III. Precautions

  1. See Long-Acting Beta Agonist
  2. Use in combination with CorticosteroidInhaler in Asthma

IV. Dosing

  1. See Single Maintenance and Reliever Therapy (SMART)
  2. Formoterol (Foradil)
    1. Rapid onset within 5 minutes (contrast 15-30 minutes for other LABAs)
    2. COPD, Moderate to Severe Persistent Asthma (age >=5 years)
      1. One inhalation every 12 hours
    3. Exercise Induced Asthma (age >=12 years)
      1. One puff 15 minutes before Exercise
    4. COPD Nebulized (Perforomist)
      1. Nebulize 20 mcg in 2 ml vial every 12 hours

V. Dosing: Formoterol with Inhaled Corticosteroid (ICS, for Asthma, COPD)

  1. Symbicort (Budesonide/Formoterol: 80/4.5, 160/4.5)
    1. One puff twice daily
  2. Dulera (Mometasone/Formoterol: 50/5, 100/5, 200/5)
    1. Two puffs twice daily

VI. Dosing: Formoterol with inhaled Long Acting Muscarinic Antagonist (LAMA, for COPD)

  1. Duaklir Pressair (Aclidinium/Formoterol)
    1. One puff twice daily
  2. Bevespi Aerosphere (Glycopyrrolate/Formoterol)
    1. One puff twice daily

VII. Dosing: Formoterol with inhaled LAMA and ICS (COPD)

  1. Breztri Aerosphere (Budesonide/Glycopyrrolate/Formoterol)
    1. One puff twice daily

VIII. Pharmacokinetics: Formoterol

  1. Onset <5 minutes
  2. Duration >4 hours

IX. Safety

  1. Pregnancy Category C
  2. Unknown safety in Lactation

XI. References

  1. (2022) Comparison of Asthma Medications, Presc Lett, #381217
  2. (2022) Inhaled Medications for COPD, Presc Lett, #381116
  3. (2020) Drugs for COPD, Med Lett Drug Ther 62: 137-44
  4. (2020) Drugs for Asthma, Med Lett Drug Ther 62: 193-200
  5. (2013) Presc Lett, 20(8): 43
  6. (2001) Med Clin North Am 43(1104):39-40 [PubMed]
  7. Wilson (2001) Chest 119:2021-6 [PubMed]

Images: Related links to external sites (from Bing)

Related Studies

Cost: Medications

formoterol (on 12/21/2022 at Medicaid.Gov Survey of pharmacy drug pricing)
FORMOTEROL 20 MCG/2 ML NEB VL Generic $5.08 per ml
symbicort (on 1/1/2022 at Medicaid.Gov Survey of pharmacy drug pricing)
SYMBICORT 160-4.5 MCG INHALER Generic $22.80 per gram
SYMBICORT 80-4.5 MCG INHALER Generic $19.81 per gram
dulera (on 1/14/2022 at Medicaid.Gov Survey of pharmacy drug pricing)
DULERA 100 MCG-5 MCG INHALER $24.20 per gram
DULERA 200 MCG-5 MCG INHALER $24.12 per gram
DULERA 50 MCG-5 MCG INHALER $24.16 per gram
perforomist (on 8/17/2022 at Medicaid.Gov Survey of pharmacy drug pricing)
PERFOROMIST 20 MCG/2 ML SOLN Generic $5.08 per ml
bevespi aerosphere (on 1/1/2022 at Medicaid.Gov Survey of pharmacy drug pricing)
BEVESPI AEROSPHERE INHALER $36.52 per gram

Ontology: formoterol (C0060657)

Definition (NCI) A long-acting beta-adrenergic receptor agonist with bronchodilator activity. Formoterol selectively binds to beta-2 adrenergic receptors in bronchial smooth muscle, thereby activating intracellular adenyl cyclase, an enzyme that catalyzes the conversion of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) to cyclic-3',5'-adenosine monophosphate (cAMP). Increased cAMP levels cause relaxation of bronchial smooth muscle, relieve bronchospasms, improve mucociliary clearance and reduce mediator substance release from inflammatory cells, especially from mast cells.
Concepts Pharmacologic Substance (T121) , Organic Chemical (T109)
MSH C012629
SnomedCT 320260000, 395969001, 386171009, 414289007
English N-(2-hydroxy-5-(1-hydroxy-2-((2-(4-methoxyphenyl)-1-methylethyl)amino)ethyl)phenyl)formamide, (E)-2-butenedioate (2:1) (salt), eformoterol, formoterol [Chemical/Ingredient], Eformoterol (product), Eformoterol (substance), FORMOTEROL, Formoterol (product), Formoterol, Eformoterol, Formoterol (substance), formoterol
Spanish eformoterol, eformoterol (producto), eformoterol (sustancia), formoterol (producto), formoterol, formoterol (sustancia)

Ontology: Foradil (C0592533)

Concepts Pharmacologic Substance (T121) , Organic Chemical (T109)
MSH C012629
English Foradil, Schering brand of formoterol fumarate, foradil