Arformoterol (Efficacy)

Arformoterol is a bronchodilator that relaxes the muscles in the respiratory passages to improve breathing. Inhalation of arformoterol is used to prevent bronchoconstriction in people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), including chronic bronchitis and emphysema. Arformoterol will not treat an attack of bronchospasm that has already begun.

Arformoterol is not a rescue medicine. This medicine will not work fast enough to treat an attack of bronchospasm.

Arformoterol may increase the risk of death or hospitalization in people with asthma, but the risk is unknown in people with COPD.

Arformoterol is in the group of drugs called LABA: long-acting beta-2 agonist bronchodilators (such as formoterol, salmeterol, and indacaterol).

ACTION MECHANISM

Arformoterol is a long-acting β2-adrenergic agonist indicated for the treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). It is sold as a solution that will be administered twice a day (morning and afternoon) by nebulization.

CAUTIONS

Inform your doctor if you are using any other LABA, such as formoterol, salmeterol or indacaterol. You should not use these medications together with arformoterol. Your doctor will tell you which medications you should use and which ones you should stop taking.

Caution (tell your doctor) if you are taking concomitantly: aminophylline, amiodarone, antidepressants, beta-blockers, diet pills; disopyramide, diuretics, erythromycin, asthma or cold medications, oral steroids such as dexamethasone, methylprednisolone, and prednisone; pimozide, procainamide; quinidine; thioridazine. Your doctor may need to change the dosage of your medications or monitor you closely for side effects.

Caution should be exercised in patients with irregular heartbeat, high blood pressure, seizures, diabetes or heart, liver or thyroid disease.

Extreme precautions in pregnant women.

Sometimes inhaled arformoterol can cause wheezing and shortness of breath immediately after inhalation. If this happens, call your doctor immediately. Do not reuse oral arformoterol inhalation unless your doctor tells you to do so.

SIDE EFFECTS

Most common side effects:

Nervousness, uncontrollable trembling of any part of the body, headache, dizziness, tiredness, difficulty sleeping, pain (particularly of the back), diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, leg cramps.

Severe side effects:

Accelerated or strong pulse, pain in the chest, hives, swelling of eyes, face, tongue, lips, mouth, hands, feet, ankles or calves, difficulty breathing or swallowing.

BRAND NAME

• Brovana®