Brovana
Generic Name:
Arformoterol tartrate inhalation solution
Brand Names:
Brovana
Brovana Description:
Arformoterol tartrate is used to treat chronic bronchitis, emphysema, and other symptoms of chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (COPD). COPD usually causes wheezing and bronchospasm. Brovana, an Arformoterol tartrate manufactured by Sepracor Inc., only provides preventive relief from COPD and is not effective when a COPD attack has already begun. Arformoterol tartrate is a type of long-acting beta-2-agonist (LABA) that works by relaxing the muscles around the airways. It widens narrow breathing passages to facilitate the normal flow of air and reduce symptoms of COPD such as wheezing, coughing, and shortness of breath.
Brovana Uses:
Brovana comes in the form of a solution and is used to treat symptoms of wheezing and coughing caused by COPD. The drug should only be used for inhalation through a jet nebulizer which is connected to an air compressor. The drug has been designed for long-term, continuous use to treat spasms in the airways and should not be used once a COPD attack has already started, since arformoterol tartrate is not effective in providing immediate relief from a COPD attack. It is important for COPD sufferers to have an albuterol inhaler on standby to get immediate relief from such attacks.
Brovana Interactions:
Use of Brovana with the following drugs may cause adverse reactions:
- Diuretics
- Long-acting beta agonists: Formoterol (Foradil, Perforomist); Salmeterol (Serevent, Advair)
- Theophylline (Uniphyl, Theocron, TheoCap, Theo-24, Elixophyllin), as these drugs may increase the risk of low potassium levels (hypokalemia)
- Tricyclic antidepressants: Amoxapine (Asendin); Clomipramine (Anafranil); Desipramine (Norpramin); Doxepin (Sinequan); Imipramine (Tofranil); Maprotiline (Ludiomil); Nortriptyline (Pamelor); Protriptyline (Vivactil); Trimipramine (Surmontil)
- Beta blockers for the treatment of high blood pressure, as these drugs work in opposite ways to Brovana: Atenolol (Tenormin); Bisoprolol (Zebeta); Carvedilol (Coreg); Labetalol (Trandate); Metoprolol (Lopressor, Toprol XL); Nadolol (Corgard); Propranolol (Inderal); Sotaolol (Betapace); Timolol (Blocadren)
- Corticosteroids, as these drugs may increase the risk of low potassium levels (hypokalemia): Betamethasone (Celestone); Cortisone; Dexamethasone; Fludrocortisone (Florinef); Hydrocortisone (Cortef); Methylprednisolone (Depo-Medrol, Medrol); Prednisolone (Ovapred, Pediapred); Prednisone; Triamcinolone (Kenalog, Aristospan)
- Diuretics, as these may increase the risk of low potassium levels (hypokalemia)
- QT-Prolonging drugs
- Monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs):Isocarboxazid (Marplan); Phenelzine (Nardil); Rasagiline (Azilect); Selegiline (Eldepryl, Emsam, Zelapar); Tranylcypromine (Parnate)
Brovana Dosage Information:
Typical Dosage Recommendation:
Arformoterol tartrate is available in the form of a 2 mL inhalation solution which consists of 15 mcg of arformoterol. Patients suffering from COPD are recommended a total dosage of 30 mcg per day, with one 15 mcg dose taken in the morning and one 15 mcg dose taken in the evening. The solution should be administered to the patient only through a jet nebulizer connected to an air compressor. The medicine should not be swallowed. While using the medicine through nebulizer, Brovana should not be mixed with any other drug.
Missing a Dose:
If a dose of Brovana is missed, the missed dose should be skipped and you should wait to resume your regular dosing schedule. Double doses should not be taken, as it may cause serious side effects.
Overdosing:
An overdose of Brovana can cause serious symptoms such as headache, tumor, angina, hyper- or hypotension, palpitations, fatigue, insomnia, nausea, and muscle cramps. In rare overdose cases, death may also occur. Patients suffering from an over dosage of Brovana should be kept under cardiac observation. In some cases, the careful use of a beta receptor blocker can be considered. However, it has to be kept in mind that the beta blocker can cause bronchospasm. There have been no studies to establish the efficiency of dialysis to clear Brovana.
Brovana FDA Approval:
October 6, 2006
Brovana Recall/Black Box Warning Information:
It has been found that the class of drugs to which Brovana belongs (beta-2 adrenergic agonists) can cause asthma-related deaths when used for an extended period of time.
In 2008, the FDA released a statement asking the manufacturers of bronchodilator medicines to include additional information on their labels regarding the risk of worsening bronchospasms or wheezing when the drug is used for a long period of time. Further studies are being done to clearly establish the safety of beta-2 adrenergic agonists in children with asthma.
It is important to keep in mind the fact that Brovana should not be used to provide rescue therapy for patients suffering from a bout of COPD in a life-threatening situation. It should only be administered for long-term treatment as a maintenance therapy for patients suffering from COPD.
Brovana is not recommended for use in children, as the efficiency of the drug in children has not been clearly established.
Brovana should not be used along with other long term beta-2 adrenergic agonists or any other medications containing beta-2 adrenergic agonists. If patients are found taking any other beta-2 adrenergic agonists they should be asked to discontinue other medications before starting treatment with Brovana.
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July 30, 2010, 2:23 pm
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July 30, 2010, 2:13 pm
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July 29, 2010, 12:33 pm
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July 28, 2010, 3:58 pm
