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Formoterol

Formoterol is a long-acting beta2-agonist bronchodilator. It relaxes the muscle surrounding the bronchial tubes, keeping the airways open for about 12 hours. It is a maintenance medicine rather than a rescue inhaler for a sudden attack.

Medicine containing Formoterol

Budesonide + Formoterol Inhaler

Asthma, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

100/6 · 160/4.5 · 200/6 · 400/6mcg

Budesonide + Formoterol Inhaler combines budesonide and formoterol for asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. It comes in several strengths and pack sizes. You can compare the price per inhaler across options.

FromUS$27.20/ inhalerView

Key points

  • Formoterol acts at beta-2 receptors in the lungs, relaxing the muscle that narrows the bronchial tubes and lowering resistance to airflow.
  • Because it is long-acting, it is taken regularly to keep breathing steady rather than to relieve sudden breathlessness.
  • Tell a doctor beforehand about existing heart disease, raised blood pressure or an overactive thyroid, since rare heart rhythm changes can occur.

What formoterol is used for

It is used for long-term management of asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, usually within a combination regimen that keeps breathing steady through the day and night. In asthma it is not used on its own; it belongs with a long-term control medicine such as an inhaled corticosteroid. It does not treat an attack that is already under way.

How it works

Formoterol stimulates beta-2 receptors in the lungs. The smooth muscle of the bronchial tubes relaxes, the airways widen, and air meets less resistance on each breath. The effect lasts about 12 hours, which suits regular maintenance rather than rescue use.

Forms and combinations

The combination product is a Budesonide + Formoterol Inhaler, pairing formoterol with the corticosteroid budesonide at strengths of 100/6, 160/4.5, 200/6 and 400/6mcg, for asthma and COPD. It belongs with the other respiratory health medicines used for these conditions. Pharmacy partners in India ship to Malaysia in discreet packaging.

Safety

Using formoterol for asthma without a long-term control medicine such as an inhaled corticosteroid is contraindicated. Long-acting beta2-agonists raise the risk of asthma-related death. It should not be used where asthma is already controlled on a low or medium dose inhaled corticosteroid, and treatment should be stepped down once control is reached if that can be done without losing control. Controlled trials suggest these medicines increase asthma-related hospitalisation in children and adolescents. Throat irritation, headache and palpitations can occur, and heart rhythm changes are rare.

What the sources say

  • Formoterol is indicated for asthma and prevention of bronchospasm only as concomitant therapy with a long-term asthma control medicine such as an inhaled corticosteroid (DailyMed).
  • The boxed warning describes an increased risk of asthma-related death, a finding considered a class effect of long-acting beta2-agonists including formoterol (DailyMed).
  • After a single 120 mcg inhaled dose in 12 healthy subjects, the mean terminal elimination half-life was 10 hours (DailyMed).
  • Available data are inadequate to determine whether concurrent inhaled corticosteroids mitigate the increased risk of asthma-related death from a LABA (DailyMed).

Further reading

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