How Effective is Dulera Inhaler & What are its Side Effects?

Formoterol which is one of the main components of Dulera inhaler can increase the risk of asthma attacks and deaths related to the same. Only the prescribed amount and dosage should be given to the patient. The patient instructions need to be followed hence. Only after consulting a doctor and learning about the risks of using a dulera inhaler, the patient should choose to use it.

The contents within a dulera inhaler are formed with a combination of formoterol and mometasone. The long-acting bronchodilator (dulera inhaler) which helps to relax muscles in the air passage and therefore makes breathing smooth and easy is formoterol. Another is a steroid. The steroid, mometasone prevents the release of chemicals in the body which leads to inflammation.

The primary reason of using dulera inhaler is to maintain the treatment for asthma in adults and in children of 12 years or above. But it cannot be used to treat a bronchospasm attack. It also has other uses which are not mentioned in the medical guide.

Dulera inhaler will not work fast enough to treat an asthma attack. Use only a fast acting inhalation medicine for an asthma attack. Tell your doctor if it seems like your asthma medications don’t work as well.

Dulera inhaler does not show immediate reactions after taking in to treat an asthma attack. In case you need immediate relief, take a different inhalation medicine. If your medicine is not working well, consult your doctor.

You need to know if the dulera inhaler is safe for you, hence update your doctor about the illnesses you are having like:

• Any kind of active infection.
• Heart disease
• Liver problems.
• Mineral density of your bone is low
• Cataracts and glaucoma.
• Seizure and epilepsy.
• Diabetes
• Tumor in the adrenal gland or pheochromocytoma
• Thyroid disorder
• Damaged and weak blood vessels that could cause excessive bleeding when torn, also known as aneurysm.

There is no information about dulera inhaler being safe or harmful to your unborn baby. It is better to inform the doctor that you are pregnant or planning for pregnancy while you are on this medication. A child who is below 12 years old shouldn’t be given this inhaler if not prescribed by a doctor. If you are breast-feeding your baby, then ask the doctor if it is safe to use Dulera inhaler since there is no proper knowledge regarding formoterol or mometasone getting mixed with the breast milk. Mometasone is known to affect growth of children. Consult a doctor immediately if you notice abnormal growth rate in your child while he or she is using Dulera inhaler.

Using steroids like dulera inhaler for a long time weakens the bone and leads to the loss or bones causing osteoporosis. This effect gets stronger if you have a habit of smoking, if you do not exercise, if you get less vitamin D and calcium based food or if you have a family history of osteoporosis. Therefore before using Dulera inhaler, always consult your doctor regarding this risk too.

Starting dose for formoterol-mometasone is prescribed according to the prior asthma therapy.

• If you have undergone a previous therapy of medium inhaled dose of corticosteroids, take in 5mcg-100 mcg for 2 times a day (maximum dose daily is recommended to be 20-400 mcg).
• If you have undergone a previous therapy of high inhaled dose of corticosteroids, take in 5-200 mcg in two inhalations daily (Maximum dose daily is recommended to be 20-800 mcg).
• By inhaling once during the day, and once during the night, formoterol-mometasone should be taken twice daily by an oral method after the dulera inhaler is shaken well.

The dosage for starting a formoterol-mometasone treatment depends on prior asthma therapy. For patients who are 12 years or more:

• If you have undergone a previous therapy of medium corticosteroids, take in 5mcg-100 mcg for 2 times a day (maximum dose daily being 20-400 mcg).
• If you have undergone a previous therapy of high corticosteroids, take in 5-200 mcg in two inhalations daily (Maximum dose daily being 20-800 mcg).
• By an orally inhaled route, two inhalations daily (morning and night) is the administered way to take in formoterol-mometasone. Before inhaling, the dulera inhaler should be shaken well.

A second kind of formoterol like frail, perforomist or symbicot should not be used. Do not use a similar kind of bronchodilator simultaneously. Avoid using LABA like salmeterol, advair, serevent or brovana (arformoterol).

One should not be near patients who are sick with infections. The doctor should be called to gain preventive treatment for chicken pox and measles. Any of these diseases can prove to be fatal for the patient using dulera inhaler.

If you see any of the listed side effects (that are mentioned below) occurring in a patient, immediately call for emergency help. The usual allergic side effects that a patient using dulera inhaler may develop are:

• Having difficulty in breathing
• Swelling of the face, tongue, throat and lips
• Growing rashes or hives on the body.

The other possible side effects of using dulera inhaler are:

• Growth of white patches or sores in the inner wall of mouth and throat.
• Developing breathing problems like wheezing or chocking after inhaling from the Dulera inhaler.
• The body fat may get deposited in places where there was less fat like around your arms, legs, breast, waist and neck or noticeable change in the body shape.
• Low levels of potassium leading to confusion, increase in heartbeats or uneven heart rate, extreme thirst, increased urination, discomfort in legs, limping, weakness in muscles.
• Pain in the chest, pounding heartbeat, restlessness, development of seizure.
• Blurry vision, pain in the eye, noticing halos around lights are also side effects of dulera inhaler.
• High blood sugar level leading to increased thirst, hunger, drowsiness, dry skin, blurry vision, loss of weight, and fruity breath odor.
• Asthma symptoms worsening.
• Runny nose, stuffy nose and sinus pain.
• Cough and throat pain.
• Symptoms of flu and headache.

If you are on any other medication then you should inform your doctor about it. While you are using dulera inhaler, remember to cut yourself off from all other kinds of medicines. The few kinds of medicines that are to be avoided during the term of using dulera inhaler are:

• Nefazodone.
• Antibiotics like Clarithmycin and Telithromycin.
• Itraconazole, Posaconazole and Voriconazole which are used as antifungal infection.
• Medications for heart diseases like nicardipine, quinidine
• Medications which acts as antivirus in the body to treat illnesses like hepatitis C or HIV/AIDS like atazanavir, cobicistat, fosamprenavir, boceprevir, nelfinavir, delavirdine, saquinavir and ritonavir.