Perforomist (formoterol) inhalation solution (capsule for inhalation) is a long-acting bronchodilator that relaxes muscles in the airways to improve breathing.
Perforomist is used for long-term, twice-daily (morning and evening) maintenance treatment of bronchoconstriction in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), including chronic bronchitis and emphysema.
Perforomist may also be used for other purposed not listed in this medication guide.
Important information
Do not use Perforomist to treat an asthma attack that has already begun. Formoterol may increase the risk of asthma-related death. Use only the prescribed dose of this medication, and do not use it for longer than your doctor recommends. Follow all patient instructions for safe use. Talk with your doctor about your individual risks and benefits of using Perforomist.
Asthma is often treated with a combination of different drugs. If you use Perforomist to treat asthma, you must use it together with another asthma control medication. Use all of your medications as directed by your doctor. Talk with your doctor if your medications do not seem to work as well in treating or preventing attacks. Do not change your doses or medication schedule without advice from your doctor.
Seek medical attention if you think any of your asthma medications are not working as well as usual. An increased need for medication could be an early sign of a serious asthma attack.
Before using Perforomist
You should not use Perforomist if you are allergic to formoterol. If you have asthma, Perforomist should not be your only asthma medication. You must use it together with at least one other asthma control medication.
To make sure you can safely use Perforomist, tell your doctor if you have any of these other conditions:
FDA pregnancy category C. It is not known whether Perforomist will harm an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant while using this medication. It is not known whether this medication passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing baby. Do not use Perforomist without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby. Perforomist should not be given to a child younger than 5 years old.
See also: Pregnancy and breastfeeding warnings (in more detail)
How should I use Perforomist?
Formoterol may increase the risk of asthma-related death. Use only the prescribed dose of Perforomist, and do not use it for longer than your doctor recommends. Follow all patient instructions for safe use. Talk with your doctor about your individual risks and benefits of using Perforomist. Do not use Perforomist to treat an asthma attack that has already begun. It will not work fast enough. Use only a fast-acting inhalation medication.
Asthma is often treated with a combination of different drugs. If you use Perforomist to treat asthma, you must use it together with another asthma control medication. Use all of your medications as directed by your doctor. Talk with your doctor if your medications do not seem to work as well in treating or preventing attacks. Do not change your doses or medication schedule without advice from your doctor.
Perforomist comes with patient instructions for safe and effective use. Follow these directions carefully. Ask your doctor or pharmacist if you have any questions.
Use Perforomist Inhalation Solution exactly as prescribed. One ready-to use vial of Perforomist Inhalation Solution is one dose. The usual dose of Perforomist Inhalation Solution is one ready-to-use vial, twice a day (morning and evening) breathed in through your nebulizer machine. The two doses should be about 12 hours apart. Do not use more than two vials of Perforomist Inhalation Solution a day.
Do not mix other medicines with Perforomist Inhalation Solution in your nebulizer machine.
If you miss a dose of Perforomist Inhalation Solution, just skip that dose. Take your next dose at your usual time. Do not take two doses at one time.
While you are using Perforomist Inhalation Solution twice a day:
Make sure you always have a short-acting beta2-agonist medicine with you. Use your short-acting beta 2-agonist medicine if you have breathing problems between doses of Perforomist Inhalation Solution. Do not change or stop any of your medicines to control or treat your breathing problems. Your healthcare provider will adjust your medicines as needed.
Use Perforomist regularly to get the most benefit. Get your prescription refilled before you run out of medicine completely.
Seek medical attention if you think any of your asthma medications are not working as well as usual. An increased need for medication could be an early sign of a serious asthma attack.
Store Perforomist at room temperature, away from moisture, light, and heat.
What happens if I miss a dose?
Use the medication as soon as you remember, then wait 12 hours before using the medication again. Skip the missed dose if it is almost time for your next scheduled dose. Do not use extra medicine to make up the missed dose.
What happens if I overdose?
Seek emergency medical attention or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222.
Overdose symptoms may include chest pain, nervousness, dry mouth, nausea, sleep problems (insomnia), tremors, chest pain, fast or irregular heartbeats, feeling weak or light-headed, fainting, or seizure (convulsions).
What should I avoid?
Do not use a second form of formoterol (such as Symbicort) or use a similar other long-acting inhaled bronchodilator such as salmeterol (Advair, Serevent) or arformoterol (Brovana) unless your doctor has told you to.
Perforomist side effects
Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction to Perforomist: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat. Call your doctor at once if you have any of these serious side effects:
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chest pain, fast or pounding heartbeats, tremors, headache, or restless feeling;
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seizure (convulsions);
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wheezing, choking, or other breathing problems after using this medication;
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increased thirst or hunger, urinating more than usual; or
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worsening asthma symptoms.
Less serious Perforomist side effects may include:
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dizziness, anxiety, headache;
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sleep problems (insomnia);
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back pain, muscle cramps;
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sore throat, dry mouth, cough, stuffy nose;
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skin rash, itching; or
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changes in your voice.
This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
See also: Side effects (in more detail)
What other drugs will affect Perforomist?
Before using Perforomist tell your doctor about all other medicines you use, especially:
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cisapride (Propulsid);
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droperidol (Inapsine);
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methadone (Methadose);
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pentamidine (NebuPent, Pentam);
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aminophylline (Phyllocontin, Truphylline) or theophylline (Elixophyllin, Theo-24, Theochron, Uniphyl);
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a diuretic (water pill);
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caffeine, diet pills, cold medicine, or a stimulant medication;
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an antibiotic such as azithromycin (Zithromax), clarithromycin (Biaxin), erythromycin (E.E.S., EryPed, Ery-Tab, Erythrocin, Pediazole), or telithromycin (Ketek);
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medicines to treat psychiatric disorder, such as pimozide (Orap), haloperidol (Haldol), or thioridazine (Mellaril);
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heart rhythm medicine such as amiodarone (Cordarone, Pacerone), dofetilide (Tikosyn), disopyramide (Norpace), dronedarone (Multaq), ibutilide (Corvert), procainamide (Procan, Pronestyl), propafenone (Rythmol), quinidine(Quin-G), or sotalol (Betapace);
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a beta-blocker such as atenolol (Tenormin, Tenoretic), carvedilol (Coreg), labetalol (Normodyne, Trandate), metoprolol (Dutoprol, Lopressor, Toprol), nadolol (Corgard), propranolol (Inderal, InnoPran), sotalol (Betapace), and others;
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an antidepressant such as amitriptyline (Elavil, Vanatrip, Limbitrol), doxepin (Sinequan, Silenor), nortriptyline (Pamelor), and others; or
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an MAO inhibitor such as furazolidone (Furoxone), isocarboxazid (Marplan), phenelzine (Nardil), rasagiline (Azilect), selegiline (Eldepryl, Emsam, Zelapar), or tranylcypromine (Parnate).
This list is not complete and other drugs may interact with Perforomist. Tell your doctor about all medications you use. This includes prescription, over-the-counter, vitamin, and herbal products. Do not start a new medication without telling your doctor.
