Asthma/COPD:
Indications for: PULMICORT FLEXHALER
Maintenance treatment of asthma as prophylactic therapy. Asthma requiring systemic corticosteroid therapy, to reduce need for systemic corticosteroids.
Adult Dosage:
≥18yrs: Initially 360mcg twice daily; may consider starting at 180mcg twice daily, if appropriate. Max 720mcg twice daily. Rinse mouth after use.
Children Dosage:
<6yrs: not established. ≥6yrs: Initially 180mcg twice daily; may consider starting at 360mcg twice daily, if appropriate. Max 360mcg twice daily. Rinse mouth after use.
PULMICORT FLEXHALER Contraindications:
Not for primary treatment of acute attack.
PULMICORT FLEXHALER Warnings/Precautions:
Maintain regular regimen. Infections. If exposed to chickenpox or measles, consider antiinfective prophylactic therapy. Adrenal insufficiency may occur when transferring patients from systemic corticosteroids to inhaled corticosteroids: see full labeling. Monitor for growth suppression in children. Post-op or during stress: monitor adrenal response. Monitor for hypercorticism and HPA axis suppression (if occur discontinue gradually). Transferring from oral corticosteroids: see full labeling. Pregnancy. Nursing mothers.
See Also:
PULMICORT FLEXHALER Classification:
Steroid.
PULMICORT FLEXHALER Interactions:
Caution with CYP3A4 inhibitors (eg, ketoconazole, itraconazole, atazanavir, ritonavir, indinavir, nefazodone, nelfinavir, saquinavir, clarithromycin, telithromycin).
Adverse Reactions:
Pulmicort Flexhaler: nasopharyngitis, nasal congestion, pharyngitis, allergic rhinitis, viral upper respiratory tract infection, oral candidiasis, viral gastroenteritis, nausea, otitis media, bronchospasm (rare). Pulmicort Respules: Respiratory or other infection, GI upset, moniliasis, fatigue, cough, dysphonia, rash, epistaxis, hypersensitivity reactions (discontinue if occurs).
Generic Drug Availability:
Flexhaler (NO); Respules (YES)
How Supplied:
Flexhaler (90mcg/dose)—1 (60 inh); Flexhaler (180mcg/dose)—1 (120 inh); Respules—30
