Formoterol / Glycopyrrolate Side Effects

Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on Jan 31, 2025.

Applies to formoterol / glycopyrrolate: inhalation aerosol powder.

Precautions

It is very important that your doctor check your progress at regular visits to make sure the medicine is working properly. Blood and urine tests may be needed to check for any unwanted effects.

Tell your doctor if you are also using any other medicine for your COPD. Your doctor may want you to use it only during a severe COPD attack. Follow your doctor's instructions on how you should take your medicine.

This medicine should not be used if you are having a sudden COPD attack, or if symptoms of COPD attack has already started. Your doctor will give you a short-acting inhaler to use for this condition. If the short-acting inhaler is not working, tell your doctor right away.

Talk to your doctor or get medical care right away if:

• Your symptoms do not improve after using this medicine for a few days or if they become worse.
• Your short-acting inhaler does not seem to be working as well as usual and you need to use it more often.

Do not use this medicine together with other inhaled medicines for COPD, including arformoterol (Brovana®), budesonide/formoterol (Symbicort®), formoterol (Foradil®, Perforomist®), indacaterol (Arcapta® Neohaler®), salmeterol (Serevent®), or vilanterol.

This medicine may increase the risk of worsening asthma, which may lead to hospitalization, intubation, and death in patients with asthma who take this medicine without an inhaled steroid medicine. Talk to your doctor if you have concerns about this.

This medicine may cause paradoxical bronchospasm, which means your breathing or wheezing will get worse. This may be a life-threatening situation. Check with your doctor right away if you have a cough, difficulty with breathing, shortness of breath, or wheezing after using this medicine.

If you develop a skin rash, hives, swelling of the tongue, lips, or face, or any allergic reaction to this medicine, check with your doctor right away.

This medicine may cause heart or blood vessel problems, including heart rhythm problems. Check with your doctor right away if you have chest pain or tightness, decreased urine output, dilated neck veins, extreme fatigue, irregular heartbeat, swelling of the face, fingers, feet, or lower legs, troubled breathing, or weight gain.

Call your doctor right away if blurred vision, difficulty in reading, seeing halos around lights, or any other change in vision occurs during or after treatment. Your doctor may want you to have your eyes checked by an ophthalmologist (eye doctor).

Hypokalemia (low potassium in the blood) may occur while you are using this medicine. Check with your doctor right away if you have more than one of the following symptoms: decreased urine, dry mouth, increased thirst, loss of appetite, mood changes, muscle pain or cramps, nausea or vomiting, numbness or tingling in the hands, feet, or lips, seizures, uneven heartbeat, or unusual tiredness or weakness.

This medicine may affect blood sugar levels. If you are diabetic and notice a change in the results of your blood or urine sugar tests, check with your doctor.

Check with your doctor right away if you have a decrease in urine volume, decrease in the frequency of urination, difficulty in passing urine, or painful urination.

Do not take other medicines unless they have been discussed with your doctor. This includes prescription or nonprescription (over-the-counter [OTC]) medicines and herbal or vitamin supplements.

Serious side effects

Along with its needed effects, formoterol/glycopyrrolate 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 while taking formoterol / glycopyrrolate:

Other side effects

Some side effects of formoterol / glycopyrrolate 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:

For healthcare professionals

Applies to formoterol / glycopyrrolate: inhalation aerosol.

Respiratory adverse events

• Common (1% to 10%): Cough (4%); In less than 2%: Chest pain, influenza, acute sinusitis^[Ref]

Cardiovascular

• Frequency not reported: Formoterol fumarate: Palpitations, cardiac arrhythmias (atrial fibrillation, supraventricular tachycardia, extrasystoles)^[Ref]

Gastrointestinal

• Common (1% to 10%): In less than 2%: Tooth abscess, oropharyngeal pain, vomiting, dry mouth
• Frequency not reported: Formoterol fumarate: Nausea^[Ref]

Genitourinary

• Common (1% to 10%): Urinary tract infection (2.6%)
• Frequency not reported: Worsening of urinary retention^[Ref]

Hypersensitivity

• Frequency not reported: Hypersensitivity reactions (formoterol fumarate)^[Ref]

Metabolic

• Frequency not reported: Formoterol fumarate: Hyperglycemia^[Ref]

Musculoskeletal

• Common (1% to 10%): In less than 2%: Arthralgia, muscle spasm, pain in the extremity^[Ref]

Nervous system

• Common (1% to 10%): In less than 2%: Headache, dizziness
• Frequency not reported: Formoterol fumarate: Tremor^[Ref]

Ocular

• Frequency not reported: Worsening of narrow-angle glaucoma^[Ref]

Other

• Common (1% to 10%): In less than 2%: Fall, fatigue, contusion^[Ref]

Psychiatric

• Common (1% to 10%): Anxiety (less than 2%)
• Frequency not reported: Paradoxical bronchospasm; Formoterol fumarate: Restlessness, sleep disturbances, agitation^[Ref]

See also:

Further information

Formoterol/glycopyrrolate side effects can vary depending on the individual. Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances.

Note: Medication side effects may be underreported. If you are experiencing side effects that are not listed, submit a report to the FDA by following this guide.

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