It is recommended that the dose is tapered when the treatment is discontinued; treatment should not be
stopped abruptly.
The management of asthma should normally follow a stepwise programme and patient response
should be monitored clinically and by lung function tests.
If patients find the treatment ineffective medical attention must be sought. Increasing use of rescue
bronchodilators indicates a worsening of the underlying condition and warrants a reassessment of the
asthma therapy. Sudden and progressive deterioration in control of asthma is potentially life-threatening
and the patient should undergo urgent medical assessment. Consideration should be given
to the need for increased treatment with corticosteroids, either inhaled or oral therapy, or antibiotic
treatment if an infection is suspected.
Patients should not be initiated on Innovair/Innovair Nexthaler during an exacerbation, or if they have
significantly worsening or acutely deteriorating asthma. Serious asthma-related adverse events and
exacerbations may occur during treatment with Innovair/Innovair Nexthaler. Patients should be asked to
continue treatment but to seek medical advice if asthma symptoms remain uncontrolled or worsen
after initiation on Innovair/Innovair Nexthaler.
As with other inhalation therapy paradoxical bronchospasm may occur with an immediate increase in
wheezing, cough and shortness of breath after dosing. This should be treated immediately with a fast-acting
inhaled bronchodilator. Innovair/Innovair Nexthaler should be discontinued immediately, the patient
assessed and alternative therapy instituted if necessary.
INNOVAIR/INNOVAIR NEXTHALER is not intended for the initial management of asthma.
For treatment of acute asthma attacks patients should be advised to have their short-acting
bronchodilator available at all times.
Patients should be reminded to take Innovair/Innovair Nexthaler daily as prescribed even when asymptomatic.
Once asthma symptoms are controlled, consideration may be given to gradually reducing the dose of Innovair/Innovair Nexthaler. Regular review of patients as treatment is stepped down is important. The lowest
effective dose of Innovair/Innovair Nexthaler should be used (see Dosage & Administration).
Systemic effects of inhaled corticosteroids may occur, particularly at high doses prescribed for
prolonged periods. These effects are much less likely to occur than with oral corticosteroids. Possible
systemic effects include Cushing's syndrome, Cushingoid features, adrenal suppression, growth
retardation in children and adolescents, decrease in bone mineral density, cataract, glaucoma, and
more rarely, a range of psychological or behavioural effects including psychomotor hyperactivity,
sleep disorders, anxiety, depression or aggression (particularly in children). It is important therefore
that the dose of inhaled corticosteroid is titrated to the lowest dose at which effective control of asthma
is maintained.
Prolonged treatment of patients with high doses of inhaled corticosteroids may result in adrenal
suppression and acute adrenal crisis. Children and adolescents aged less than 16 years inhaling higher
than recommended doses of beclometasone dipropionate may be at particular risk. Situations which
could potentially trigger acute adrenal crisis, include trauma, surgery, infection or any rapid reduction
in dosage. Presenting symptoms are typically vague and may include anorexia, abdominal pain, weight
loss, tiredness, headache, nausea, vomiting, hypotension, decreased level of consciousness,
hypoglycaemia, and seizures. Additional systemic corticosteroid cover should be considered during
periods of stress or elective surgery.
Patients transferring from oral to inhaled corticosteroids may remain at risk of impaired adrenal
reserve for a considerable time. Patients who have required high dose emergency corticosteroid
therapy in the past or have received prolonged treatment with high doses of inhaled corticosteroids
may also be at risk. This possibility of residual impairment should always be borne in mind in
emergency and elective situations likely to produce stress, and appropriate corticosteroid treatment
must be considered. The extent of the adrenal impairment may require specialist advice before elective
procedures.
Innovair/Innovair Nexthaler should be administered with caution in patients with active or quiescent pulmonary
tuberculosis, fungal and viral infections in the airways.
Innovair/Innovair Nexthaler should be used with caution (which may include monitoring) in patients with
cardiac arrhythmias, especially third degree atrioventricular block and tachyarrhythmias, idiopathic
subvalvular aortic stenosis, hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy, ischaemic heart disease, severe
heart failure, severe arterial hypertension and aneurysm.
Caution should also be observed when treating patients with known or suspected prolongation of the
QTc interval, either congenital or drug induced (QTc > 0.44 seconds). Formoterol itself may induce
prolongation of the QTc interval.
Caution is also required when Innovair/Innovair Nexthaler is used by patients with thyrotoxicosis, diabetes
mellitus, phaeochromocytoma and untreated hypokalaemia.
Potentially serious hypokalaemia may result from beta2-agonist therapy. Particular caution is advised
in severe asthma as this effect may be potentiated by hypoxia. Hypokalaemia may also be potentiated
by concomitant treatment with other drugs which can induce hypokalaemia, such as xanthine
derivatives, steroids and diuretics (see Interactions). Caution is also recommended in unstable asthma when a number of "rescue" bronchodilators may be used. It is recommended that serum potassium
levels are monitored in such situations.
The inhalation of formoterol may cause a rise in blood glucose levels. Therefore blood glucose should
be closely monitored in patients with diabetes.
If anaesthesia with halogenated anaesthetics is planned, it should be ensured that Innovair/Innovair Nexthaler is
not administered for at least 12 hours before the start of anaesthesia as there is a risk of cardiac
arrhythmias.
Patients should be advised to rinse the mouth or gargle with water or brush the teeth after inhaling the
prescribed dose to minimise the risk of oropharyngeal fungal infections and dysphonia.
Effects on ability to drive and use machines: Innovair/Innovair Nexthaler has no or negligible influence on the ability to drive and use machines.
Innovair: Patients should be advised that Innovair contains a small amount of ethanol (approximately 7 mg/actuation); however at normal doses the amount of ethanol is negligible and does not pose a risk to patients.
Innovair NEXThaler: Pneumonia in patients with COPD: An increase in the incidence of pneumonia, including pneumonia requiring hospitalisation, has been
observed in patients with COPD receiving inhaled corticosteroids. There is some evidence of an
increased risk of pneumonia with increasing steroid dose but this has not been demonstrated
conclusively across all studies.
There is no conclusive clinical evidence for intra-class differences in the magnitude of the pneumonia
risk among inhaled corticosteroid products.
Physicians should remain vigilant for the possible development of pneumonia in patients with COPD
as the clinical features of such infections overlap with the symptoms of COPD exacerbations.
Risk factors for pneumonia in patients with COPD include current smoking, older age, low body mass
index (BMI) and severe COPD.
Lactose contains small amounts of milk proteins, which may cause allergic reactions. Patient with rare
hereditary problems of galactose intolerance, total lactase deficiency or glucose-galactose
malabsorption should not take this medicine.
Visual disturbance: Visual disturbance may be reported with systemic and topical corticosteroid use. If a patient presents
with symptoms such as blurred vision or other visual disturbances, the patient should be considered for
referral to an ophthalmologist for evaluation of possible causes which may include cataract, glaucoma
or rare diseases such as central serious chorioretinopathy (CSCR) which have been reported after use
of systemic and topical corticosteroids.