Formoterol
Doesn't cure all like Albuterol, but it can help you breathe
What is Formoterol?
About Formoterol
Brand names: Perforomist and Foradil
Route/Dose: -Foradil (DPI (Aerolizer) 1 capsule)
- Perforomist (Neb 20 mcg)
It is a LABA bronchodilator, which means it helps open up your lungs.
Formoterol inhalation comes as a powder-filled capsule to inhale by mouth using a special inhaler and as a solution (liquid) to inhale by mouth using a nebulizer
Pharmacokinetics
Onset: 3-4 minutes
Peak Effect: 30-60 minutes
Duration: 12 Hours
Relaxes and opens air passages in the lungs
Formoterol is used for :
Do not use Formoterol if:
- you are allergic to any ingredient in formoterol
- you are using another medicine that has a long-acting beta-agonist (eg, salmeterol) in it
- you are having an asthma attack or sudden symptoms of COPD (eg, chest tightness, cough, shortness of breath, wheezing)
- you have asthma and you are not currently using a long-term asthma-control medicine (eg, inhaled corticosteroids)
- you have asthma that is already well controlled with the use of a long-term asthma-control medicine
Formoterol may cause side effects such as:
nervousness
- headache
- uncontrollable shaking of a part of the body
- dry mouth
- muscle cramps
- back pain
- nausea
- vomiting
- diarrhea
- heartburn
- stomach pain
- extreme tiredness
- dizziness
- difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep
- stuffed or runny nose
- sore throat
Drug Interactions
- 20 major drug interactions (61 brand and generic names)
- 653 moderate drug interactions (4193 brand and generic names)
- 20 minor drug interactions (179 brand and generic names)
The most common:
Asmanex Twisthaler (mometasone)
Aspirin Low Strength (aspirin)
Combivent (albuterol / ipratropium)
Fish Oil (omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids)
There are 4 disease interactions with formoterol which include:
References
http://www.drugs.com/cdi/formoterol.html
https://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/meds/a602023.html
Colbert, Bruce J., and Barb J. Kennedy. Integrated Cardiopulmonary Pharmacology. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson/Prentice Hall, 2008. Print.