Asthma/COPD:

Indications for: PULMICORT RESPULES

Maintenance treatment of asthma and as prophylactic therapy.

Adult Dosage:

Use Flexhaler.

Children Dosage:

Use jet nebulizer; do not mix with other drugs. 6–12months: not established (see full labeling). 12months–8yrs: Previously on bronchodilators alone: 0.5mg/day once daily or in 2 divided doses (if symptomatic and unresponsive to nonsteroidal therapy, may start at 0.25mg once daily). Previously on inhaled corticosteroids: 0.5mg/day once daily or in 2 divided doses; max 1mg/day. Previously on oral corticosteroids: 1mg/day once daily or in 2 divided doses. Rinse mouth and face (if face mask used) after use.

PULMICORT RESPULES Contraindications:

Not for primary treatment of acute attack.

PULMICORT RESPULES 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 literature. Pregnancy. Nursing mothers.

See Also:

PULMICORT RESPULES Classification:

Steroid.

PULMICORT RESPULES 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