foradil

Foradil (formoterol) is a long-acting bronchodilator that relaxes muscles in the airways to improve breathing.

Foradil 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.

Foradil may also be used for other purposed not listed in this medication guide.

Important information

Do not use Foradil to treat an asthma attack that has already begun. Formoterol may increase the risk of asthma-related death. Use only the prescribed dose of Foradil, and do not use it for longer than your doctor recommends. Follow all patient instructions for safe use. Talk with your doctor about your individual risks and benefits of using Foradil.

Asthma is often treated with a combination of different drugs. If you use Foradil to treat asthma, you must use it together with another asthma control medication. Use all of your medications as directed by your doctor. Talk with your doctor if your medications do not seem to work as well in treating or preventing attacks. Do not change your doses or medication schedule without advice from your doctor.

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. 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.

Before using Foradil

You should not use Foradil if you are allergic to formoterol. If you have asthma, Foradil should not be your only asthma medication. You must use it together with at least one other asthma control medication.

If you have any of these other conditions, your doctor may need to adjust the dose of Foradil or order special tests:

• a food or drug allergy;

• heart disease or high blood pressure;

• epilepsy or other seizure disorder;

• diabetes; or

• a thyroid disorder.

Foradil inhalation capsules contain lactose and a small amount of milk protein. Talk to your doctor before using Foradil if you have allergies or severe problems with lactose (milk sugar) or milk proteins.

FDA pregnancy category C. It is not known whether Foradil will harm an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant while using Foradil. It is not known whether formoterol passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing baby. Do not use Foradil without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby. Foradil should not be given to a child younger than 5 years old.

See also: Pregnancy and breastfeeding warnings (in more detail)

How should I use Foradil?

Formoterol may increase the risk of asthma-related death. Use only the prescribed dose of Foradil, and do not use it for longer than your doctor recommends. Follow all patient instructions for safe use. Talk with your doctor about your individual risks and benefits of using Foradil. Do not use Foradil to treat an asthma attack that has already begun. It will not work fast enough. Use only a fast-acting inhalation medication.

Asthma is often treated with a combination of different drugs. If you use Foradil to treat asthma, you must use it together with another asthma control medication. Use all of your medications as directed by your doctor. Talk with your doctor if your medications do not seem to work as well in treating or preventing attacks. Do not change your doses or medication schedule without advice from your doctor.

Foradil 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 Foradil 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.

Use Foradil regularly to get the most benefit. Get your prescription refilled before you run out of medicine completely.

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 Foradil capsules 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 Foradil capsule.

Do not try to clean or take apart the Aerolizer device. Throw it away when your Foradil 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?

Use the medication as soon as you remember, then wait 12 hours before using the medication again. Skip the missed dose if it is almost time for your next scheduled dose. Do not use extra medicine to make up the missed dose.

What happens if I overdose?

Seek emergency medical attention or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222.

Overdose symptoms may include chest pain, nervousness, dry mouth, nausea, sleep problems (insomnia), tremors, chest pain, fast or irregular heartbeats, feeling weak or light-headed, fainting, or seizure (convulsions).

What should I avoid?

Do not use a second form of formoterol (such as Symbicort) or use a similar other long-acting inhaled bronchodilator such as salmeterol (Advair, Serevent) or arformoterol (Brovana) unless your doctor has told you to.

Foradil side effects

Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction to Foradil: 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, headache, or restless feeling;

• seizure (convulsions);

• wheezing, choking, or other breathing problems after using this medication;

• increased thirst or hunger, urinating more than usual; or

• worsening asthma symptoms.

Less serious Foradil 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 Foradil side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

See also: Side effects (in more detail)

What other drugs will affect Foradil?

Before using Foradil tell your doctor if you are taking any of the following medicines:

• cisapride (Propulsid);

• droperidol (Inapsine);

• methadone (Methadose);

• pentamidine (NebuPent, Pentam);

• aminophylline (Phyllocontin, Truphylline) or theophylline (Elixophyllin, Theo-24, Theochron, Uniphyl);

• a diuretic (water pill);

• caffeine, diet pills, cold medicine, or a stimulant medication;

• an antibiotic such as azithromycin (Zithromax), clarithromycin (Biaxin), 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 atenolol (Tenormin, Tenoretic), carvedilol (Coreg), labetalol (Normodyne, Trandate), metoprolol (Lopressor, Toprol), nadolol (Corgard), propranolol (Inderal, InnoPran), sotalol (Betapace), and others;

• an antidepressant such as amitriptyline (Elavil, Etrafon), amoxapine (Asendin), clomipramine (Anafranil), desipramine (Norpramin), imipramine (Janimine, Tofranil), nortriptyline (Pamelor), protriptyline (Vivactil), or trimipramine (Surmontil); or

• an MAO inhibitor such as isocarboxazid (Marplan), phenelzine (Nardil), rasagiline (Azilect), selegiline (Eldepryl, Emsam), or tranylcypromine (Parnate).

This list is not complete and other drugs may interact with Foradil. Tell your doctor about all medications you use. This includes prescription, over-the-counter, vitamin, and herbal products. Do not start a new medication without telling your doctor.