formoterol
Formoterol (Perforomist) is good for long-term control of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) symptoms but it requires a nebulizer machine.
What is Formoterol (Perforomist)?
What is Formoterol (Perforomist) used for?
- Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
How Formoterol (Perforomist) works
Formoterol (Perforomist) is a long-acting beta-agonist (LABA), which relaxes the airway muscles to make breathing easier.
Drug facts
Side effects of Formoterol (Perforomist)
The following side effects may get better over time as your body gets used to the medication. Let your healthcare provider know immediately if you continue to experience these symptoms or if they worsen over time.
Common Side Effects
The following are the most common side effects that happened to at least 2% of the people in the clinical studies:
- Diarrhea
- Nausea
- Common cold symptoms
- Dry mouth
- Vomiting
- Dizziness
- Difficulty sleeping
Formoterol (Perforomist) serious side effects
Contact your healthcare provider immediately if you experience any of the following.
- Allergic reaction
- Worsening COPD symptoms
- Paradoxical bronchospasm (breathing and wheezing gets worse)
The following Formoterol (Perforomist) side effects have also been reported
Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.
Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur:
More common
Body aches or pain
chills
difficulty with breathing
ear congestion
headache
hoarseness
loss of voice
runny or stuffy nose
unusual tiredness or weakness
Less common
Chest pain or discomfort
cough-producing mucous
dry throat
labored breathing
pain or tenderness around the eyes and cheekbones
tender, swollen glands in the neck
tightness in the chest
trauma
trouble with swallowing
voice changes
Rare
Decreased urine
fainting
fast, pounding, or irregular heartbeat or pulse
increased thirst
loss of appetite
noisy breathing
seizures
Incidence not known
Blurred vision
confusion
dizziness, faintness, or lightheadedness when getting up suddenly from a lying or sitting position
large, hive-like swelling on the face, eyelids, lips, tongue, throat, hands, legs, feet, or genitals
puffiness or swelling of the eyelids or around the eyes, face, lips, or tongue
sweating
Get emergency help immediately if any of the following symptoms of overdose occur:
Symptoms of overdose
Arm, back, or jaw pain
chest tightness or heaviness
general feeling or discomfort or illness
increased hunger
increased urination
loss of consciousness
muscle spasm or jerking of all extremities
no blood pressure or pulse
numbness or tingling in the hands, feet, or lips
palpitations or pounding in the ears
pounding or racing heartbeat or pulse
slow heartbeat
stopping of the heart
sudden loss of consciousness
trouble sleeping
vomiting
Some side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects. Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:
Less common
Agitation
back pain
increased mucous in the throat and lungs
leg cramps
muscle cramps
redness of the skin
restlessness
shakiness in the legs, arms, hands, or feet
trembling or shaking of the hands or feet
Other side effects not listed may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your healthcare professional.
Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
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Pros and cons of Formoterol (Perforomist)
Pros
- Works well to control chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
- Starts working in as little as 5 minutes
- Using a jet nebulizer is easier to use than a handheld inhaler, especially for older adults
- Can be used in people who are pregnant and/or breastfeeding, but discuss with your healthcare provider because there might be better options for you
Cons
- A nebulizer machine is more expensive than inhalers and there isn't a generic version
- Takes about 5 to 10 minutes to use in the morning and in the evening
- Doesn't work fast enough to relieve sudden breathing problems like other fast-acting or rescue inhalers, such as albuterol (ProAir)
- Not used to treat asthma
Pharmacist tips for Formoterol (Perforomist)
- People with COPD are at higher risk for lung infections. Keep up with your pneumonia and annual flu vaccinations.
- If you are a current smoker, the best way to slow COPD progression (stop it from getting worse) is to quit smoking. Talk to your healthcare provider or pharmacist if you'd like to quit smoking.
- Use formoterol (Perforomist) with a jet nebulizer machine only. Don't mix it with other nebulizer medications.
- Don't use formoterol (Perforomist) to relieve sudden breathing problems and asthma. Always have your rescue inhaler handy.
- Store the unused vial in the refrigerator and in the protective foil pouch to keep it away from light.
Common questions about Formoterol (Perforomist)
Formoterol (Perforomist) isn't a steroid. It belongs to the drug class called long-acting beta-agonist (LABA), which works by relaxing the muscles that let air into your lungs.
Using albuterol together with formoterol (Perforomist) might put you at higher risk for heart side effects, such as raising your heart rate and blood pressure or changing your heart's rhythm.
Don't mix formoterol (Perforomist) with other medications in your nebulizer machine.
Formoterol (Perforomist) is used only in people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and shouldn't be used to treat asthma. Formoterol (Perforomist) is not a rescue medication.
Some people find it more helpful and easier to use than an inhaler when you're in the middle of a COPD attack. It can also be easier to use when you have to take large doses of a medication.
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Risks and warnings for Formoterol (Perforomist)
Formoterol (Perforomist) can cause some serious health issues. This risk may be even higher for certain groups. If this worries you, talk to your doctor or pharmacist about other options.
Asthma-related death
- Risk factors: History of asthma
Formoterol (Perforomist) isn't meant to be used in patients with asthma. In some rare cases, people using formoterol (Perforomist) have a higher risk for asthma-related hospitalization and even death. Don't use formoterol (Perforomist) to treat asthma or as a rescue inhaler.
Worsening signs of COPD
Don't use formoterol (Perforomist) to treat worsening COPD symptoms that happen suddenly. Call 911 or your healthcare provider right away if a fast-acting (rescue) inhaler like albuterol doesn't improve your breathing. Talk to your healthcare provider if your symptoms get worse over time while using formoterol (Perforomist) so that you can discuss other medications that can help treat your condition.
Sudden-onset breathing problems
Rarely, some people have had trouble breathing right after using formoterol (Perforomist). Treat this right away with a fast-acting (rescue) inhaler, and stop taking formoterol (Perforomist). Talk to your healthcare provider about switching to another medication that can help treat your condition.
Heart problems
- Risk factors: History of heart disease | Abnormal heart rhythm | High blood pressure | Using formoterol (Perforomist) more than prescribed
Formoterol (Perforomist) can raise your blood pressure and heart rate, which shouldn't normally happen if you use the dose your provider recommended for you. Stop using formoterol (Perforomist) right away if you experience these symptoms.
Formoterol (Perforomist) dosage
Vial| Dosage | Quantity | Price as low as | Price per unit |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2ml of 20mcg/2ml | 60 vials | $125.14 | $2.09 |
Typical dosage for Formoterol (Perforomist)
The typical dose of formoterol (Perforomist) is one 20 microgram (mcg) unit-dose vial inhaled twice daily (morning and evening) by mouth using a nebulizer device. You shouldn't use more than 40 mcg per day.
Interactions between Formoterol (Perforomist) and other drugs
Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are taking this medicine, it is especially important that your healthcare professional know if you are taking any of the medicines listed below. The following interactions have been selected on the basis of their potential significance and are not necessarily all-inclusive.
Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is not recommended. Your doctor may decide not to treat you with this medication or change some of the other medicines you take.
- Bepridil
- Cisapride
- Dronedarone
- Mesoridazine
- Pimozide
- Piperaquine
- Saquinavir
- Sparfloxacin
- Terfenadine
- Thioridazine
- Ziprasidone
Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is usually not recommended, but may be required in some cases. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.
- Acebutolol
- Alfuzosin
- Amiodarone
- Amisulpride
- Anagrelide
- Apomorphine
- Aripiprazole
- Aripiprazole Lauroxil
- Arotinolol
- Arsenic Trioxide
- Asenapine
- Astemizole
- Atazanavir
- Atenolol
- Azithromycin
- Bedaquiline
- Befunolol
- Betaxolol
- Bevantolol
- Bisoprolol
- Bopindolol
- Bucindolol
- Bupranolol
- Buprenorphine
- Buserelin
- Carteolol
- Carvedilol
- Celiprolol
- Ceritinib
- Chloroquine
- Chlorpromazine
- Ciprofloxacin
- Citalopram
- Clarithromycin
- Clofazimine
- Clozapine
- Crizotinib
- Cyclobenzaprine
- Dabrafenib
- Dasatinib
- Degarelix
- Delamanid
- Deslorelin
- Deutetrabenazine
- Dilevalol
- Disopyramide
- Dofetilide
- Dolasetron
- Domperidone
- Donepezil
- Droperidol
- Ebastine
- Efavirenz
- Encorafenib
- Entrectinib
- Eribulin
- Erythromycin
- Escitalopram
- Esmolol
- Famotidine
- Felbamate
- Fingolimod
- Flecainide
- Fluconazole
- Fluoxetine
- Foscarnet
- Fosphenytoin
- Fostemsavir
- Galantamine
- Gatifloxacin
- Gemifloxacin
- Glasdegib
- Gonadorelin
- Goserelin
- Granisetron
- Halofantrine
- Haloperidol
- Histrelin
- Hydroquinidine
- Hydroxychloroquine
- Hydroxyzine
- Ibutilide
- Iloperidone
- Inotuzumab Ozogamicin
- Itraconazole
- Ivabradine
- Ivosidenib
- Ketoconazole
- Labetalol
- Landiolol
- Lapatinib
- Lefamulin
- Lenvatinib
- Leuprolide
- Levobunolol
- Levofloxacin
- Lofexidine
- Lumefantrine
- Macimorelin
- Mefloquine
- Mepindolol
- Methacholine
- Methadone
- Methotrimeprazine
- Metipranolol
- Metoprolol
- Metronidazole
- Mifepristone
- Mirtazapine
- Mizolastine
- Moricizine
- Moxifloxacin
- Nadolol
- Nafarelin
- Nebivolol
- Nelfinavir
- Nilotinib
- Norfloxacin
- Octreotide
- Ofloxacin
- Olanzapine
- Ondansetron
- Osilodrostat
- Osimertinib
- Oxaliplatin
- Oxprenolol
- Ozanimod
- Paliperidone
- Panobinostat
- Papaverine
- Paroxetine
- Pasireotide
- Pazopanib
- Penbutolol
- Pentamidine
- Perphenazine
- Pimavanserin
- Pindolol
- Pipamperone
- Pitolisant
- Ponesimod
- Posaconazole
- Practolol
- Probucol
- Procainamide
- Prochlorperazine
- Promethazine
- Propafenone
- Propranolol
- Quetiapine
- Quinidine
- Quinine
- Ranolazine
- Ribociclib
- Risperidone
- Ritonavir
- Selpercatinib
- Sertindole
- Sertraline
- Siponimod
- Sodium Phosphate
- Sodium Phosphate, Dibasic
- Sodium Phosphate, Monobasic
- Solifenacin
- Sorafenib
- Sotalol
- Sulpiride
- Sultopride
- Sunitinib
- Tacrolimus
- Talinolol
- Tamoxifen
- Telaprevir
- Telavancin
- Telithromycin
- Tertatolol
- Tetrabenazine
- Timolol
- Tolterodine
- Toremifene
- Trazodone
- Triclabendazole
- Triptorelin
- Vandetanib
- Vardenafil
- Vemurafenib
- Venlafaxine
- Vilanterol
- Vinflunine
- Voclosporin
- Voriconazole
- Vorinostat
- Zotepine
- Zuclopenthixol
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