Learn more about usage, cautions, and possible side effects .
Chemical Name: FORMOTEROL (for-MOH-te-role)
This medicine is a long-acting beta-agonist bronchodilator used for long-term treatment of asthma. It may be used to prevent breathing problems in certain patients, including patients with night-time asthma, or breathing problems caused by exercise. It may be used for long-term treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). It may also be used for other conditions as determined by your doctor. This medicine should not be used to treat a sudden asthma attack.
WARNING: LONG-ACTING BETA-AGONISTS SUCH AS THIS MEDICINE HAVE BEEN RARELY ASSOCIATED WITH AN INCREASED RISK OF ASTHMA-RELATED DEATH. THIS MEDICINE SHOULD ONLY BE USED BY CERTAIN PATIENTS WITH SEVERE ASTHMA OR BY PATIENTS WHO CANNOT GET ADEQUATE CONTROL OF ASTHMA SYMPTOMS BY USING ASTHMA-CONTROLLER MEDICINES (SUCH AS INHALED CORTICOSTEROIDS). Some medicines or medical conditions may interact with this medicine. INFORM YOUR DOCTOR OR PHARMACIST of all prescription and over-the-counter medicine that you are taking. DO NOT USE THIS MEDICINE if you are also using another medicine that has a long-acting beta-agonist (such as salmeterol) in it. ADDITIONAL MONITORING OF YOUR DOSE OR CONDITION may be needed if you are taking a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI) (such as phenelzine) or a tricyclic antidepressant (such as amitriptyline) or if you have taken any of these medicines within the last 14 days. ADDITIONAL MONITORING OF YOUR DOSE OR CONDITION may be needed if you are taking corticosteroids (such as prednisone), diuretics (such as furosemide, hydrochlorothiazide), xanthines (such as theophylline), catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) inhibitors (such as entacapone), or beta-blockers (such as propranolol). DO NOT START OR STOP any medicine without doctor or pharmacist approval. Inform your doctor of any other medical conditions including diabetes, heart problems (such as fast or irregular heartbeat, heart blood vessel problems), high blood pressure, low blood potassium levels, seizures, an overactive thyroid, any recent emergency room visits for asthma, lactose intolerance, milk protein allergy, other allergies, pregnancy, or breast-feeding. Inform your doctor if you have a history of frequent hospitalizations for asthma, any life-threatening asthma attacks, or if you have had an unusual reaction to a sympathomimetic medicine (eg, albuterol or pseudoephedrine), such as fast or irregular heartbeat, overexcitement, or severe trouble sleeping. Contact your doctor or pharmacist if you have any questions or concerns about taking this medicine.
Follow the directions for using this medicine provided by your doctor. This medicine comes with a MEDICATION GUIDE approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Read it carefully each time you refill this medicine. Ask your doctor, nurse, or pharmacist any questions that you may have about this medicine. DO NOT USE this medicine with a spacer device. DO NOT SWALLOW capsules of this medicine. MAKE SURE YOUR HANDS ARE DRY before handling this medicine. TO PREPARE A DOSE, remove the inhaler cover and twist the mouthpiece in the direction of the arrow. Push the buttons in on each side so that you can see 4 pins in the capsule chamber. Open the foil pouch and remove the blister card of medicine. Separate one capsule blister from the card. Peel off the paper backing and push the capsule through the foil. Place the capsule in the capsule chamber in the base of the inhaler. Twist the mouthpiece to the closed position. Holding the inhaler upright, press both buttons in at the same time to pierce the capsule. Do NOT press the buttons more than once. TO USE THIS MEDICINE, tilt your head back slightly and breathe out fully. Keep the inhaler level with the buttons to the left and right, place the mouthpiece in your mouth, and close your lips around it. Breathe in quickly and deeply through your mouth. You should hear a whirring noise and experience a sweet taste in your mouth. After inhaling the dose, remove the inhaler from your mouth, hold your breath for as long as comfortable, and then breathe out slowly. Open the inhaler to see if any powder is still in the capsule. If so, close the inhaler and repeat the inhalation process. THE GELATIN CAPSULE MAY RARELY break into small pieces that may reach the mouth or throat when you inhale. This will not harm you. If you are not sure if you are receiving your dose correctly, contact your doctor or pharmacist. After you use your dose, remove and discard the empty capsule. Close the mouthpiece and replace the cover. Always use the new inhaler that comes with each refill. Do not use this medicine with a different kind of inhaler. TO CLEAN THE MOUTHPIECE, use a dry tissue. Do not use water. STORE THIS MEDICINE at room temperature between 68 and 77 degrees F (20 and 25 degrees C) in the original package, away from heat, moisture, and light. Use this medicine regularly to receive the most benefit from it. Do not miss any doses. IF YOU ARE USING THIS MEDICINE TO PREVENT EXERCISE-INDUCED BREATHING PROBLEMS, use it at least 15 minutes before exercising. Do not use another dose for at least 12 hours. If you already use this medicine twice daily on a regular basis, do NOT take an extra dose before you exercise. IF YOU MISS A DOSE OF THIS MEDICINE, use it as soon as possible. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. DO NOT use 2 doses at once.
DO NOT TAKE THIS MEDICINE if you have had an allergic reaction to it or to any other ingredient in this product. CHECK WITH YOUR DOCTOR BEFORE YOU TAKE THIS MEDICINE if you have a milk protein allergy or are lactose intolerant. DO NOT EXCEED THE RECOMMENDED DOSE or use this medicine more often than prescribed without checking with your doctor. DO NOT START, STOP, OR CHANGE the dose of this or any of your asthma medicines without first checking with your doctor. THIS MEDICINE IS NOT A SUBSTITUTE for corticosteroid medicines. DO NOT REDUCE OR STOP any oral or inhaled corticosteroid medicine (such as beclomethasone, fluticasone, or prednisone) without first checking with your doctor. THIS MEDICINE MAY SOMETIMES CAUSE severe breathing problems right after you use a dose. If this happens, use your short-acting bronchodilator. Contact your doctor or seek medical care at once. THIS MEDICINE WILL NOT STOP AN ASTHMA ATTACK ONCE ONE has started. IF YOU ARE ALSO USING ANOTHER BRONCHODILATOR INHALER, be sure to always carry it with you to use during asthma attacks. If you have questions about which medicines are used to prevent asthma attacks and which medicines stop asthma attacks, check with your doctor or pharmacist. If you experience signs of worsening asthma and find that your fast-acting inhaler is not working as well or if you need to use it more often than usual (such as 4 or more puffs daily for more than 2 days in a row or more than 1 inhaler every 8 weeks), seek medical attention. This may be a sign of worsening asthma which can be a very serious condition. Laboratory and/or medical tests, including lung function tests and blood potassium levels may be performed to monitor your progress or to check for side effects. KEEP ALL DOCTOR AND LABORATORY APPOINTMENTS while you are using this medicine. BEFORE YOU HAVE ANY MEDICAL OR DENTAL TREATMENTS, EMERGENCY CARE, OR SURGERY, tell the doctor or dentist that you are using this medicine. This medicine may cause dizziness. DO NOT DRIVE, OPERATE MACHINERY, OR DO ANYTHING ELSE THAT COULD BE DANGEROUS until you know how you react to this medicine. THIS MEDICINE MAY CAUSE HYPERGLYCEMIA (high blood sugar). Symptoms of hyperglycemia include thirst, increased urination, confusion, drowsiness, flushing, rapid breathing, or fruity breath odor. If these symptoms occur, TELL YOUR DOCTOR IMMEDIATELY. BEFORE YOU BEGIN TAKING ANY NEW MEDICINE, either prescription or over-the-counter, check with your doctor or pharmacist. CAUTION IS ADVISED WHEN USING THIS MEDICINE IN CHILDREN because they may be more sensitive to the effects of the medicine especially nausea, stomach pain, or stomach upset. FOR WOMEN: IF YOU PLAN ON BECOMING PREGNANT, discuss with your doctor the benefits and risks of using this medicine during pregnancy. IT IS UNKNOWN IF THIS MEDICINE IS EXCRETED in breast milk. IF YOU ARE OR WILL BE BREAST-FEEDING while you are using this medicine, check with your doctor or pharmacist to discuss the risks to your baby. IF YOU HAVE DIABETES, this medicine may affect your blood sugar. Check blood sugar levels closely and ask your doctor before adjusting the dose of your diabetes medicine.
SIDE EFFECTS that may occur while using this medicine include dizziness, dry mouth, headache, nausea, nervousness, stomach pain or upset, stuffy nose, throat irritation, tiredness, tremor, or trouble sleeping. If they continue or are bothersome, check with your doctor. CHECK WITH YOUR DOCTOR AS SOON AS POSSIBLE if you experience fever, chills, or persistent sore throat. CONTACT YOUR DOCTOR IMMEDIATELY if you experience chest pain; fast or irregular heartbeat; new or worsening asthma symptoms (such as increased chest tightness, coughing, shortness of breath, or wheezing); severe or persistent headache, dizziness, tremor, or nervousness; severe or persistent muscle pain or cramps; trouble speaking. An allergic reaction to this medicine is unlikely, but seek immediate medical attention if it occurs. Symptoms of an allergic reaction include rash, itching, swelling, or severe dizziness. If you notice other effects not listed above, contact your doctor, nurse, or pharmacist. This is not a complete list of all side effects that may occur. If you have questions about side effects, contact your healthcare provider. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
Drug interactions can result in unwanted side effects or prevent a medicine from doing its job. Use our drug interaction checker to find out if your medicines interact with each other. Check drug interactions
If overdose is suspected, contact your local poison control center or emergency room immediately. Symptoms of overdose may include chest pain; fast or irregular heartbeat; increased thirst or urination; severe or persistent dizziness, fatigue, headache, muscle pain or cramps, nausea, nervousness, trouble sleeping, or tremors.
If your symptoms do not improve within 7 days or if they become worse, check with your doctor. Keep this inhaler clean and dry. Carry an identification card at all times that says you are taking this medicine. Learn to use a peak flow meter, use it daily, and promptly report worsening asthma (such as readings in the yellow or red range, or increased use of quick-relief inhalers). If you are experiencing symptoms during the night, contact your doctor as soon as possible. DO NOT SHARE THIS MEDICINE with others for whom it was not prescribed. DO NOT USE THIS MEDICINE for other health conditions. KEEP THIS PRODUCT out of the reach of children and pets. IF USING THIS MEDICINE FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME, obtain refills before your supply runs out.
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