Arformoterol

Introduction

Written by Sarah Lewis, PharmD
Medically reviewed by Victor Nguyen, PharmD, MBA
Updated on September 27, 2023

Arformoterol (ar for MOE ter ol) is a generic medication prescribed for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). COPD is a lung disease that includes chronic bronchitis and emphysema. Arformoterol belongs to a group of drugs called long-acting beta-agonists (LABAs).

Common questions about arformoterol

Below you’ll find answers to a few commonly asked questions about arformoterol.

What brand names are available for arformoterol?

Arformoterol is available as the brand-name drug Brovana. Arformoterol inhalation solution is the generic version of this product.

A generic medication is an identical copy of the active drug in a brand-name medication. (An active drug is the ingredient that makes a medication work.) Generic drugs are believed to be as effective and safe as brand-name drugs. And generic drugs typically cost less compared to brand-name drugs.

To find out more about this, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

How does arformoterol work? And how long does it take to start working?

Arformoterol works by relaxing the airways in the lungs. This opens them and makes it easier to breathe.

Arformoterol will start working to relax airways in about 20 minutes. It can take up to 3 hours to feel its full effect. Because of this, you should not use arformoterol as a quick-relief medication. It’s a maintenance medication instead. (You can read more about this under the “Uses” section below.)

If you’d like to know more about this, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Is it safe to use arformoterol with budesonide?

Yes, for people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), it’s safe to use arformoterol with budesonide. Budesonide is a corticosteroid drug. It reduces swelling and inflammation in the airways. If doctors prescribe a corticosteroid for COPD, they’ll combine it with another drug, such as arformoterol.

Talk with your doctor or pharmacist to learn more about using these two drugs together.

Side effects of arformoterol

Arformoterol may cause mild or serious side effects. More common mild side effects of arformoterol and its serious side effects are listed below. This article doesn’t include all possible side effects of the drug. Side effects can vary based on your age, overall health, and any other medications you take.

To learn more about arformoterol’s side effects, ask your doctor or pharmacist. You can also refer to the prescribing information for arformoterol listed in the “Resources” section.

Mild side effects

More common mild side effects reported with arformoterol are listed below.

This article doesn’t include all possible mild side effects of the drug. To learn more about arformoterol’s side effects, refer to the prescribing information for arformoterol listed in the “Resources” section.

With many drugs, mild side effects may go away within a few days or a couple of weeks. If the side effects are bothersome, tell your doctor or pharmacist. They may be able to suggest ways to manage them.

Arformoterol inhalation solution’s mild side effects include:

• diarrhea
• sinusitis (sinus infection)
• nervousness or shakiness
• mild allergic reaction*

* For details about this side effect, see the “Interactions and warnings for arformoterol” section.

Serious side effects

Serious side effects of arformoterol are listed below.

This article doesn’t include all possible serious side effects of the drug. To learn more about arformoterol’s side effects, refer to the prescribing information for arformoterol listed in the “Resources” section.

With many drugs, serious side effects are possible but not common. If you have serious side effects from this drug, call your doctor right away. If you’re having severe symptoms or a medical emergency, call 911 or a local emergency number.

In general, arformoterol’s serious side effects include:

• blood pressure changes
• chest pain
• fast heartbeat or feeling that heart is “pounding” in your chest
• heart rhythm problems
• high blood sugar levels
• increased breathing problems
• low potassium levels
• metabolic acidosis (buildup of acid in the blood)
• severe allergic reaction*

* For details about this side effect, see the “Interactions and warnings for arformoterol” section.

Uses of arformoterol

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves prescription drugs such as arformoterol for certain conditions. Approved uses for arformoterol are described below.

Use for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Doctors may prescribe arformoterol inhalation solution for treating chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). COPD is a lung disease that includes chronic bronchitis and emphysema. It’s used for this purpose in adults. It’s usually prescribed as a long-term treatment.

With COPD, it’s hard to move air in and out of the lungs. This is because there’s damage in the lungs, along with irritation and inflammation. There may also be a buildup of thick mucus. COPD is chronic, which means it’s a long-term disease. It’s also a progressive disease that gets worse over time.

Arformoterol can help make it easier to breathe when you have COPD. It’s a maintenance medication, meaning you use it every day to manage COPD. Doctors may also prescribe a rescue inhaler for people with COPD. Rescue inhalers will help relieve symptoms that occur suddenly.

Arformoterol can be prescribed together with other medications to treat COPD.

Doctors may not prescribe arformoterol inhalation solution in certain situations, such as when people have sudden worsening of COPD. This medication is also not used to treat asthma.

Interactions and warnings for arformoterol

Below, you’ll find information about arformoterol’s possible interactions and warnings.

Interactions of arformoterol

Certain things may affect how a drug works. These include getting vaccines, consuming alcohol or certain foods, or taking the drug with other medications. This effect is called a drug interaction.

Before you use arformoterol, ask your doctor to check for possible interactions. Be sure to tell them about any of the following you take or use:

• prescription or over-the-counter drugs
• vitamins, herbs, or supplements

To learn about drug-condition interactions, see the “Warnings for arformoterol” section below.

Warnings for arformoterol

Some people should not use arformoterol, and others should use it cautiously.

Arformoterol could cause harm to people with certain health conditions. This effect is called a drug-condition interaction. Other factors can also affect whether arformoterol is a safe option for you.

Ask your doctor about specific warnings for arformoterol, and be sure to tell your doctor about your:

• current health, including any allergies to medications
• past health conditions or surgeries

Allergic reaction

Arformoterol can cause an allergic reaction in some people. Severe allergic reactions are rare but possible.

If you’ve had an allergic reaction to arformoterol or any of its ingredients, your doctor will likely not prescribe arformoterol. They can tell you about medications that are safer options for you.

A mild allergic reaction may cause the following symptoms:

• skin rash
• itchiness
• flushing (temporary warmth, redness, or deepening of skin color)

A severe allergic reaction may cause the following symptoms:

• swelling under your skin, usually in your hands, feet, eyelids, or lips
• swelling of your mouth, throat, or tongue, which can cause breathing problems

If you have an allergic reaction to arformoterol, call your doctor right away. If you have severe symptoms, call 911 or a local emergency number.

Overdose of arformoterol

If you use arformoterol, you should not use more arformoterol than your doctor prescribes. For some drugs, doing so may lead to harmful effects or overdose.

If you think you’ve used too much arformoterol, call your doctor or pharmacist right away. Or you could call 800-222-1222 to speak with someone at America’s Poison Centers. You can also use its online resource. If you have concerning symptoms, call 911 or a local emergency number immediately. You can also go to the closest emergency room.

Pregnancy or breastfeeding and arformoterol

Information about arformoterol and pregnancy and breastfeeding is described below.

Arformoterol and pregnancy

It’s not known whether arformoterol should be used during pregnancy. If you’re planning a pregnancy or can become pregnant, talk with your doctor before using this medication.

Arformoterol and breastfeeding

It’s not known whether arformoterol should be used while breastfeeding. If you’re currently breastfeeding or planning to do so, talk with your doctor before using this medication.

What to ask your doctor

Let your doctor know if you have questions about arformoterol or would like more details about it.

Here’s a list of some possible questions you may want to ask your doctor:

• What’s the most important information I should know about arformoterol?
• How does arformoterol compare with other medications that could treat my condition?
• How should I use arformoterol?

Resources

• Arformoterol tartrate inhalation solution. (2022). https://nctr-crs.fda.gov/fdalabel/services/spl/set-ids/f2feda53-54b9-4e40-8a01-9e7b45cb3d8c/spl-doc
• Food and Drug Administration. (2023). Orange Book: Approved drug products with therapeutic equivalence evaluations. https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cder/ob/index.cfm

Disclaimer: Optum Perks has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.