{"ok":true,"entry":{"slug":"formoterol","kind":"medication","name":"formoterol","aliases":["eformoterol","Symbicort","Oxis"],"brands_sg":["Symbicort","Foster","DuoResp Spiromax","Flutiform","Breztri Aerosphere"],"class":"long-acting beta-2 agonist","tags":["respiratory"],"use_for":"asthma and copd — sg products pair it with a steroid","use_after":"inhaled twice daily, or as needed in reliever regimens","use_duration":null,"take_with":"inhaled · label: rinse mouth after the maintenance dose","pros":["sg label: onset of effect within 1–3 minutes","sg label: bronchodilation for at least 12 hours","fda label: reduces copd exacerbations as maintenance"],"cons":["fda label: laba alone raises serious asthma events","fda label: not indicated for acute bronchospasm","fda label: oral thrush; in copd, pneumonia risk"],"dose_note":"the singapore label for symbicort turbuhaler 160/4.5 states, for anti-inflammatory reliever therapy, 'Not more than 6 inhalations should be taken on any single occasion' and 'A total daily dose of more than 8 inhalations is normally not needed, however a total daily dose of up to 12 inhalations can be used temporarily'. the us symbicort pressurised-inhaler label sets a different ceiling: 'The maximum recommended dosage in adult and adolescent patients 12 years and older is SYMBICORT 160/4.5, two inhalations twice daily'. no single-ingredient formoterol product is registered in singapore, so no sg formoterol-only maximum exists. in singapore the prescriber sets the regimen.","dosage":null,"ul_status":null,"sg_class":"prescription-only","cautions":["acutely deteriorating asthma or copd (fda label)","another long-acting beta-2 agonist already in use (fda label)","cardiovascular or central nervous system disorders (fda label)","milk-protein allergy — the sg turbuhaler contains lactose"],"clashes":[{"src":["fda_sym_di2"],"note":"fda label: caution — may cause increased systemic corticosteroid effects","with":"strong cyp3a4 inhibitors (e.g. ritonavir, ketoconazole)"},{"src":["fda_sym_di"],"note":"fda label: extreme caution — formoterol's vascular effect may be potentiated","with":"mao inhibitors and tricyclic antidepressants"},{"src":["fda_sym_di"],"note":"fda label: may block bronchodilatory effects and produce severe bronchospasm","with":"beta-blockers"},{"src":["fda_sym_di2"],"note":"fda label: ecg changes and/or hypokalaemia may worsen with beta-agonists","with":"non-potassium-sparing diuretics"},{"src":["fda_sym_warn"],"note":"fda label: not to be combined, because of the risk of overdose","with":"any additional long-acting beta-2 agonist"}],"sources":[{"id":"hsa_register","url":"https://data.gov.sg/datasets/d_767279312753558cbf19d48344577084/view","label":"HSA — Listing of Registered Therapeutic Products (data.gov.sg open dataset, 5,511 rows, cached in full and filtered locally)","quote":"All 17 registered products containing formoterol are fixed-dose combinations with an inhaled corticosteroid and every row reads Forensicclassification 'Prescription Only' — SIN11681P SYMBICORT TURBUHALER 160/4.5 · SIN13932P Foster · SIN16056P DUORESP SPIROMAX · SIN14550P FLUTIFORM","accessed":"2026-08-27"},{"id":"ndf_sym_dose","url":"https://www.ndf.gov.sg/about-drugs/product-information/sin11681p/","label":"Singapore National Drug Formulary (HSA/MOH) — SYMBICORT TURBUHALER 160/4.5 MCG/DOSE [SIN11681P], section 4.2 Posology","quote":"Not more than 6 inhalations should be taken on any single occasion. A total daily dose of more than 8 inhalations is normally not needed, however a total daily dose of up to 12 inhalations can be used temporarily.","accessed":"2026-08-27"},{"id":"ndf_sym_onset","url":"https://www.ndf.gov.sg/about-drugs/product-information/sin11681p/","label":"Singapore National Drug Formulary — SYMBICORT TURBUHALER 160/4.5 [SIN11681P], onset and duration","quote":"The formoterol component in Symbicort Turbuhaler provides fast onset of effect (within 1–3 minutes) with long-acting (at least 12 hours after a single dose) bronchodilation in reversible airways obstruction.","accessed":"2026-08-27"},{"id":"ndf_sym_rinse","url":"https://www.ndf.gov.sg/about-drugs/product-information/sin11681p/","label":"Singapore National Drug Formulary — SYMBICORT TURBUHALER 160/4.5 [SIN11681P], instructions for correct use","quote":"Rinse the mouth with water after inhaling the maintenance dose to minimise the risk of oropharyngeal thrush.","accessed":"2026-08-27"},{"id":"ndf_sym_ci","url":"https://www.ndf.gov.sg/about-drugs/product-information/sin11681p/","label":"Singapore National Drug Formulary — SYMBICORT TURBUHALER 160/4.5 [SIN11681P], section 4.3 Contraindications","quote":"Hypersensitivity (allergy) to budesonide, formoterol or lactose (which contains small amounts of milk proteins).","accessed":"2026-08-27"},{"id":"fda_sym_ind","url":"https://api.fda.gov/drug/label.json?search=openfda.brand_name:%22SYMBICORT%22&limit=1","label":"US FDA label for SYMBICORT (budesonide and formoterol fumarate dihydrate), section 1 Indications and Usage, via openFDA","quote":"SYMBICORT is a combination product containing a corticosteroid and a long-acting beta2-adrenergic agonist indicated for: Treatment of asthma in patients 6 years of age and older … SYMBICORT is NOT indicated for the relief of acute bronchospasm.","accessed":"2026-08-27"},{"id":"fda_sym_copd","url":"https://api.fda.gov/drug/label.json?search=openfda.brand_name:%22SYMBICORT%22&limit=1","label":"US FDA label for SYMBICORT, section 1.2 Maintenance Treatment of COPD, via openFDA","quote":"SYMBICORT 160/4.5 is indicated for the maintenance treatment of airflow obstruction in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) … SYMBICORT 160/4.5 is also indicated to reduce exacerbations of COPD.","accessed":"2026-08-27"},{"id":"fda_sym_dose","url":"https://api.fda.gov/drug/label.json?search=openfda.brand_name:%22SYMBICORT%22&limit=1","label":"US FDA label for SYMBICORT, section 2.2 Asthma dosage, via openFDA","quote":"The maximum recommended dosage in adult and adolescent patients 12 years and older is SYMBICORT 160/4.5, two inhalations twice daily.","accessed":"2026-08-27"},{"id":"fda_sym_warn","url":"https://api.fda.gov/drug/label.json?search=openfda.brand_name:%22SYMBICORT%22&limit=1","label":"US FDA label for SYMBICORT, section 5 Warnings and Precautions, via openFDA","quote":"Serious asthma-related events: Long-acting beta2-adrenergic agonists as monotherapy increase the risk … Use with additional long-acting beta2-agonist: Do not use in combination because of risk of overdose … Patients with cardiovascular or central nervous system disorders: Use with caution","accessed":"2026-08-27"},{"id":"fda_sym_ae","url":"https://api.fda.gov/drug/label.json?search=openfda.brand_name:%22SYMBICORT%22&limit=1","label":"US FDA label for SYMBICORT, section 6 Adverse Reactions, via openFDA","quote":"Most common adverse reactions (incidence > 3%) are: Asthma: nasopharyngitis, headache, upper respiratory tract infection … and oral candidiasis. COPD: nasopharyngitis, oral candidiasis, bronchitis, sinusitis, upper respiratory tract infections.","accessed":"2026-08-27"},{"id":"fda_sym_di","url":"https://api.fda.gov/drug/label.json?search=openfda.brand_name:%22SYMBICORT%22&limit=1","label":"US FDA label for SYMBICORT, section 7 Drug Interactions, via openFDA","quote":"Monoamine oxidase inhibitors and tricyclic antidepressants: Use with extreme caution. May potentiate effect of formoterol on vascular system … Beta-blockers: Use with caution. May block bronchodilatory effects of beta-agonists and produce severe bronchospasm.","accessed":"2026-08-27"},{"id":"fda_sym_di2","url":"https://api.fda.gov/drug/label.json?search=openfda.brand_name:%22SYMBICORT%22&limit=1","label":"US FDA label for SYMBICORT, section 7 Drug Interactions (CYP3A4 and diuretics), via openFDA","quote":"Strong cytochrome P450 3A4 inhibitors (e.g., ritonavir): Use with caution. May cause increased systemic corticosteroid effects … Diuretics: Use with caution. Electrocardiographic changes and/or hypokalemia … may worsen with concomitant beta-agonists.","accessed":"2026-08-27"},{"id":"fda_sym_ci","url":"https://api.fda.gov/drug/label.json?search=openfda.brand_name:%22SYMBICORT%22&limit=1","label":"US FDA label for SYMBICORT, section 4 Contraindications, via openFDA","quote":"Primary treatment of status asthmaticus or other acute episodes of asthma or COPD where intensive measures are required. Hypersensitivity to any of the ingredients in SYMBICORT.","accessed":"2026-08-27"}],"brand_certs":null,"updated_at":"2026-08-29T16:16:19.87501+08:00"},"disclaimer":"kozen-x is not a medical device and does not give medical advice. it lists what published sources have written down. absence of a record is not the same as safe."}