Concomittant administration of other oral Beta2 stimulants, catecholamines or other substances with similar type of action must be avoided owing to the risk of potential cardiovasculr effects.

Concomittant treatment with xanthine derivatives , steroids, or other diuretics may potentiate a possible hypokalemic effect of Beta2 agonists. Hypolaemia may increase susceptibility to cardiac arrhythiamas in patients treated with digitalis.

Concurrent use with quinindine, dispopyramide ,procainamide, phenothiazines, antihistamines, monoamine oxidase inhibitors and tricyclic antidepressants can prolong the QTc-interval and increase the risk of cardiac arrhythmias.

L-dopa, L-thyroxine, oxytoxin, and aclocohol can impair cardiac tolerance towards Beta-sympathomimetics Beta--adrenergic blockers (including eye drops) can weaken or inhibit the effect of formoterol.

Tremor, headache, tiredness, restlessness, dizziness, drymouth, palpitation, tachycardia, muscle cramps, nausea.

Hypersensitivity Special precautions: Asthmatic patients who require regular therapy witha Beta-agonist should receive regular doses of an anti-inflammatory agent. Advisable not to increase the dose during an exacerabation. However, in the event of an acute attack, a Beta-agonist with a short duration of action should be used. Use with caution in patients with throtoxicosis and in patients with severe cardiovascular disorders. Due to hyperglycaemic effects of beta2-agonists, additional blood glucose controls are recommended intially in diabetic patients Use with caution during pregnancy Not recommended during lactation Not recommended for use in children below age of 5 years

Asthma

Dosage-

Adults- 1 to rotacaps(12-24mcg) taken twice daily in morning and evening Children over 5 years- one rotacap(12mcg) twice daily

Pharmacology:

Formoterol is a unique, highly potent Beta2 selective agonist, which has clinical advantages of a rapid onset of action. Action attributed to its moderately lipohilic nature and its ability to partition irreversibly into the outer layer of a cell's phopholipid membrane, where it can bind itself rapily to the cell surface of the Beta2 receptor.

Pharmacokinetics:

Like other inhaled Beta2 agonists, formoterol is absorbed from the lungs and the GI tract.. Oral absorption is > 65%,Mean plasma half life is 2- 2 hours, with a protein binding of 61-64%

Use with caution during pregnancy Not recommended use during lactation Not recommended for in children below 5 years