Perforomist

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Treatment & Uses
Side Effects
Treating Overdose
Safety Information
Before Using

Generic Name: formoterol (for MOE ter all)
Brand Names: Foradil Aerolizer, Perforomist Inhalation Solution

What is Perforomist?

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Perforomist (formoterol) Inhalation Solution is a long-acting bronchodilator that relaxes muscles in the airways to improve breathing.

Perforomist is used to prevent bronchospasm in people with reversible obstructive airways disease, including symptoms of night-time asthma. It is also used in people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) such as emphysema and chronic bronchitis.

Perforomist may also be used for other purposed not listed in this medication guide.

Important information about Perforomist

Do not use Perforomist to treat an asthma attack that has already begun. It will not work fast enough to reverse your symptoms. Use another, short-acting inhalation medication to treat an asthma attack.

Asthma 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.

Seek medical attention if you think any of your asthma medications are not working as well as usual. An increased need for medication could be an early sign of a serious asthma attack. Perforomist may increase the risk of asthma-related death. It is critical that you use only the prescribed dose of this medicine and follow all patient instructions for safe use. Talk with your doctor about your individual risks and benefits in using Perforomist inhalation solution.

Before using Perforomist

Perforomist may increase the risk of asthma-related death. It is critical that you use only the prescribed dose of this medicine and follow all patient instructions for safe use. Talk with your doctor about your individual risks and benefits in using Perforomist.

Before using Perforomist, tell your doctor if you are allergic to formoterol, or if you have:

a food or drug allergy;
heart disease or high blood pressure;
epilepsy or other seizure disorder;
diabetes; or
a thyroid disorder.

If you have any of these conditions, you may need a dose adjustment or special tests to safely use Perforomist.

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 Perforomist without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby. Do not give this medication to a child younger than 5 years old.

How should I use Perforomist?

Use Perforomist 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.

Perforomist inhalation solution is for use with a standard jet nebulizer machine connected to an air compressor. Do not swallow or inject Perforomist inhalation solution. One ready-to-use vial of Perforomist inhalation solution is one dose. Do not use Perforomist to treat an asthma attack that has already begun. It will not work fast enough to reverse your symptoms. Use another, short-acting inhalation medication to treat an asthma attack.

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

If you are using Perforomist to prevent exercise-induced asthma, use the medicine 15 minutes before exercising, or as directed by your doctor. Allow at least 12 hours to pass before you use the medicine again.

It is important to use Perforomist regularly to get the most benefit. Get your prescription refilled before you run out of medicine completely.

What happens if I miss a dose?

Use the medication as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed dose and use the medicine at the next regularly scheduled time. Do not use extra medicine to make up the missed dose.

What happens if I overdose?

Seek emergency medical attention if you think you have used too much of this medicine.

Overdose symptoms may include chest pain, nervousness, dry mouth, nausea, sleep problems (insomnia), tremors, chest pain, fast or irregular heartbeats, feeling weak or light-headed, fainting, or seizure (convulsions).

What should I avoid while using Perforomist?

Avoid using other long-acting inhaled bronchodilators such as salmeterol (Advair, Serevent) while you are using Perforomist.

Perforomist side effects

Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat. Call your doctor at once if you have any of these serious side effects:

chest pain, fast or pounding heartbeats, tremors, shaking, or restless feeling;
wheezing, choking, or other breathing problems after using Perforomist;
increased thirst or hunger, urinating more than usual; or
worsening asthma symptoms.

Less serious side effects may include:

dizziness, anxiety, headache;
sleep problems (insomnia);
back pain, muscle cramps;
sore throat, dry mouth, cough, stuffy nose;
skin rash, itching; or
changes in your voice.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Tell your doctor about any unusual or bothersome side effect. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

What other drugs will affect Perforomist?

Before using Perforomist tell your doctor if you are taking any of the following medicines:

cisapride (Propulsid);
droperidol (Inapsine);
methadone (Methadose);
pentamidine (NebuPent, Pentam);
caffeine, diet pills, cold medicine, or a stimulant medication;
antibiotics such as azithromycin (Zithromax), clarithromycin (Biaxin), dirithromycin (Dynabac), erythromycin (E-Mycin, E.E.S., Erythrocin, Ery-Tab), telithromycin (Ketek);
medicines to treat psychiatric disorder, such as pimozide (Orap), haloperidol (Haldol), or thioridazine (Mellaril);
heart rhythm medicine such as amiodarone (Cordarone, Pacerone), dofetilide (Tikosyn), disopyramide (Norpace), procainamide (Procan), quinidine (Cardioquin, Quinaglute), or sotalol (Betapace);
a beta-blocker such as acebutolol (Sectral), atenolol (Tenormin), betaxolol (Kerlone), bisoprolol (Zebeta), carteolol (Cartrol), carvedilol (Coreg), esmolol (Brevibloc), labetalol (Normodyne, Trandate), metoprolol (Lopressor, Toprol), nadolol (Corgard), penbutolol (Levatol), pindolol (Visken), propranolol (Inderal, InnoPran), sotalol (Betapace), or timolol (Blocadren);
antidepressants such as amitriptyline (Elavil, Etrafon), amoxapine (Ascendin), clomipramine (Anafranil), desipramine (Norpramin), imipramine (Janimine, Tofranil), nortriptyline (Pamelor), protriptyline (Vivactil), or trimipramine (Surmontil);
a diuretic (water pill) such as bumetanide (Bumex), chlorthalidone (Hygroton, Thalitone), ethacrynic acid (Edecrin), furosemide (Lasix), hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ, HydroDiuril), indapamide (Lozol), metolazone (Mykrox, Zarxolyn), torsemide (Demadex); or
an MAO inhibitor such as isocarboxazid (Marplan), phenelzine (Nardil), rasagiline (Azilect), selegiline (Eldepryl, Emsam), or tranylcypromine (Parnate).

This list is not complete and there may be other drugs that can interact with Perforomist. Tell your doctor about all the prescription and over-the-counter medications you use. This includes vitamins, minerals, herbal products, and drugs prescribed by other doctors. Do not start using a new medication without telling your doctor.

Where can I get more information?

Your pharmacist can provide more information about Perforomist.

Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Multum's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners. The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects.