESCO.

Side effects, and when to stop

ALVESCO may cause serious side effects, including:

• Thrush (Candida), a fungal infection of your nose, mouth, or throat. Tell your healthcare provider if you have discomfort or pain in your throat, have hoarseness in your voice or have any redness or white colored patches in your mouth or throat. Rinse your mouth after you use your ALVESCO.
• Immune system problems that may increase your risk of infections. You are more likely to get infections if you take medicines that may weaken your body’s ability to fight infections. Avoid contact with people who have contagious diseases such as chicken pox or measles while you use ALVESCO. Symptoms of an infection may include:
  • fever
  • pain
  • aches
  • chills
  • feeling tired
  • nausea
  • vomiting
• Adrenal insufficiency. Adrenal insufficiency is a condition in which the adrenal glands do not make enough steroid hormones. Your healthcare provider will follow you closely if you take steroids by mouth and are having them decreased (tapered) or you are being switched to ALVESCO. People have died while steroids are being decreased and when people have been switched from steroids by mouth to inhaled steroids like ALVESCO. If you are under stress, such as with surgery, after surgery or trauma, you may need steroids by mouth again. Call your healthcare provider right away if you have the following symptoms of adrenal insufficiency:
  • tiredness
  • weakness
  • dizziness
  • nausea that does not go away
  • vomiting that does not go away
• Decreased bone mass (bone mineral density). People who use inhaled steroid medicines for a long time may have an increased risk of decreased bone mass which can affect bone strength. Talk to your healthcare provider about any concerns you may have about bone health.
• Slowed or delayed growth in children. A child’s growth should be checked regularly while using ALVESCO.
• Eye problems such as glaucoma and cataracts. If you have a history of glaucoma or cataracts or have a family history of eye problems, you should have regular eye exams while you use ALVESCO.
• Increased wheezing (bronchospasm) can happen right away after using ALVESCO. Stop using ALVESCO and use an inhaled fast-acting bronchodilator (rescue inhaler) right away. Tell your healthcare provider right away so that a new medicine can be prescribed to control your asthma. The most common side effects with ALVESCO include:
• headache
• swelling of nose and throat (nasopharyngitis)
• swelling of the sinuses (sinusitis)
• throat pain
• upper respiratory infection
• joint pain (arthralgia)
• nasal congestion
• pain in arms, legs, and back

Tell your healthcare provider about any side effect that bothers you or that does not go away. These are not all of the possible side effects with ALVESCO. For more information, ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist.

Call your healthcare provider for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Who should not take it

Do not use ALVESCO:

• to treat status asthmaticus or other sudden symptoms of asthma. ALVESCO is not a rescue inhaler and should not be used to give you fast relief from your asthma attack. Always use a rescue inhaler such as albuterol, during a sudden asthma attack.
• if you are allergic to ciclesonide or any of the ingredients in ALVESCO. See the end of this Patient Information leaflet for a complete list of ingredients in ALVESCO.

What to say before you start

Before you use ALVESCO tell your healthcare provider if you:

• have or have had eye problems such as increased ocular pressure, glaucoma, or cataracts.
• have any infections including tuberculosis or ocular herpes simplex.
• have not had or been vaccinated for chicken pox or measles.
• are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known if ALVESCO will harm your unborn baby. Talk to your healthcare provider if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant.
• are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. It is not known if ALVESCO passes into your breast milk. Talk to your healthcare provider about the best way to feed your baby if you are using ALVESCO.

Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take, including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins and herbal supplements.

Know the medicines you take. Keep a list of them to show your healthcare provider and pharmacist when you get a new medicine.

Storing it

• Store ALVESCO at room temperature between 59°F to 86°F (15°C to 30°C)
• Do not puncture the ALVESCO canister
• Do not store the ALVESCO canister near heat or a flame. Temperatures above 120°F (49°C) may cause the canister to burst.
• Do not throw the ALVESCO canister into a fire or an incinerator.
• Safely throw away medicine that is out of date or no longer needed.
• Keep ALVESCO Aerosol and dry at all times.

Keep ALVESCO and all medicines out of reach of children.

General Information About the Safe and Effective use of ALVESCO

Medicines are sometimes prescribed for purposes other than those listed in a Patient Information leaflet. Do not use ALVESCO for a condition for which it is not prescribed. Do not give ALVESCO to other people, even if they have the same symptoms that you have. It may harm them.

This Patient Information summarizes the most important information about ALVESCO. If you would like more information, talk with your healthcare provider. You can ask your pharmacist or healthcare provider for information about ALVESCO that is written for health professionals.

For more information, go to www.alvesco.us/.