Formoterol

What it is used for

Formoterol fumarate inhalation solution is a long-acting beta 2 -adrenergic agonist (beta 2 -agonist) indicated for: Long-term, twice daily (morning and evening) administration in the maintenance treatment of bronchoconstriction in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), including chronic bronchitis and emphysema.

Important limitations of use: Formoterol fumarate inhalation solution is not indicated to treat acute deteriorations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. ( 1.2, 5.2 ) Formoterol fumarate inhalation solution is not indicated to treat asthma. 1.1 Maintenance Treatment of COPD Formoterol fumarate inhalation solution is indicated for the long-term, twice daily (morning and evening) administration in the maintenance treatment of bronchoconstriction in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), including chronic bronchitis and emphysema.

1.2 Important Limitations of Use Formoterol fumarate inhalation solution is not indicated to treat acute deteriorations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Formoterol fumarate inhalation solution is not indicated to treat asthma. The safety and effectiveness of formoterol fumarate inhalation solution in asthma have not been established.

The most important thing to know

SYMBICORT can cause serious side effects, including: 1. People with asthma who take long-acting beta 2 -adrenergic agonist (LABA) medicines such as formoterol (one of the medicines in SYMBICORT) have an increased risk of death from asthma problems. It is not known whether budesonide, the other medicine in SYMBICORT, reduces the risk of death from asthma problems seen with formoterol.

Call your healthcare provider if breathing problems worsen over time while using SYMBICORT. You may need different treatment. Get emergency medical care if: your breathing problems worsen quickly. you use your rescue inhaler medicine, but it does not relieve your breathing problems. 2. SYMBICORT should be used only if your healthcare provider decides that your asthma is not well controlled with a long-term asthma-control medicine, such as an inhaled corticosteroid.

3. When your asthma is well controlled, your healthcare provider may tell you to stop taking SYMBICORT. Your healthcare provider will decide if you can stop SYMBICORT without loss of asthma control. Your healthcare provider may prescribe a different long-term asthma-control medicine for you, such as an inhaled corticosteroid.

4. Children and adolescents who take LABA medicines may have an increased risk of being hospitalized for asthma problems. What is SYMBICORT? SYMBICORT combines an inhaled corticosteroid medicine, budesonide and a LABA medicine, formoterol. Inhaled corticosteroids help to decrease inflammation in the lungs. Inflammation in the lungs can lead to breathing problems.

LABA medicines are used in people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and asthma. LABA medicines help the muscles around the airways in your lungs stay relaxed to prevent symptoms such as wheezing, cough, chest tightness, and shortness of breath. These symptoms can happen when the muscles around the airways tighten.

This makes it hard to breathe. In severe cases, wheezing can stop your breathing and may lead to death if not treated right away. SYMBICORT is used for asthma and COPD as follows: Asthma: SYMBICORT is used to control symptoms of asthma, and prevent symptoms such as wheezing in adults and children ages 6 and older. SYMBICORT contains formoterol.

LABA medicines such as formoterol increase the risk of death from asthma problems. SYMBICORT is not for adults and children with asthma who are well controlled with an asthma-control medicine such as a low to medium dose of an inhaled corticosteroid medicine. SYMBICORT is not used to relieve sudden breathing problems. It is not known if SYMBICORT is safe and effective in children less than 6 years of age with asthma.

COPD: COPD is a long-term (chronic) lung disease that includes chronic bronchitis, emphysema, or both. SYMBICORT 160/4.5 mcg is used long-term, as 2 inhalations 2 times each day, to improve symptoms of COPD for better breathing and to reduce the number of flare-ups (the worsening of your COPD symptoms for several days).

SYMBICORT is not used to relieve sudden breathing problems. Do not use SYMBICORT: to treat sudden severe symptoms of asthma or COPD. if you are allergic to any of the ingredients in SYMBICORT. See the end of the Medication Guide for a list of ingredients in SYMBICORT. Before you use SYMBICORT, tell your healthcare provider about all of your medical conditions, including if you: have heart problems.

have high blood pressure. have seizures. have thyroid problems. have diabetes. have liver problems. have osteoporosis. have an immune system problem. have eye problems such as increased pressure in the eye, glaucoma, or cataracts. are allergic to any medicines. have any type of viral, bacterial, fungal, or parasitic infection.

are exposed to chicken pox or measles. are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known if SYMBICORT may harm your unborn baby. are breastfeeding. Budesonide, one of the active ingredients in SYMBICORT, passes into breast milk. You and your hea

Side effects, and when to stop

SYMBICORT may cause serious side effects Using too much of a LABA medicine may cause: o chest pain o a fast and irregular heartbeat o tremor o increased blood pressure o headache o nervousness Fungal infection in your mouth or throat (thrush). Rinse your mouth with water without swallowing after using SYMBICORT to help reduce your chance of getting thrush.

Pneumonia and other lower respiratory tract infections. People with COPD have a higher chance of getting pneumonia and other lung infections. Inhaled corticosteroids may increase the chance of getting pneumonia. Call your healthcare provider if you notice any of these symptoms: o increase in mucus (sputum) production o fever o increased cough o change in mucus color o chills o increased breathing problems Immune system effects and a higher chance for infections.

Tell your healthcare provider about any signs of infection such as: o fever o body aches o feeling tired o vomiting o pain o chills o nausea Adrenal insufficiency. Adrenal insufficiency is a condition in which the adrenal glands do not make enough steroid hormones. This can happen when you stop taking oral corticosteroid medicines and start inhaled corticosteroid medicine.

Increased wheezing right after taking SYMBICORT. Always have a rescue inhaler with you to treat sudden wheezing. Serious allergic reactions including rash, hives, swelling of the face, mouth, and tongue, and breathing problems. Call your healthcare provider or get emergency medical care if you get any symptoms of a serious allergic reaction.

Lower bone mineral density. This can happen in people who have a high chance for low bone mineral density (osteoporosis). Your healthcare provider should check you for this during treatment with SYMBICORT. Slowed growth in children. A child’s growth should be checked regularly while using SYMBICORT. Eye problems including glaucoma and cataracts.

You should have regular eye exams while using SYMBICORT. Swelling of your blood vessels. This can happen in people with asthma. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you have: o a feeling of pins and needles or numbness of your arms or legs o rash o flu like symptoms o pain and swelling of the sinuses Decreases in blood potassium levels (hypokalemia).

Increases in blood sugar levels (hyperglycemia). The most common side effects of SYMBICORT include: People with asthma: throat irritation upper respiratory tract infection inflammation of mucous membranes of the sinuses (sinusitis) back pain stomach discomfort thrush in the mouth and throat headache throat pain flu nasal congestion vomiting People with COPD: throat irritation thrush in the mouth and throat infection and inflammation of the mucous membranes of the bronchial tubes (bronchitis) inflammation of mucous membranes in the sinuses (sinusitis) upper respiratory tract infection Tell your healthcare provider about any side effect that bothers you or that does not go away.

These are not all the possible side effects of SYMBICORT. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088. You may also report side effects to AstraZeneca at 1-800-236-9933.

Storing it

Store SYMBICORT at room temperature between 68°F to 77°F (20°C to 25°C). Store SYMBICORT with the mouthpiece down. The contents of your SYMBICORT canister are under pressure. Do not puncture or throw the canister into a fire or incinerator. Do not use or store it near heat or open flame. Storage above 120ºF may cause the canister to burst.

Throw away SYMBICORT when the counter reaches zero (“0”) or 3 months after you take SYMBICORT out of its foil pouch, whichever comes first. Keep SYMBICORT and all medicines out of the reach of children.