Helping Patients Use the FLEXHALER
If you are a health care professional affiliated with an employer, institution or committee, or practicing in a state that restricts what items you may receive from manufacturers, we ask that you not accept or download any restricted items from this site. If you are a health care provider practicing in Vermont, we are required by state law to deny you permission to download any items or review any journal articles made available on this site.
PULMICORT FLEXHALER comes in a convenient device
This video provides detailed instructions on how to use PULMICORT FLEXHALER. After viewing, you can share this information with your patients. You can also have patients practice using the inhaler while they’re in your office.
Adobe Flash® is required to access Helping Patients Use the FLEXHALER.Visit get.adobe.com/flashplayer.
You can also download complete, illustrated instructions to give to your patients.
These documents are in PDF (portable document format). PDF files require Adobe® Reader®; click here to download this free program.
Important points to communicate to your patients
You can also help encourage compliance by giving your patients a few simple instructions to remember when using and caring for the PULMICORT FLEXHALER.
- Patients must prime their device before using for the first time (see full Prescribing Information for detailed instructions)
- Only one dose is given at a time no matter how often the brown grip is clicked, but the dose indicator will continue to move (advance). This means if patients continue to move the brown grip, it is possible for the indicator to show fewer doses or zero doses even if more doses are left in their inhaler
- Patients should not shake the inhaler after loading it
- Even though patients may not sense the presence of the medication entering their lungs, they should not repeat inhalations
- Patients should not blow or exhale into the mouthpiece
- After taking a dose, patients should place the white cover back on the inhaler and twist it shut
- Patients should rinse their mouth with water (but not swallow) after each dose to decrease the risk of getting thrush
Review other asthma-related resources that you can share with your patients
IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT PULMICORT FLEXHALER
Important Safety Information
- PULMICORT FLEXHALER is not a bronchodilator and is NOT indicated for the relief of acute bronchospasm
- Particular care is needed for patients who are transferred from systemically active corticosteroids to PULMICORT FLEXHALER because deaths due to adrenal insufficiency have occurred in asthmatic patients during and after transfer from systemic corticosteroids to less systemically available inhaled corticosteroids
- Patients taking immunosuppressant doses of corticosteroids should avoid exposure to infections such as chicken pox and measles
- It is possible that systemic corticosteroid effects such as hypercorticism, reduced bone mineral density, and adrenal suppression may appear in a small number of patients, particularly at higher doses
- Inhaled corticosteroids may cause a reduction in growth velocity. The long-term effect on final adult height is unknown
- Rare instances of glaucoma, increased intraocular pressure, and cataracts have been reported following the inhaled administration of corticosteroids
- Hypersensitivity reactions, including anaphylaxis, have been reported with budesonide
- PULMICORT FLEXHALER contains small amounts of lactose, which contains trace levels of milk proteins. In patients who have severe milk protein allergy (not those who are lactose intolerant) cough, wheezing, or bronchospasm may occur
- Adverse reactions that occurred at a rate of ≥1% are: nasopharyngitis, nasal congestion, pharyngitis, allergic rhinitis, viral upper respiratory tract infection, nausea, viral gastroenteritis, otitis media, and oral candidiasis
Indication
- PULMICORT FLEXHALER is indicated for the maintenance treatment of asthma as prophylactic therapy in adult and pediatric patients 6 years of age or older
Please click here for full Prescribing Information for PULMICORT FLEXHALER.
PULMICORT FLEXHALER is a registered trademark of the AstraZeneca group of companies.
This product information is intended for US health care professionals only.
©2011 AstraZeneca. All rights reserved. 1093306 1/12
