Brovana (Arformoterol Tartrate Inhalation Solution) Patient Information: How Should I Take the Drug at RxList

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May 25, 2012

Brovana

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease »

What is COPD?

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is comprised primarily of three related conditions - chronic bronchitis, chronic asthma, and emphysema. In each condition there is chronic obstruction of the flow of air through the airways and out of the lungs, and the obstruction generally is permanent and may be progressive over time.

While asthma features obstruction to the flow of air out of the lungs, usually, the obstruction is reversible. Between "attacks" of asthma the flow of air through the airways typically is normal. These patients do not have COPD. However, if asthma is left untreated, the chronic inflammation associated with this disease can cause the airway obstruction to become fixed. That is, between attacks, the asthmatic patient may then have abnormal air flow. This process is referred to as lung remodeling. These asthma patients with a fixed component of airway obstruction are also considered to have COPD.

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Read the Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease article »

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Brovana Patient Information including How Should I Take

What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before using arformoterol inhalation (Brovana)?

Do not use this medication if you are allergic to arformoterol.

Salmeterol, a medicine similar to arformoterol, has been shown to increase the risk of asthma-related death. It is not known whether arformoterol could cause this same effect in people with COPD. It is critical that you use only the prescribed dose of this medicine and follow all patient instructions for safe use of the medication. Talk with your doctor about your individual risks and benefits in using arformoterol.

Before using arformoterol, tell your doctor if you are allergic to any medications, or if you have:

heart disease, a heart rhythm disorder, or high blood pressure;
epilepsy or other seizure disorder;
diabetes;
glaucoma;
a thyroid disorder;
liver disease; or
a personal or family history of "Long QT syndrome."

If you have any of these conditions, you may not be able to use arformoterol, or you may need a dosage adjustment or special tests during treatment.

FDA pregnancy category C. This medication may be harmful to an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant during treatment.

It is not known whether this medication passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing baby. Do not use arformoterol inhalation without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.

Do not give this medication to anyone under 18 years old without your doctor's advice.

How should I use arformoterol inhalation (Brovana)?

Use this medication exactly as it was prescribed for you. Do not use the medication in larger amounts, or use it for longer than recommended by your doctor. Follow the directions on your prescription label.

This medication comes with patient instructions for safe and effective use. Follow these directions carefully. Ask your doctor or pharmacist if you have any questions.

Do not use arformoterol inhalation to treat a sudden bronchospasm attack. It will not work fast enough to reverse your symptoms. Use another, faster-acting inhalation medication to treat sudden attacks of bronchospasm.

If you were switched from a short-acting bronchodilator to arformoterol inhalation, stop using the other bronchodilator and use it only for a sudden bronchospasm attack. Short-acting bronchodilators include albuterol (Proventil, Ventolin, Combivent), bitolterol (Tornalate), levalbuterol (Xopenex), metaproterenol (Alupent, Metaprel), or pirbuterol (Maxair).

Arformoterol solution for inhalation is for use only with a standard jet nebulizer machine connected to an air compressor. Do not mix arformoterol with other medicines in the nebulizer. Do not take this medicine by mouth or swallow it.

To use the solution with a nebulizer:

Open the foil pouch and squeeze all of the medicine out into the chamber of the nebulizer. Attach the mouthpiece or face mask to the drug chamber. Then, attach the drug chamber to the compressor.
Sit upright in a comfortable position. Place the mouthpiece into your mouth or put the face mask on, covering your nose and mouth. Turn on the compressor.
Breathe in slowly and evenly until you have inhaled all of the medicine (usually 5 to 10 minutes). The treatment is complete when no more mist is formed by the nebulizer and the drug chamber is empty.
Clean the nebulizer after each use. Follow the cleaning directions that came with your nebulizer.

Call your doctor right away if you feel that this medicine is not working as well as usual, or if you think you need to use more than usual. An increased need for medication could be an early sign that your condition is getting worse.

COPD is usually treated with a combination of different drugs. To best treat your condition, use all of your medications as directed by your doctor. Do not change your doses or medication schedule without advice from your doctor.

Keep this medicine in the foil pouch until you are ready to use it. Once a pouch is opened, you must use the medicine right away. Throw the empty pouch away where children and pets cannot get to it.

Store the foil pouches in the refrigerator but do not allow them to freeze.

You may store the foil pouches at room temperature but you must use them within 6 weeks. Store the single-use vials at room temperature and protect them from heat and light. Do not use any medicine if it does not look clear and colorless in the vial.

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