Albuterol Sulfate (Page 3 of 5)

Use in Labor and Delivery

Because of the potential for beta-agonist interference with uterine contractility, use of albuterol sulfate inhalation aerosol for relief of bronchospasm during labor should be restricted to those patients in whom the benefits clearly outweigh the risk.

Tocolysis

Albuterol has not been approved for the management of preterm labor. The benefit:risk ratio when albuterol is administered for tocolysis has not been established. Serious adverse reactions, including pulmonary edema, have been reported during or following treatment of premature labor with beta2 -agonists, including albuterol.

Nursing Mothers

Plasma levels of albuterol sulfate and HFA-134a after inhaled therapeutic doses are very low in humans, but it is not known whether the components of albuterol sulfate inhalation aerosol are excreted in human milk.

Because of the potential for tumorigenicity shown for albuterol in animal studies and lack of experience with the use of albuterol sulfate inhalation aerosol by nursing mothers, a decision should be made whether to discontinue nursing or to discontinue the drug, taking into account the importance of the drug to the mother. Caution should be exercised when albuterol sulfate is administered to a nursing woman.

Pediatrics

The safety and effectiveness of albuterol sulfate inhalation aerosol in pediatric patients below the age of 4 years have not been established.

Geriatrics

Albuterol sulfate inhalation aerosol has not been studied in a geriatric population. As with other beta2 -agonists, special caution should be observed when using albuterol sulfate inhalation aerosol in elderly patients who have concomitant cardiovascular disease that could be adversely affected by this class of drug.

ADVERSE REACTIONS

Adverse reaction information concerning albuterol sulfate inhalation aerosol is derived from a 12-week, double-blind, double-dummy study which compared albuterol sulfate inhalation aerosol, a CFC 11/12 propelled albuterol inhaler, and an HFA-134a placebo inhaler in 565 asthmatic patients. The following table lists the incidence of all adverse events (whether considered by the investigator drug related or unrelated to drug) from this study which occurred at a rate of 3% or greater in the albuterol sulfate inhalation aerosol treatment group and more frequently in the albuterol sulfate inhalation aerosol treatment group than in the placebo group. Overall, the incidence and nature of the adverse reactions reported for albuterol sulfate inhalation aerosol and a CFC 11/12 propelled albuterol inhaler were comparable.

Adverse Experience Incidences (% of patients) in a Large 12-week Clinical Trial*
Body System/
Adverse Event (Preferred Term)
Albuterol SulfateInhalation Aerosol (N=193) CFC 11/12 Propelled Albuterol Inhaler (N=186) HFA-134a Placebo Inhaler (N=186)
*This table includes all adverse events (whether considered by the investigator drug related or unrelated to drug) which occurred at an incidence rate of at least 3.0% in the albuterol sulfate inhalation aerosol group and more frequently in the albuterol sulfate inhalation aerosol group than in the HFA-134a placebo inhaler group.

Application Site Disorders

Inhalation Site Sensation

6

9

2

Inhalation Taste Sensation

4

3

3

Body as a Whole

Allergic Reaction/Symptoms

6

4

<1

Back Pain

4

2

3

Fever

6

2

5

Central and Peripheral Nervous System

Tremor

7

8

2

Gastrointestinal System

Nausea

10

9

5

Vomiting

7

2

3

Heart Rate and Rhythm Disorder

Tachycardia

7

2

<1

Psychiatric Disorders

Nervousness

7

9

3

Respiratory System Disorders

Respiratory Disorder

(unspecified)

6

4

5

Rhinitis

16

22

14

Upper Resp Tract Infection

21

20

18

Urinary System Disorder

Urinary Tract Infection

3

4

2

Adverse events reported by less than 3% of the patients receiving albuterol sulfate inhalation aerosol, and by a greater proportion of albuterol sulfate inhalation aerosol patients than placebo patients, which have the potential to be related to albuterol sulfate inhalation aerosol include: dysphonia, increased sweating, dry mouth, chest pain, edema, rigors, ataxia, leg cramps, hyperkinesia, eructation, flatulence, tinnitus, diabetes mellitus, anxiety, depression, somnolence, rash. Palpitation and dizziness have also been observed with albuterol sulfate inhalation aerosol.

Adverse events reported in a 4-week pediatric clinical trial comparing albuterol sulfate inhalation aerosol and a CFC 11/12 propelled albuterol inhaler occurred at a low incidence rate and were similar to those seen in the adult trials.

In small, cumulative dose studies, tremor, nervousness, and headache appeared to be dose related.

Rare cases of urticaria, angioedema, rash, bronchospasm, and oropharyngeal edema have been reported after the use of inhaled albuterol. In addition, albuterol, like other sympathomimetic agents, can cause adverse reactions such as hypertension, angina, vertigo, central nervous system stimulation, insomnia, headache, metabolic acidosis, and drying or irritation of the oropharynx.

To report SUSPECTED ADVERSE REACTIONS, contact Sandoz Inc. at 1-800-525-8747 or FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or www.fda.gov/medwatch.

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