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• ASTHMA RELATED DEATH

Long-acting beta₂-adrcncrgic agonists increase the risk of asthma-related death. The safety and efficacy of BROVANA (arformoterol tartrate inhalation solution) in patients with asthma have not been established. All LABA, including BROVANA (arformoterol tartrate inhalation solution) , are contraindicated in patients with asthma without use of a long-term asthma control medication (see CONTRAINDICATIONS).

• A 28-week, placebo-controlled US study comparing the safety of salmeterol with placebo, each added to usual asthma therapy, showed an increase in asthma-related deaths in patients receiving salmeterol (13/13,176 in patients treated with salmeterol vs. 3/13,179 in patients treated with placebo; RR 4.37, 95% CI 1.25,15.34). The increased risk of asthma-related death is considered a class effect of the long-acting beta₂-adrenergic agonists, including BROVANA (arformoterol tartrate inhalation solution) . No study adequate to determine whether the rate of asthma related death is increased in patients treated with BROVANA (arformoterol tartrate inhalation solution) has been conducted.

Clinical studies with racemic formoterol (Foradil® Aerolizer™) suggested a higher incidence of serious asthma exacerbations in patients who received racemic formoterol than in those who received placebo. The sizes of these studies were not adequate to precisely quantify the differences in serious asthma exacerbation rates between treatment groups.

• The studies described above enrolled patients with asthma. Data are not available to determine whether the rate of death in patients with COPD is increased by long-acting beta₂-adrenergic agonists.
• BROVANA (arformoterol tartrate inhalation solution) is indicated for the long term, twice daily (morning and evening) maintenance treatment for bronchoconstriction in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and is not indicated for the treatment of acute episodes of bronchospasm, i.e., rescue therapy.
• BROVANA (arformoterol tartrate inhalation solution) should not be initiated in patients with acutely deteriorating COPD, which may be a life-threatening condition. The use of BROVANA (arformoterol tartrate inhalation solution) in this setting is inappropriate.
• BROVANA (arformoterol tartrate inhalation solution) should not be used in children as the safety and efficacy of BROVANA (arformoterol tartrate inhalation solution) have not been established in pediatric patients.
• BROVANA (arformoterol tartrate inhalation solution) should not be used in conjunction with other inhaled, long-acting beta₂-agonists. BROVANA (arformoterol tartrate inhalation solution) should not be used with other medications containing long-acting beta₂-agonists.
• When beginning treatment with BROVANA (arformoterol tartrate inhalation solution) , patients who have been taking inhaled, short-acting beta₂-agonists on a regular basis (e.g., four times a day) should be instructed to discontinue the regular use of these drugs and use them only for symptomatic relief of acute respiratory symptoms.
• See PRECAUTIONS, Information for Patients and the accompanying Medication Guide.

Paradoxical Bronchospasm

As with other inhaled beta₂-agonists, BROVANA (arformoterol tartrate inhalation solution) can produce paradoxical bronchospasm that may be life-threatening. If paradoxical bronchospasm occurs, BROVANA (arformoterol tartrate inhalation solution) should be discontinued immediately and alternative therapy instituted.

Deterioration of Disease

COPD may deteriorate acutely over a period of hours or chronically over several days or longer. If BROVANA (arformoterol tartrate inhalation solution) no longer controls the symptoms of bronchoconstriction, or the patient's inhaled, short-acting beta₂-agonist becomes less effective or the patient needs more inhalation of short-acting beta₂-agonist than usual, these may be markers of deterioration of disease. In this setting, a re-evaluation of the patient and the COPD treatment regimen should be undertaken at once. Increasing the daily dosage of BROVANA (arformoterol tartrate inhalation solution) beyond the recommended 15 mcg twice daily dose is not appropriate in this situation.

Cardiovascular Effects

BROVANA (arformoterol tartrate inhalation solution) , like other beta₂-agonists, can produce a clinically significant cardiovascular effect in some patients as measured by increases in pulse rate, blood pressure, and/or symptoms. Although such effects are uncommon after administration of BROVANA (arformoterol tartrate inhalation solution) at the recommended dose, if they occur, the drug may need to be discontinued. In addition, beta-agonists have been reported to produce ECG changes, such as flattening of the T wave, prolongation of the QT_c interval, and ST segment depression. The clinical significance of these findings is unknown. BROVANA (arformoterol tartrate inhalation solution) , as with other sympathomimetic amines, should be used with caution in patients with cardiovascular disorders, especially coronary insufficiency, cardiac arrhythmias, and hypertension (see PRECAUTIONS, General).

Immediate Hypersensitivity Reactions

Immediate hypersensitivity reactions may occur after administration of BROVANA (arformoterol tartrate inhalation solution) as demonstrated by cases of anaphylactic reaction, urticaria, angioedema, rash and bronchospasm.

Do Not Exceed Recommended Dose

Fatalities have been reported in association with excessive use of inhaled sympathomimetic drugs. As with other inhaled beta₂-adrenergic drugs, BROVANA (arformoterol tartrate inhalation solution) should not be used more often, at higher doses than recommended, or with other long-acting beta-agonists.

General

BROVANA (arformoterol tartrate) Inhalation Solution should not be used to treat acute symptoms of COPD. BROVANA (arformoterol tartrate inhalation solution) has not been studied in the relief of acute symptoms and extra doses should not be used for that purpose. When prescribing BROVANA (arformoterol tartrate inhalation solution) , the physician should also provide the patient with an inhaled, short-acting beta₂-agonist for treatment of COPD symptoms that occur acutely, despite regular twice-daily (morning and evening) use of BROVANA (arformoterol tartrate inhalation solution) . Patients should also be cautioned that increasing inhaled beta₂-agonist use is a signal of deteriorating disease for which prompt medical attention is indicated (see Information for Patients and the accompanying Medication Guide).

BROVANA (arformoterol tartrate inhalation solution) , like other sympathomimetic amines, should be used with caution in patients with cardiovascular disorders, especially coronary insufficiency, cardiac arrhythmias, and hypertension; in patients with convulsive disorders or thyrotoxicosis; and in patients who are unusually responsive to sympathomimetic amines. Clinically significant changes in systolic and/or diastolic blood pressure, pulse rate and electrocardiograms have been seen infrequently in individual patients in controlled clinical studies with arformoterol tartrate. Doses of the related beta₂-agonist albuterol, when administered intravenously, have been reported to aggravate preexisting diabetes mellitus and ketoacidosis.

Beta-agonist medications may produce significant hypokalemia in some patients, possibly though intracellular shunting, which has the potential to produce adverse cardiovascular effects. The decrease in serum potassium is usually transient, not requiring supplementation.

Clinically significant changes in blood glucose and/or serum potassium were infrequent during clinical studies with long-term administration of BROVANA (arformoterol tartrate inhalation solution) at the recommended dose.

Information for Patients

Patients should be instructed to read the accompanying Medication Guide with each new prescription and refill. The complete text of the Medication Guide is reprinted at the end of this document. Patients should be given the following information:

1. Patients should be informed that long-acting beta₂-adrenergic agonists, such as BROVANA (arformoterol tartrate inhalation solution) , increase the risk of asthma-related death. All LAB A, including BROVANA (arformoterol tartrate inhalation solution) , should not be used in patients with asthma without use of a long-term asthma control medication (see CONTRAINDICATIONS).
2. BROVANA (arformoterol tartrate inhalation solution) is not indicated to relieve acute respiratory symptoms and extra doses should not be used for that purpose. Acute symptoms should be treated with an inhaled, short-acting, beta₂-agonist (the health-care provider should prescribe the patient with such medication and instruct the patient in how it should be used). Patients should be instructed to seek medical attention if their symptoms worsen, if BROVANA (arformoterol tartrate inhalation solution) treatment becomes less effective, or if they need more inhalations of a short-acting beta₂-agonist than usual. Patients should not inhale more than one dose at any one time. The daily dosage of BROVANA (arformoterol tartrate inhalation solution) should not exceed one ready-to-use vial (15 mcg) by inhalation twice daily (30 mcg total daily dose).
3. Patients should be informed that treatment with beta₂-agonists may lead to adverse events which include palpitations, chest pain, rapid heart rate, tremor, or nervousness.
4. Patients should be instructed to use BROVANA (arformoterol tartrate inhalation solution) by nebulizer only and not to inject or swallow this inhalation solution.
5. Patients should protect BROVANA (arformoterol tartrate inhalation solution) ready-to-use vials from light and excessive heat. The protective foil pouches should be stored under refrigeration between 2°C and 8°C (36°- 6°F). They should not be used after the expiration date stamped on the container. After opening the pouch, unused ready-to-use vials should be returned to, and stored in, the pouch. An opened ready-to-use vial should be used right away. Discard any ready-to-use vial if the solution is not colorless.
6. The drug compatibility (physical and chemical), efficacy and safety of BROVANA (arformoterol tartrate inhalation solution) when mixed with other drugs in a nebulizer have not been established.
7. Women should be advised to contact their physician if they become pregnant or if they are nursing.
8. It is important that patients understand how to use BROVANA (arformoterol tartrate inhalation solution) appropriately and how it should be used in relation to other medications to treat COPD they are taking (see the accompanying Medication Guide and the Instructions for Using BROVANA (arformoterol tartrate inhalation solution) ).

Carcinogenesis, Mutagenesis, Impairment of Fertility

Long-term studies were conducted in mice using oral administration and rats using inhalation administration to evaluate the carcinogenic potential of arformoterol.

In a 24-month carcinogenicity study in CD-1 mice, arformoterol caused a dose-related increase in the incidence of uterine and cervical endometrial stromal polyps and stromal cell sarcoma in female mice at oral doses of 1 mg/kg and above (AUC exposure approximately 70 times adult exposure at the maximum recommended daily inhalation dose).

In a 24-month carcinogenicity study in Sprague-Dawley rats, arformoterol caused a statistically significant increase in the incidence of thyroid gland c-cell adenoma and carcinoma in female rats at an inhalation dose of 200 mcg/kg (AUC exposure approximately 130 times adult exposure at the maximum recommended daily inhalation dose). There were no tumor findings with an inhalation dose of 40 mcg/kg (AUC exposure approximately 55 times adult exposure at the maximum recommended daily inhalation dose).

Arformoterol was not mutagenic or clastogenic in the following tests: mutagenicity tests in bacteria, chromosome aberration analyses in mammalian cells, and micronucleus test in mice.

Arformoterol had no effects on fertility and reproductive performance in rats at oral doses up to 10 mg/kg (approximately 2700 times the maximum recommended daily inhalation dose in adults on a mg/m² basis).

Pregnancy: Teratogenic Effects

Pregnancy Category C

Arformoterol has been shown to be teratogenic in rats based upon findings of omphalocele (umbilical hernia), a malformation, at oral doses of 1 mg/kg and above (AUC exposure approximately 370 times adult exposure at the maximum recommended daily inhalation dose). Increased pup loss at birth and during lactation and decreased pup weights were observed in rats at oral doses of 5 mg/kg and above (AUC exposure approximately 1100 times adult exposure at the maximum recommended daily inhalation dose). Delays in development were evident with an oral dose of 10 mg/kg (AUC exposure approximately 2400 times adult exposure at the maximum recommended daily inhalation dose).

Arformoterol has been shown to be teratogenic in rabbits based upon findings of malpositioned right kidney, a malformation, at oral doses of 20 mg/kg and above (AUC exposure approximately 8400 times adult exposure at the maximum recommended daily inhalation dose). Malformations including brachydactyly, bulbous aorta, and liver cysts were observed at doses of 40 mg/kg and above (approximately 22,000 times the maximum recommended daily inhalation dose in adults on a mg/m² basis). Malformation including adactyly, lobular dysgenesis of the lung, and interventricular septal defect were observed at 80 mg/kg (approximately 43,000 times the maximum recommended daily inhalation dose in adults on a mg/m² basis). Embryolethality was observed at 80 mg/kg/day (approximately 43,000 times the maximum recommended daily inhalation dose in adults on a mg/m² basis). Decreased pup body weights were observed at doses of 40 mg/kg/day and above (approximately 22,000 times the maximum recommended daily inhalation dose in adults on a mg/m² basis). There were no teratogenic findings in rabbits with oral dose of 10 mg/kg and lower (AUC exposure approximately 4900 times adult exposure at the maximum recommended daily inhalation dose).

There are no adequate and well-controlled studies in pregnant women. BROVANA (arformoterol tartrate inhalation solution) should be used during pregnancy only if the potential benefit justifies the potential risk to the fetus.

Use in Labor and Delivery

There are no human studies that have investigated the effects of BROVANA (arformoterol tartrate inhalation solution) on preterm labor or labor at term.

Because beta-agonists may potentially interfere with uterine contractility, BROVANA (arformoterol tartrate inhalation solution) should be used during labor and delivery only if the potential benefit justifies the potential risk.

Nursing Mothers

In reproductive studies in rats, arformoterol was excreted in the milk. It is not known whether arformoterol is excreted in human milk. Because many drugs are excreted in human milk, caution should be exercised when BROVANA (arformoterol tartrate inhalation solution) is administered to a nursing woman.

Pediatric

BROVANA (arformoterol tartrate inhalation solution) is approved for use in the long term maintenance treatment of bronchoconstriction associated with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, including chronic bronchitis and emphysema. This disease does not occur in children. The safety and effectiveness of BROVANA (arformoterol tartrate inhalation solution) in pediatric patients have not been established.

Geriatric

Of the 873 patients who received BROVANA (arformoterol tartrate inhalation solution) in two placebo-controlled clinical studies in adults with COPD, 391 (45%) were 65 years of age or older while 96 (11%) were 75 years of age or older. No overall differences in safety or effectiveness were observed between these subjects and younger subjects. Among subjects age 65 years and older, 129 (33%) received BROVANA (arformoterol tartrate inhalation solution) at the recommended dose of 15 mcg twice daily, while the remainder received higher doses. ECG alerts for ventricular ectopy in patients 65 to ≤ 75 years of age were comparable among patients receiving 15 mcg twice daily, 25 mcg twice daily, and placebo (3.9%, 5.2%, and 7.1%, respectively). A higher frequency (12.4%) was observed when BROVANA (arformoterol tartrate inhalation solution) was dosed at 50 mcg once daily. The clinical significance of this finding is not known. Other reported clinical experience has not identified differences in responses between the elderly and younger patients, but greater sensitivity of some older individuals cannot be ruled out.

Last reviewed on RxList: 8/26/2011
This monograph has been modified to include the generic and brand name in many instances.