FORADIL CAPSULE FOR INHALATION 12mcg/CAPSULE

Product Information

Registration Status: Active

FORADIL CAPSULE FOR INHALATION 12mcg/CAPSULE is approved to be sold in Singapore with effective from 1996-05-02. It is marketed by NOVARTIS (SINGAPORE) PTE LTD, with the registration number of SIN08546P.

This product contains Formoterol 12mcg/capsule in the form of POWDER, METERED. It is approved for RESPIRATORY (INHALATION) use.

This product is manufactured by Novartis Pharma Stein AG in SWITZERLAND, andNovartis Farmaceutica SA (pri & sec packaging) in SPAIN.

It is a Prescription Only Medicine that can only be obtained from a doctor or a dentist, or a pharmacist with a prescription from a Singapore-registered doctor or dentist.

Formoterol

Description

Formoterol is a long-acting (12 hours) beta2-agonist used in the management of asthma and/or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Inhaled formoterol works like other beta2-agonists, causing bronchodilatation through relaxation of the smooth muscle in the airway so as to treat the exacerbation of asthma.

Indication

For use as long-term maintenance treatment of asthma in patients 6 years of age and older with reversible obstructive airways disease, including patients with symptoms of nocturnal asthma, who are using optimal corticosteroid treatment and experiencing regular or frequent breakthrough symptoms requiring use of a short-acting bronchodilator. Not indicated for asthma that can be successfully managed with occasional use of an inhaled, short-acting beta2-adrenergic agonist. Also used for the prevention of exercise-induced bronchospasm, as well as long-term treatment of bronchospasm associated with COPD.

Mechanism of Action

The pharmacologic effects of beta2-adrenoceptor agonist drugs, including formoterol, are at least in part attributable to stimulation of intracellular adenyl cyclase, the enzyme that catalyzes the conversion of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) to cyclic-3', 5'-adenosine monophosphate (cyclic AMP). Increased cyclic AMP levels cause relaxation of bronchial smooth muscle and inhibits the release of pro-inflammatory mast-cell mediators such as histamine and leukotrienes. Formoterol also inhibits histamine-induced plasma albumin extravasation in anesthetized guinea pigs and inhibits allergen-induced eosinophil influx in dogs with airway hyper-responsiveness. The relevance of these in vitro and animal findings to humans is unknown.

Pharmacokinetics

Absorption
Rapidly absorbed into plasma following administration by oral inhalation. It is likely that the majority of the inhaled formoterol delivered is swallowed and then absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract.
Distribution
Metabolism
Metabolized primarily by direct glucuronidation at either the phenolic or aliphatic hydroxyl group and O-demethylation followed by glucuronide conjugation at either phenolic hydroxyl groups. Minor pathways involve sulfate conjugation of formoterol and deformylation followed by sulfate conjugation. The most prominent pathway involves direct conjugation at the phenolic hydroxyl group. The second major pathway involves O-demethylation followed by conjugation at the phenolic 2'-hydroxyl group. Four cytochrome P450 isozymes (CYP2D6, CYP2C19, CYP2C9 and CYP2A6) are involved in the O-demethylation of formoterol.
Elimination

Clearance

* Renal cl=150 mL/min [Healty subjects receiving oral administration of 80 mcg]

Toxicity

An overdosage is likely to lead to effects that are typical of ß2-adrenergic stimulants: nausea, vomiting, headache, tremor, somnolence, palpitations, tachycardia, ventricular arrhythmias, metabolic acidosis, hypokalemia, hyperglycemia.

Active Ingredient/Synonyms

2'-Hydroxy-5'-(1-hydroxy-2-((P-methoxy-alpha-methylphenethyl)amino)ethyl)formanilide | 2'-Hydroxy-5'-{1-hydroxy-2-[(P-methoxy-alpha-methylphenethyl)amino]ethyl}formanilide | Formoterolum | N-[2-Hydroxy-5-(1-hydroxy-2-{[2-(4-methoxyphenyl)-1-methylethyl]amino}ethyl)phenyl]formamide | Formoterol |


Source of information: Drugbank (External Link). Last updated on: 3rd July 18. *Trade Name used in the content below may not be the same as the HSA-registered product.

References

  1. Health Science Authority of Singapore - Reclassified POM
  2. Drugbank