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LUFACYL is a brand name for Beclomethasone (also known as Beclometasone). The medicine, its uses, side effects and dosage are the same regardless of brand.
Used for: Asthma Lufacyl is indicated in the regular treatment of asthma where use of a combination product (inhaled corticosteroid and long-acting beta2-agonist) is appropriate: − patients not adequately controlled with inhaled corticosteroids and 'as needed' inhaled rapid-acting beta2-agonist or − patients already adequately…
Verbatim from this product's MHRA label. Tap a section to expand.
Lufacyl is for inhalation use. Posology ASTHMA Lufacyl is not intended for the initial management of asthma. The dosage of the components of Lufacyl is individual and should be adjusted to the severity of the disease. This should be considered not only when treatment with combination products is initiated but also when the dose is adjusted.
If an individual patient should require a combination of doses other than those available in the combination inhaler, appropriate doses of beta2-agonists and/or corticosteroids by individual inhalers should be prescribed. Beclometasone dipropionate in Lufacyl is characterised by an extrafine particle size distribution which results in a more potent effect than formulations of beclometasone dipropionate with a non-extrafine particle size distribution (100 micrograms of beclometasone dipropionate extrafine in Lufacyl are equivalent to 250 micrograms of beclometasone dipropionate in a non-extrafine formulation).
Therefore, the total daily dose of beclometasone dipropionate administered in Lufacyl should be lower than the total daily dose of beclometasone dipropionate administered in a non-extrafine beclometasone dipropionate formulation. This should be taken into consideration when a patient is transferred from a beclometasone dipropionate non-extrafine formulation to Lufacyl; the dose of beclometasone dipropionate should be lower and will need to be adjusted to the individual needs of the patients.
There are two treatment approaches:
A.
Maintenance therapy:
Lufacyl is taken as regular maintenance treatment with a separate as needed rapid-acting bronchodilator. B.
Maintenance and reliever therapy:
Lufacyl is taken as regular maintenance treatment and as needed in response to asthma symptoms A.
Maintenance therapy:
Patients should be advised to have their separate rapid-acting bronchodilator available for rescue use at all times.
Dose recommendations for adults 18 years and above:
One or two inhalations twice daily. The maximum daily dose is 4 inhalations. B.
As Lufacyl contains beclometasone dipropionate and formoterol fumarate dihydrate, the type and severity of adverse reactions associated with each of the compounds may be expected. There is no incidence of additional adverse events following concurrent administration of the two compounds.
Undesirable effects which have been associated with beclometasone dipropionate and formoterol administered as a fixed combination and as single agents are given below, listed by system organ class. Frequencies are defined as: very common (≥1/10), common (≥1/100 and <1/10), uncommon (≥1/1,000 and <1/100), rare (≥1/10,000 < 1/1,000) and very rare (≤1/10,000).
Common and uncommon ADRs were derived from clinical trials in asthmatic and COPD patients. 4) Unknown Ear and labyrinth disorders Otosalpingitis Uncommon Palpitations, electrocardiogram QT corrected interval prolonged, electrocardiogram change, tachycardia, tachyarrhythmia, atrial fibrillation*, UncommonCardiac disorders Ventricular extrasystoles, angina pectoris Rare Vascular disorders Hyperaemia, flushing Uncommon Dysphonia Common Cough, productive cough, throat irritation, asthmatic crisis Uncommon Bronchospasm paradoxical Rare Respiratory, thoracic and mediastinal disorders Dyspnoea, exacerbation of asthma Very rare Gastrointestinal disorders Diarrhoea, dry mouth, dyspepsia, dysphagia, burning sensation of the lips, nausea, dysgeusia Uncommon Pruritus, rash, hyperhidrosis, urticaria UncommonSkin and subcutaneous tissue disorders Angioedema Rare Muscle spasms, myalgia UncommonMusculoskeletal and connective tissue disorders Growth retardation in children and adolescents Very rare Renal and urinary disorders Nephritis Rare General disorders and administration site conditions Oedema peripheral Very rare C-reactive protein increased, platelet count increased, free fatty acids increased, blood insulin increased, blood ketone body increased, blood cortisol decrease* Uncommon Blood pressure increased, blood pressure decreased Rare Investigations Bone density decreased Very rare *One related non serious case of pneumonia was reported by one patient treated with a beclometasone dipropionate/formoterol combination in a pivotal clinical trial in COPD patients.
Lufacyl should be used with caution (which may include monitoring) in patients with cardiac arrhythmias, especially third degree atrioventricular block and tachyarrhythmias (accelerated and/or irregular heart beat), idiopathic subvalvular aortic stenosis, hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy, severe heart disease, particularly acute myocardial infarction, ischaemic heart disease, congestive heart failure, occlusive vascular diseases, particularly arteriosclerosis, arterial hypertension and aneurysm.
44 seconds). Formoterol itself may induce prolongation of the QTc interval. Caution is also required when Lufacyl is used by patients with thyrotoxicosis, diabetes mellitus, phaeochromocytoma and untreated hypokalaemia. Potentially serious hypokalaemia may result from beta2-agonist therapy.
Particular caution is advised in severe asthma as this effect may be potentiated by hypoxia. 5). Caution is also recommended in unstable asthma when a number of “rescue” bronchodilators may be used. It is recommended that serum potassium levels are monitored in such situations.
The inhalation of formoterol may cause a rise in blood glucose levels. Therefore blood glucose should be closely monitored in patients with diabetes. If anaesthesia with halogenated anaesthetics is planned, it should be ensured that Lufacyl is not administered for at least 12 hours before the start of anaesthesia as there is a risk of cardiac arrhythmias.
As with all inhaled medication containing corticosteroids, Lufacyl should be administered with caution in patients with active or quiescent pulmonary tuberculosis, fungal and viral infections in the airways. It is recommended that treatment with Lufacyl should not be stopped abruptly.
If patients find the treatment ineffective medical attention must be sought. Increasing use of rescue bronchodilators indicates a worsening of the underlying condition and warrants a reassessment of the asthma therapy. Sudden and progressive deterioration in control of asthma or COPD is potentially life- threatening and the patient should undergo urgent medical assessment.
1.
Not medical advice. Always read the patient information leaflet and follow your prescriber or pharmacist.
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Maintenance and reliever therapy:
Patients take their daily maintenance dose of Lufacyl and in addition take Lufacyl as needed in response to asthma symptoms. Patients should be advised to always have Lufacyl available for rescue use. Lufacyl maintenance and reliever therapy should especially be considered for patients with: • not fully controlled asthma and in need of reliever medication • asthma exacerbations in the past requiring medical intervention Close monitoring for dose-related adverse effects is needed in patients who frequently take high numbers of Lufacyl as-needed inhalations.
Dose recommendations for adults 18 years and above:
The recommended maintenance dose is 1 inhalation twice daily (one inhalation in the morning and one inhalation in the evening). Patients should take 1 additional inhalation as needed in response to symptoms. If symptoms persist after a few minutes, an additional inhalation should be taken.
The maximum daily dose is 8 inhalations. Patients requiring frequent use of rescue inhalations daily should be strongly recommended to seek medical advice. Their asthma should be reassessed, and their maintenance therapy should be reconsidered.
Dose recommendations for children and adolescents under 18 years:
The safety and efficacy of Lufacyl in children and adolescents under 18 years of age have not been established. 2, but no recommendation on a posology can be made. Patients should be regularly reassessed by a doctor, so that the dosage of Lufacyl remains optimal and is only changed on medical advice.
The dose should be titrated to the lowest dose at which effective control of symptoms is maintained. When control of symptoms is maintained with the lowest recommended dosage, then the next step could include a test of inhaled corticosteroid alone.
Patients should be advised to take Lufacyl every day even when asymptomatic.
COPD Dose recommendations for adults 18 years and above:
Two inhalations twice daily.
Special patient groups:
There is no need to adjust the dose in elderly patients. 2). Method of administration To ensure proper administration of the drug, the patient should be shown how to use the inhaler correctly by a physician or other health professional.
Correct use of the pressurised metered dose inhaler is essential in order that treatment is successful. The patient should be advised to read the Patient Information Leaflet carefully and follow the instructions for use as given in the Leaflet.
Lufacyl inhaler is provided with a dose indicator on the front of the actuator, which shows how many doses are left. , 120, 100, 80, etc) Patients should be advised not to drop the inhaler as this may cause the indicator to count down.
Testing the inhaler Before using the inhaler for the first time, the patient should release three actuations into the air and if the inhaler has not been used for 14 days or more, the patient should release one actuation into the air in order to ensure that the inhaler is working properly.
After testing the inhaler for the first time, the dose indicator should read 120. Whenever possible patients should stand or sit in an upright position when inhaling from their inhaler. Use of the inhaler: 1. Patients should remove the protective cap from the mouthpiece and check that the mouthpiece is clean and free from dust and dirt or any other foreign objects.
2. Patients should breathe out […]
Other adverse reactions observed in COPD clinical trials were: reduction of blood cortisol and atrial fibrillation. 4 'Special Warnings and Precautions for Use'). Among the observed adverse reactions those typically associated with formoterol are: hypokalaemia, headache, tremor, palpitations, cough, muscle spasms and prolongation of QTc interval.
Adverse reactions typically associated with the administration of beclometasone dipropionate are: oral fungal infections, oral candidiasis, dysphonia, throat irritation. Dysphonia and candidiasis may be relieved by gargling or rinsing the mouth with water or brushing the teeth after using the product.
Symptomatic candidiasis can be treated with topical anti-fungal therapy whilst continuing the treatment with Lufacyl. g. 4). Hypersensitivity reactions including rash, urticaria pruritus, erythema and oedema of the eyes, face, lips and throat may also occur.
Paediatric Population In a 12-week study in adolescent asthma patients, the safety profile of beclometasone dipropionate/formoterol was not different to that of beclometasone dipropionate monotherapy. Beclometasone dipropionate/formoterol paediatric experimental formulation of beclometasone dipropionate and formoterol fumarate 50/6 micrograms per actuation administered to asthmatic children aged 5-11 years over 12 weeks treatment period, showed a safety profile similar to the approved marketed formoterol and beclometasone dipropionate single agents.
However, the same paediatric formulation of beclometasone dipropionate/formoterol 50/6 micrograms administered to asthmatic children aged 5-11 years over 2 weeks did not demonstrate non-inferiority to the free combination of marketed formoterol and beclometasone dipropionate single agents in terms of lower leg growth rate.
Reporting of suspected adverse reactions Reporting suspected adverse reactions after authorisation of the medicinal product is important. It allows continued monitoring of the benefit/risk balance of the medicinal product. uk/yellowcard or search for MHRA Yellow Card in the Google Play or Apple App Store.
Consideration should be given to the need for increased treatment with corticosteroids, either inhaled or oral therapy, or antibiotic treatment if an infection is suspected. Patients should not be initiated on Lufacyl during an exacerbation, or if they have significantly worsening or acutely deteriorating asthma.
Serious asthma-related adverse events and exacerbations may occur during treatment with Lufacyl. Patients should be asked to continue treatment but to seek medical advice if asthma symptoms remain uncontrolled or worsen after initiation on Lufacyl.
As with other inhalation therapy paradoxical bronchospasm may occur with an immediate increase in wheezing and rapidness of breath after dosing. This should be treated immediately with a fast-acting inhaled bronchodilator. Lufacyl should be discontinued immediately, the patient assessed and alternative therapy instituted if necessary.
Lufacyl should not be used as the first treatment for asthma. For treatment of acute asthma attacks patients should be advised to have their rapid- acting bronchodilator available at all times, either Lufacyl (for patients using Lufacyl maintenance and reliever therapy) or a separate rapid-acting bronchodilator (for patients using Lufacyl as maintenance therapy only).
Patients should be reminded to take Lufacyl daily as prescribed even when asymptomatic. g. before exercise. For such use, a separate rapid-acting bronchodilator should be considered. Once asthma symptoms are controlled, consideration may be given to gradually reducing the dose of Lufacyl.
Regular review of patients as treatment is stepped down is important. 2). Systemic effects may occur with any inhaled corticosteroid, particularly at high doses prescribed for long periods. These effects are much less likely to occur with inhaled than with oral corticosteroids.
Possible systemic effects include:
Cushing's syndrome, Cushingoid features, adrenal suppression, decrease in bone mineral density, growth retardation in children and adolescents, cataract and glaucoma and more rarely, a range of psychological or behavioural effects including psychomotor hyperactivity, sleep disorders, anxiety, depression or aggression (particularly in children).
Therefore, it is important that the patient is reviewed regularly, and the dose of inhaled corticosteroid is reduced to the lowest dose at which effective control of asthma is maintained. 2) have demonstrated that the use of a beclometasone dipropionate /formoterol combination with Aerochamber Plus® spacer device in comparison to the use of standard actuator, does not increase the total systemic exposure to formoterol and reduces the systemic exposure to beclometasone-17-monopropionate, while there is an increase for unchanged beclometasone dipropionate that reaches systemic circulation from the lung; however, since the total systemic exposure to beclometasone dipropionate plus its active metabolite does not change, there is no increased risk of systemic effects when using Lufacyl with the named spacer device.
Prolonged treatment of patients with high doses of inhaled corticosteroids may result in adrenal suppression and acute adrenal crisis. Children aged less than 16 years taking/inhaling higher than recommended doses of beclometasone dipropionate may be at particular risk.
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