Formoterol oral inhalation is used to treat chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD; a set of lung disorders that includes chronic bronchitis and emphysema), which causes wheezing, shortness of breath, and chest tightness. Formoterol belongs to the group of drugs known as long-acting beta agonists (LABAs). Breathing becomes simpler as a result of the lungs’ opening and relaxation.

A nebulizer, a device that transforms medication into a mist that can be inhaled, is used to administer formoterol oral inhalation as a solution (liquid) to be swallowed. Typically, it is breathed in twice daily, in the morning and in the evening, around 12 hours after your last dose. Formoterol should be inhaled at around the same times each day. Ask your doctor or pharmacist to explain any instructions on your prescription label that you are unsure about following. Follow the formoterol instructions exactly. Use it only as directed by your doctor, neither more nor less often.

To treat COPD attacks that come on suddenly, do not use formoterol. For use during attacks, your doctor will prescribe a short-acting beta agonist drug like albuterol (Accuneb, Proair, Proventil, Ventolin). Your doctor will likely advise you to stop regularly taking this kind of medicine but to keep using it to treat attacks if you were already doing so before starting formoterol treatment.

COPD that is rapidly deteriorating should not be treated with formoterol inhalation. If your breathing issues worsen, if you need to use your short-acting inhaler more frequently to treat COPD attacks, or if your short-acting inhaler does not improve your symptoms, call your doctor or seek emergency medical attention.

Inhaling formoterol won’t make your problem go away, but it may help you manage your symptoms. Without consulting your doctor, do not discontinue taking formoterol. Your symptoms could get worse if you abruptly stop using formoterol.

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 colorless. If the liquid is unclear or discolored, 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 use any additional LABAs, such as vilanterol (in Anoro Ellipta, Breo Ellipta, or Trelegy Ellipta), indacaterol (Arcapta), olodaterol (Striverdi Respimat), salmeterol (Serevent), or arformoterol (Brovana, Indacaterol, Stiolto Respimat). Which medications you should take and which ones you should quit taking will be determined by your doctor.
• Inform your doctor and pharmacist about all prescription and over-the-counter drugs, vitamins, dietary supplements, and herbal products that you are now taking or intend to use. Incorporate any of the following: Amiodarone (Nexterone, Pacerone), aminophylline, antidepressants such amitriptyline, desipramine (Norpramin), clomipramine (Anafranil), imipramine (Tofranil), nortriptyline, or trimipramine (Surmontil), among others; beta blockers like nadolol (Corgard), propranolol (Inderal, Innopran), labetalol (Trandate), metoprolol (Lopressor, Toprol XL, and others), atenolol (Tenormin), and sotalol (Betapace, Sorine); erythromycin (E.E.S, E-Mycin, Erythrocin), disopyramide (Norpace), clonidine (Catapres), diuretics (‘water pills,’) dofetilide (Tikosyn), epinephrine (Primatene Mist); prescription cold medicines include pseudophedrine (Sudafed PE) and phenylephrine (Sudafed); monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitors such isocarboxazid (Marplan); tranylcypromine (Parnate), linezolid (Zyvox), phenelzine (Nardil), rasagiline (Azilect), selegiline (Emsam, Zelapar), and pimozide (Orap); moxifloxacin (Avelox); procainamide; theophylline (Theochron, Theo-24), quinidine (in Nuedexta), methylprednisolone (Medrol), and prednisone (Rayos) are some examples of steroids. Thioridazine is another. Tell your doctor about all of the medications you are taking, even any not on this list, as many other drugs may also interact with formoterol. Your physician might need to adjust the dosage of your drugs or keep a close eye on you for 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 had had diabetes, high blood pressure, seizures, a heart, liver, or thyroid disorder, an irregular heartbeat, QT prolongation (an abnormal 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.

There may be adverse effects from formoterol. If any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away, let your doctor know right once:

• Nervousness
• Headache
• Body part shaking that is uncontrollable
• Mouth ache
• Muscular pain
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Extreme fatigue
• Dizziness
• Having trouble falling or staying asleep
• Runny or clogged nose
• Unwell 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 program online at http://www.fda.gov/Safety/MedWatch or by phone at 1-800-332-1088 if you have a serious side event.

Until you are ready to use them, keep the formoterol nebulizer solution vials sealed in their foil bags, 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 promptly stash medication up and away from young children where it is out of their sight and reach to prevent poisoning.http://www.upandaway.org

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, utilizing a medicine take-back program is the easiest approach to get rid of your medication. To find out about take-back programs 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 program, 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.