What is Foradil used for?  

Foradil Aerolizer is used in adults and children 5 years of age and older to:

§         treat breathing problems in people who have asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), which includes chronic bronchitis, emphysema, and other lung diseases.

§         prevent breathing difficulties during exercise.

Foradil is a long-acting bronchodilator.  It acts to help keep the airways open, which may make it easier to breathe, and may reduce asthma symptoms. 

Symptoms of asthma include shortness of breath, wheezing, chest tightness, and cough. 

General Precautions with Foradil: 

• Do not swallow the capsules.  Powder in the capsules is inhaled, using the Aerolizer Inhaler that is provided.
• Use the Foradil Aerolizer regularly.  Do not stop treatment even if you are feeling better unless your health care provider tells you to.
• Do not use Foradil Aerolizer to relieve sudden asthma symptoms (sudden severe onset or worsening of wheezing, cough, chest tightness, and/or shortness of breath diagnosed by your health care provider as being due to asthma).  Sudden asthma symptoms should be treated with an inhaled, short-acting bronchodilator.  If you do not have an inhaled, short-acting bronchodilator, contact your health care provider to have one prescribed for you.
• Use other inhaled medicines only as directed by your health care provider.
• Do not use the Aerolizer Inhaler with a spacer device.

What should I tell my doctor or health care provider?

Tell your health care provider before starting to take this medicine if you are: 

• pregnant or want to become pregnant 
• breastfeeding a baby 
• allergic to formoterol or any other inhaled bronchodilator. 

This medicine may not be right for you and your health care provider may wish to give you a different medicine. 

Tell your health care provider about all the other medicines you are taking including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. 

Tell your health care provider right away if your asthma is getting worse, as indicated by any of the following situations, since you may need a re-evaluation of your treatment. 

• The relief of your wheezing or chest tightness is not as good as usual or does not last for as long as usual. 
• Your inhaled, short-acting bronchodilator becomes less effective. 
• You need more inhalations than usual of your inhaled, short-acting bronchodilator. 
• You have a significant decrease in your peak flow measurement as previously defined by your health care provider. 

What are some possible side effects of Foradil? (This is not a complete list of side effects reported with Foradil. Your health care provider can discuss with you a more complete list of side effects.)  

Paradoxical bronchospasm, a narrowing of the airways, occurs rarely, but can be serious. Report any increased problems in breathing after using Foradil Aerolizer to your health care provider right away. 

Foradil Aerolizer may also cause: 

• tremor 
• fast and irregular heart beat 
• headache 
• muscle cramps and pain 
• agitation 
• dizziness 
• nervousness 
• tiredness 
• problems with sleeping 
• dryness of the mouth or throat

Some of these effects may go away as your body gets used to the medicine.  Check with your health care provider if any of these unwanted effects continue to bother you. 

For more detailed information about Foradil, ask your health care provider.

Posted  11/22/02

Revised:  5/26/04