FDA Logo links to FDA home page
Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, U.S. Food and Drug AdministrationU.S. Food and Drug AdministrationCenter for Drug Evaluation and Research
  HHS Logo links to Department of Health and Human Services website

FDA Home Page | CDER Home Page | CDER Site Info | Contact CDER | What's New @ CDER

CDER Home About CDER Drug Information Regulatory Guidance CDER Calendar Specific Audiences CDER Archives
 
Powered by Google
 

FDA Drug Safety Podcasts
Important Information on the Correct Use of Spiriva and Foradil Capsules
Overview


Listen to this podcast

Transcript
Run Time -- 00:02:49

Welcome to the Food and Drug Administration's drug safety update.

I am Pat Clarke from F-D-A's Center for Drug Evaluation and Research.

On February 29, 2008 we issued a public health advisory titled: Important Information on the Correct Use of Spiriva and Foradil Capsules.

FDA is issuing this public health advisory to highlight the correct use of Spiriva, tiotropium bromide inhalation powder and Foradil, formoterol fumarate inhalation powder capsules. Spiriva capsules are to be used in the HandiHaler device and Foradil capsules in the Aerolizer device. These devices deliver the medicine to the lungs to improve breathing in patients with asthma, and in individuals affected by chronic obstructive lung disease and bronchitis. The medication in the Spiriva or Foradil capsules is specifically designed to be inhaled through inhalation devices. Both Spiriva and Foradil will NOT treat a patient's breathing condition if the contents of a capsule are swallowed rather than inhaled.

FDA is highlighting for patients the following information on the correct use of Spiriva and Foradil capsules:

  • Do not swallow the Spiriva or Foradil capsules.

  • The contents of Spiriva and Foradil capsules are only to be inhaled using their respective inhalation devices. Remove the capsule from the blister package and place the intact capsule into the inhalation device prior to inhalation.

  • Follow the instructions contained in the patient information leaflet provided with your prescription explaining how to use the Spiriva Handihaler or Foradil Aerolizer.

Doctors, nurses, and pharmacists should discuss with patients how to correctly use the Spiriva HandiHaler or Foradil Aerolizer. If a patient who is prescribed Spiriva or Foradil does not experience breathing improvement, the health care provider should ask the patient if he or she is swallowing the medicine rather than inhaling it.

To hear the full public health advisory, listen to part two of this broadcast.

We urge healthcare providers and patients to report serious side effects that may be associated with the use of Spiriva or Foradil capsules to us at the FDA's MedWatch adverse event reporting program by phone at 1-800-F-D-A-ten-88 of by the Internet at F-D-A dot GOV slash M-E-D-W-A-T-C-H.


Additional Information

 

Back to Top     Back to FDA Drug Safety Podcasts

PDF requires the free Adobe Acrobat Reader

Date created: March 3, 2008