Formoterol oral inhalation is used to treat wheezing, shortness of breath, and chest tightness associated with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD; a group of lung diseases that includes chronic bronchitis and emphysema). Formoterol is a member of the class of medications known as long-acting beta agonists (LABAs). The opening and relaxing of the lungs facilitates easier breathing.

Using a nebulizer, the solution (liquid) for formoterol oral inhalation is given orally (machine that turns medication into a mist that can be inhaled). It is typically breathed in twice daily, twice a day, in the morning and once a day in the evening, about 12 hours after your last dose. Inhaling formoterol ought to happen daily at roughly the same time. Any directions on your prescription label that you are unclear about following, ask your doctor or pharmacist to clarify. Observe the formoterol directions to the letter. Do not use it more frequently or less frequently than your doctor has prescribed.

Do not take formoterol to treat COPD attack flare-ups. Your physician will urge you to take an albuterol or other short-acting beta agonist during attacks (Accuneb, Proair, Proventil, Ventolin). If you were regularly taking this type of medicine before to beginning formoterol treatment, your doctor will likely urge you to stop, but if you weren’t, they will likely suggest you to continue using it to treat attacks.

Formoterol inhalation should not be used as a type of treatment for COPD that is quickly worsening. Call your doctor or obtain emergency medical treatment if your breathing problems worsen, if you need to use your short-acting inhaler to treat COPD attacks more frequently, or if it doesn’t relieve your symptoms.

Although formoterol cannot cure your condition, it can help you control your symptoms. Do not stop taking formoterol without first visiting your doctor. If you stop taking formoterol quickly, your symptoms can worsen.

Follow these instructions to use a nebulizer to inhale the solution:

1. From the foil packet, take out one vial of formoterol inhalation solution.
2. View the liquid contained in the vial. It need to be transparent and colourless. If the liquid is unclear or discoloured, do not use the vial.
3. Squeeze all of the liquid from the vial into the nebulizer reservoir by twisting off the vial’s top. Do not combine formoterol in the reservoir with other drugs.
4. Connect the face mask or mouthpiece to the nebulizer reservoir.
5. Connect the compressor and nebulizer.
6. Wear the face mask or put the mouthpiece in your mouth. Turn on the compressor while seated comfortably and upright.
7. For roughly 9 minutes, until mist stops developing in the nebulizer chamber, inhale steadily, deeply, and evenly.
8. Make sure the empty vial and its lid are disposed of carefully and out of children’s reach.

Regularly clean your nebulizer. If you have any concerns about cleaning your nebulizer, carefully follow the manufacturer’s instructions and see your physician or pharmacist.

In your nebulizer, do not combine the formoterol solution with other inhaling solutions.

For a copy of the manufacturer’s information for the patient, ask your pharmacist or doctor.

Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more details if you believe this drug should be used for something else.

Before using formoterol oral inhalation,

• If you have any allergies, including to formoterol, other drugs, or any of the substances in formoterol nebulizer solution, let your doctor and pharmacist know right once. For a list of the ingredients, consult the Medication Guide or speak with your pharmacist.
• Inform your doctor if you take any other LABAs, such as vilanterol, salmeterol, olodaterol, and arformoterol (Arcapta, Olodaterol, Striverdi Respimat, and Stiolto Respimat) (in Anoro Ellipta, Breo Ellipta, Trelegy Ellipta). Which medications you should take and which ones you should quit taking will be determined by your doctor.
• Inform your doctor and pharmacist about any vitamins, nutritional supplements, herbal items, and prescription and over-the-counter medicines you are now taking or intend to take. Any of the following should be mentioned: Amiodarone (Nexterone, Pacerone), amiophylline, and other drugs; b eta blockers such atenolol (Tenormin), labetalol (Trandate), metoprolol (Lopressor, Toprol XL, others), nadolol (Corgard), propranolol (Inderal, Innopran), and sotalol (Betapace, Sorine); antidepressants including amitriptyline, desipramine (Norpramin), clomipramine (Anafranil); clonidine (Catapres), disopyramide (Norpace), diuretics (often known as “water pills”), dofetilide (Tikosyn), epinephrine (Primatene Mist), erythromycin (E.E.S., E-Mycin, Erythrocin), and antihistamines such as phenylephrine (Sudafed PE) and pseudophedrine (Sudafed); moxifloxacin (Avelox); pimozide (Orap); procainamide; monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitors such as isocarboxazid (Marplan), linezolid (Zyvox), phenelzine (Nardil), rasagiline (Azilect), selegiline (Emsam, Zelapar), and tranylcypromine; theophylline (Theochron, Theo-24), quinidine (in Nuedexta), dexamethasone, methylprednisolone (Medrol), and prednisone (Rayos), as well as thioridazine are examples of steroids. Formoterol may also interact with many other drugs, so be sure to let your doctor know about all the drugs you’re taking, even if they don’t appear on this list. Your doctor might need to adjust your medication doses or keep a close eye out for any negative side effects.
• If you have asthma, let your doctor know. If you are not also on an inhaled steroid medicine, your doctor may advise against using formoterol inhalation.
• Inform your doctor if you have or have ever had diabetes, high blood pressure, seizures, a heart, liver, or thyroid disorder, an irregular heartbeat, QT prolongation (an irregular heart rhythm that can cause fainting, loss of consciousness, seizures, or sudden death), high blood pressure, or QT prolongation.
• Inform your physician if you are nursing a baby, intend to get pregnant, or are already pregnant. Call your doctor if you become pregnant while taking formoterol.
• You should be aware that formoterol inhalation occasionally results in wheezing and breathing difficulties right away. Make a quick call to your doctor if this occurs. A doctor must prescribe formoterol inhalation before you take it again.

Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more details if you believe this drug should be used for something else.

Ignore the missed dose and carry on with my normal dosing routine. To make up for a missing dose, do not take a second one.

Formoterol may cause side effects. Tell your doctor if any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away:

• Nervousness
• Headache
• Uncontrollable shaking of a part of the body
• Dry mouth
• Muscle cramps
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Extreme tiredness
• Dizziness
• Difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep
• Stuffed or runny nose
• Sore throat

Some adverse effects can be very harmful. Stop taking formoterol inhalation and seek immediate medical attention or contact your doctor if you suffer any of the following symptoms:

• Swelling of the lips, eyes, tongue, cheeks, or throat
• Breathing or swallowing challenges
• Hives
• Rash
• Itching
• Hammering, rapid, or erratic heartbeat
• Chest ache
• Fainting

Other negative effects of formoterol are possible. If you experience any strange issues while taking this drug, call your doctor right away.

You or your doctor can submit a report to the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting programme online or by phone if you have a serious side event (1-800-332-1088).

Until you are ready to use them, keep the formoterol nebulizer solution vials sealed in their foil pouches, away from light, and from extreme heat. The nebulizer solution should be kept in the fridge. Additionally, it can be kept at room temperature for up to three months. Keep children away from this medication.

As many containers (such as weekly pill minders and those for eye drops, creams, patches, and inhalers) are not child-resistant and are simple for young children to open, it is crucial to keep all medications out of sight and out of reach of children. Always lock safety caps and put medication in a secure spot right away that is up and away from young children in order to prevent poisoning.

Unused prescriptions must be disposed of carefully to prevent pets, kids, and other people from ingesting them. You should not, however, dispose of this medication in the toilet. Instead, utilising a medicine take-back programme is the easiest approach to get rid of your medication. To find out about take-back programmes in your area, speak with your pharmacist or the garbage/recycling department in your city. If you do not have access to a take-back programme, see the FDA’s Safe Disposal of Medicines website at http://goo.gl/c4Rm4p for additional information.

Call the poison control hotline at 1-800-222-1222 in the event of an overdose. Additionally, information can be found online at https://www.poisonhelp.org/help. Call 911 right once if the person has collapsed, experienced a seizure, is having difficulty breathing, or cannot be roused.

Overdose signs could include the following:

• Chest ache
• Fainting
• Hammering, rapid, or erratic heartbeat
• Nervousness
• Headache
• Body part shaking that is uncontrollable
• Seizures
• Muscular pain
• Mouth ache
• Nausea
• Dizziness
• Extreme fatigue
• Having trouble falling or staying asleep
• Thirst
• Difficulty breathing

Keep all of your doctor’s appointments.

Inform your doctor and the lab staff that you are using formoterol prior to any laboratory test (particularly those involving methylene blue).

Do not share your medication with anybody else. Any queries you may have regarding medication refills should be directed to your pharmacist.

You should keep a written record of every medication you take, including any over-the-counter (OTC) items, prescription drugs, and dietary supplements like vitamins and minerals. This list should be brought with you whenever you see a doctor or are admitted to the hospital. You should always have this information with you in case of emergencies.