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|Azmacort Aerosol

Azmacort Aerosol

Azmacort Aerosol is used for:

Preventing or reducing the frequency and severity of bronchial asthma attacks. It will not stop an asthma attack once it has started. It may also be used for other conditions as determined by your doctor.

Azmacort Aerosol is a corticosteroid. It works by decreasing the irritation and swelling of the airways of the lung. This helps to control or prevent asthma symptoms.

Do NOT use Azmacort Aerosol if:

• you are allergic to any ingredient in Azmacort Aerosol
• you are currently taking mifepristone
• you are having an asthma attack

Contact your doctor or health care provider right away if any of these apply to you.

Before using Azmacort Aerosol:

Some medical conditions may interact with this medicine. Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you have any medical conditions, especially if any of the following apply to you:

• if you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding
• if you are taking any prescription or nonprescription medicine, herbal preparation, or dietary supplement
• if you have allergies to medicines, foods, or other substances
• if you have or have been recently exposed to a bacterial, fungal, parasitic, or viral infection, especially measles, chickenpox, tuberculosis (TB), or herpes simplex of the eye
• if you have been recently vaccinated with a live or inactivated vaccine, or have had a positive TB skin test
• if you are having an attack of bronchospasm (tightening of the airway, difficulty breathing), or have diarrhea

Some MEDICINES MAY INTERACT with Azmacort Aerosol. Tell your health care provider if you are taking any other medicines, especially any of the following:

• Barbiturates (eg, phenobarbital), carbamazepine, fluconazole, hydantoins (eg, phenytoin), lithium, rifampin, or thioamines (eg, propylthiouracil) because they may decrease Azmacort Aerosol"s effectiveness
• Clarithromycin, itraconazole, oral contraceptives (birth control pills), or midazolam because the risk of side effects, such as nervous system or adrenal gland problems, may be increased
• Anticholinesterases (eg, pyridostigmine), anticoagulants (eg, warfarin), mifepristone, nondepolarizing muscle relaxants (eg, vecuronium), ritodrine, sympathomimetics (eg, albuterol, amphetamine, pseudoephedrine), or live vaccines because the risk of their side effects may be increased by Azmacort Aerosol
• Anticholinesterases (eg, pyridostigmine), anticoagulants (eg, warfarin), interleukin-2, or nondepolarizing muscle relaxants (eg, vecuronium) because their effectiveness may be decreased by Azmacort Aerosol

This may not be a complete list of all interactions that may occur. Ask your health care provider if Azmacort Aerosol may interact with other medicines that you take. Check with your health care provider before you start, stop, or change the dose of any medicine.

How to use Azmacort Aerosol:

Use Azmacort Aerosol as directed by your doctor. Check the label on the medicine for exact dosing instructions.

• An extra patient leaflet is available with Azmacort Aerosol. Talk to your pharmacist if you have questions about this information.
• Before using Azmacort Aerosol, be sure that the canister is properly placed in the inhaler unit. Shake well. Breathe out slowly and completely. Place the mouthpiece between your lips and try to rest your tongue flat, unless your doctor has told you otherwise. Your doctor may have told you to hold the inhaler 1 or 2 inches (2 or 3 centimeters) away from the open mouth or to use a special spacing device. As you start to take a slow deep breath, press the canister and mouthpiece together at exactly the same time. This will release a dose of Azmacort Aerosol. Continue breathing in slowly and deeply and hold for as long as comfortable, then breathe out slowly through pursed lips or your nose. If more than 1 inhalation is to be used, wait a few minutes and repeat the above steps. Keep the spray away from your eyes.
• Rinse your mouth or gargle with water after using Azmacort Aerosol to prevent mouth sores or bad taste.
• Each time a new inhaler is used, turn the canister away from the face and press down into the mouthpiece to release test sprays into the air. This process is called priming and will allow you to be sure the inhaler is working properly and will provide a full dose of medicine.
• Keep track of the number of sprays you use and subtract this number from the number of doses in the container. This will help you know when the container is becoming empty.
• If you miss a dose of Azmacort Aerosol, use it as soon as possible. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not use 2 doses at once.

Ask your health care provider any questions you may have about how to use Azmacort Aerosol.

Important safety information:

• Azmacort Aerosol will not stop an asthma attack once it has started
• If you are also using a bronchodilator inhaler, be sure to always carry the inhaler with you to use during asthma attacks.
• After you begin using Azmacort Aerosol, a few weeks may pass before the full benefit is obtained. Continue to use it as directed during this time.
• Use caution if you switch from an oral steroid (eg, prednisone) to Azmacort Aerosol. It may take several months for your body to make enough natural steroids to handle events that cause physical stress. Such events may include injury, surgery, infection, loss of blood electrolytes, or a sudden asthma attack. These may be severe and sometimes fatal. Contact your doctor right away if any of these events occur. You may need to take an oral steroid (eg, prednisone) again. Carry a card at all times that says you may need an oral steroid (eg, prednisone) if any of these events occur.
• Tell your doctor or dentist that you take Azmacort Aerosol before you receive any medical or dental care, emergency care, or surgery.
• If you have not had chickenpox, shingles, or measles, avoid contact with anyone who does.
• Corticosteroids may affect growth rate in CHILDREN and teenagers in some cases. They may need regular growth checks while they use Azmacort Aerosol.
• Use Azmacort Aerosol with extreme caution in CHILDREN. Azmacort Aerosol should not be used in CHILDREN younger than 6 years old; safety and effectiveness in these children have not been confirmed.
• PREGNANCY and BREAST-FEEDING: If you become pregnant, contact your doctor. You will need to discuss the benefits and risks of using Azmacort Aerosol while you are pregnant. It is not known if Azmacort Aerosol is found in breast milk. If you are or will be breast-feeding while you use Azmacort Aerosol, check with your doctor. Discuss any possible risks to your baby.

You may experience WITHDRAWAL when switching from an oral steroid medicine to an inhaled one. Contact your health care provider at once if the following symptoms occur: muscle and joint pain, exhaustion, depression.

Possible side effects of Azmacort Aerosol:

All medicines may cause side effects, but many people have no, or minor, side effects. Check with your doctor if any of these most COMMON side effects persist or become bothersome:

Back pain; dry mouth; flu-like symptoms; headache, hoarseness; irritated or sore throat; sinus inflammation.

Severe allergic reactions (rash; hives; itching; difficulty breathing; tightness in the chest; swelling of the mouth, face, lips, or tongue); chest congestion; depression; exhaustion; fainting; muscle and joint pain; severe dizziness; sudden weight loss; unusual weakness; white, curd-like patches in mouth.

This is not a complete list of all side effects that may occur. If you have questions or need medical advice about side effects, contact your doctor or health care provider. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 (1-800-332-1088) or at http://www.fda.gov/medwatch.

If OVERDOSE is suspected:

Contact 1-800-222-1222 (the American Association of Poison Control Centers), your local poison control center (http://www.aapcc.org/findyour.htm), or emergency room immediately.

Store Azmacort Aerosol at room temperature, between 68 and 77 degrees F (20 and 25 degrees C). Store away from heat, moisture, and light. Do not store in the bathroom. Store away from heat and direct sunlight. Do not puncture, break, or burn the canister even if it appears to be empty. Keep Azmacort Aerosol out of the reach of children and away from pets.

General information:

• If you have any questions about Azmacort Aerosol, please talk with your doctor, pharmacist, or other health care provider.
• Azmacort Aerosol is to be used only by the patient for whom it is prescribed. Do not share it with other people.
• If your symptoms do not improve or if they become worse, check with your doctor.

This information is a summary only. It does not contain all information about Azmacort Aerosol. If you have questions about the medicine you are taking or would like more information, check with your doctor, pharmacist, or other health care provider.