Xopenex Hfa
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Questions & Answers
Side Effects & Adverse Reactions
- Paradoxical Bronchospasm: Like other inhaled beta-adrenergic agonists, XOPENEX HFA Inhalation Aerosol can produce paradoxical bronchospasm, which may be life-threatening. If paradoxical bronchospasm occurs, XOPENEX HFA (levalbuterol tartrate) Inhalation Aerosol should be discontinued immediately and alternative therapy instituted. It should be recognized that paradoxical bronchospasm, when associated with inhaled formulations, frequently occurs with the first use of a new canister.
- Deterioration of Asthma: Asthma may deteriorate acutely over a period of hours or chronically over several days or longer. If the patient needs more doses of XOPENEX HFA Inhalation Aerosol than usual, this may be a marker of destabilization of asthma and requires reevaluation of the patient and treatment regimen, giving special consideration to the possible need for anti-inflammatory treatment, e.g., corticosteroids.
- Use of Anti-Inflammatory Agents: The use of a beta-adrenergic agonist alone may not be adequate to control asthma in many patients. Early consideration should be given to adding anti-inflammatory agents, e.g., corticosteroids, to the therapeutic regimen.
- Cardiovascular Effects: XOPENEX HFA Inhalation Aerosol, like other beta-adrenergic agonists, can produce clinically significant cardiovascular effects in some patients, as measured by heart rate, blood pressure, and/or symptoms. Although such effects are uncommon after administration of XOPENEX HFA Inhalation Aerosol at recommended doses, if they occur, the drug may need to be discontinued. In addition, beta-agonists have been reported to produce electrocardiogram (ECG) changes, such as flattening of the T wave, prolongation of the QTc interval, and ST segment depression. The clinical significance of these findings is unknown. Therefore, XOPENEX HFA Inhalation Aerosol, like all sympathomimetic amines, should be used with caution in patients with cardiovascular disorders, especially coronary insufficiency, cardiac arrhythmias, and hypertension.
- Do Not Exceed Recommended Dose: Fatalities have been reported in association with excessive use of inhaled sympathomimetic drugs in patients with asthma. The exact cause of death is unknown, but cardiac arrest following an unexpected development of a severe acute asthmatic crisis and subsequent hypoxia is suspected.
- Immediate Hypersensitivity Reactions: Immediate hypersensitivity reactions may occur after administration of racemic albuterol, as demonstrated by rare cases of urticaria, angioedema, rash, bronchospasm, anaphylaxis, and oropharyngeal edema. The potential for hypersensitivity must be considered in the clinical evaluation of patients who experience immediate hypersensitivity reactions while receiving XOPENEX HFA Inhalation Aerosol.
Legal Issues
There is currently no legal information available for this drug.
FDA Safety Alerts
There are currently no FDA safety alerts available for this drug.
Manufacturer Warnings
There is currently no manufacturer warning information available for this drug.
FDA Labeling Changes
There are currently no FDA labeling changes available for this drug.
Uses
XOPENEX HFA (levalbuterol tartrate) Inhalation Aerosol is indicated for the treatment or prevention of bronchospasm in adults, adolescents, and children 4 years of age and older with reversible obstructive airway disease.
History
There is currently no drug history available for this drug.
Other Information
The active component of XOPENEX HFA (levalbuterol tartrate) Inhalation Aerosol is levalbuterol tartrate, the (R)-enantiomer of albuterol. Levalbuterol tartrate is a relatively selective beta2-adrenergic receptor agonist (see CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY). Levalbuterol tartrate has the chemical name (R)-α1-[[(1,1-dimethylethyl)amino]methyl]-4-hydroxy-1,3-benzenedimethanol L-tartrate (2:1 salt), and it has the following chemical structure:
The molecular weight of levalbuterol tartrate is 628.71, and its empirical formula is (C13H21NO3)2 · C4H6O6. It is a white to light-yellow solid, freely soluble in water and very slightly soluble in ethanol.
Levalbuterol tartrate is the generic name for (R)-albuterol tartrate in the United States. XOPENEX HFA Inhalation Aerosol is a pressurized metered-dose aerosol inhaler (MDI), which produces an aerosol for oral inhalation. It contains a suspension of micronized levalbuterol tartrate, propellant HFA-134a (1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane), Dehydrated Alcohol USP, and Oleic Acid NF.
The inhaler should be primed by releasing 4 sprays into the air, away from the face, before using it for the first time and when the inhaler has not been used for more than 3 days. After priming with 4 actuations, each actuation delivers 59 mcg of levalbuterol tartrate (equivalent to 45 mcg of levalbuterol free base) from the actuator (or mouthpiece). Each 15 g canister provides 200 actuations (or inhalations) and each 8.4 g canister provides 80 actuations (or inhalations).
This product does not contain chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs).
Sources
Xopenex Hfa Manufacturers
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Physicians Total Care, Inc.
![Xopenex Hfa (Levalbuterol Tartrate) Aerosol, Metered [Physicians Total Care, Inc.]](/wp-content/themes/bootstrap/assets/img/loading2.gif)
Xopenex Hfa | Physicians Total Care, Inc.
Adult and Pediatric Asthma: For treatment of acute episodes of bronchospasm or prevention of asthmatic symptoms, the usual dosage of XOPENEX HFA (levalbuterol tartrate) Inhalation Aerosol for adults and children 4 years of age and older is 2 inhalations (90 mcg) repeated every 4 to 6 hours; in some patients, 1 inhalation every 4 hours may be sufficient. More frequent administration or a larger number of inhalations is not routinely recommended. It is recommended to prime the inhaler before using for the first time and in cases where the inhaler has not been used for more than 3 days by releasing 4 test sprays into the air, away from the face.
If a previously effective dosage regimen fails to provide the usual response, this may be a marker of destabilization of asthma and requires reevaluation of the patient and the treatment regimen, giving special consideration to the possible need for anti-inflammatory treatment, e.g., corticosteroids.
Cleaning: To maintain proper use of this product, it is critical that the actuator be washed and dried thoroughly at least once a week. The inhaler may cease to deliver medication if not properly cleaned and dried thoroughly. See Information for Patients. Keeping the plastic actuator clean is very important to prevent medication build-up and blockage. If the actuator becomes blocked with drug, washing the actuator will remove the blockage.
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Sunovion Pharmaceuticals Inc.
Xopenex Hfa | Sunovion Pharmaceuticals Inc.
2.1 Recommended DosagesThe recommended dosage of XOPENEX HFA for adults and children 4 years of age and older is 2 inhalations (90 mcg of levalbuterol free base) repeated every 4 to 6 hours; in some patients, 1 inhalation (45 mg of levalbuterol free base) every 4 hours may be sufficient. More frequent administration or a larger number of inhalations is not routinely recommended.
If a previously effective dosage regimen fails to provide the usual response, this may be a marker of destabilization of asthma and requires reevaluation of the patient and the treatment regimen, giving special consideration to the possible need for anti-inflammatory treatment, e.g., corticosteroids.
2.2 Administration InformationFor oral inhalation only
Shake well before use. Avoid spraying in the eyes. Prime the inhaler before using for the first time and when the inhaler has not been used for more than 3 days by releasing 4 test sprays into the air, away from the face. To maintain proper use of XOPENEX HFA, it is critical to wash the actuator with warm water and air-dry thoroughly at least once a week. The inhaler may cease to deliver levalbuterol tartrate if not properly cleaned and dried thoroughly. Keep the plastic actuator clean to prevent medication build-up and blockage. If the actuator becomes blocked with levalbuterol tartrate, wash the actuator to remove the blockage. Discard after 200 actuations have been released from the 15 gram canister or 80 actuations have been released from the 8.4 gram canister.
![Xopenex Hfa (Levalbuterol Tartrate) Aerosol, Metered [Sunovion Pharmaceuticals Inc.]](http://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/image.cfm?setid=218ab3f0-4d1e-4c33-a7e8-27807f029d83&name=xop04-0014-09.jpg)
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