Azmacort

Azmacort is a prescription medication used for the prevention and treatment of asthma. Azmacort belongs to a group of drugs called corticosteroids, more commonly known as steroids. It works by affecting the immune system to decrease inflammation of the airways. 

Azmacort comes as an inhaler and may be given up to 4 times daily. 

Common side effects of Azmacort include inflammation of the sinuses (sinusitis), sore throat (pharyngitis), and headache.

Azmacort is a prescription medication used for the prevention and treatment of asthma.

• Recommended doses are for adults and children aged 6 years and older. 
• Azmacort does not contain medication intended to provide rapid relief of your breathing difficulties during an asthma attack.

This medication may be prescribed for other uses. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

Serious side effects have been reported with Azmacort. See the “Azmacort Precautions” section.

Common side effects of Azmacort include:

• inflammation of the sinuses (sinusitis)
• sore throat (pharyngitis)
• headache
• flu syndrome
• back pain

This is not a complete list of Azmacort side effects. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

Tell your doctor if you have any side effect that bothers you or that does not go away.

Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Tell your doctor about all the medicines you take, including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. The following are medications that may interact with Azmacort since it contains triamcinolone:

• arthritis medications
• aspirin
• digoxin (Lanoxin)
• diuretics ('water pills')
• estrogen (Premarin)
• ketoconazole (Nizoral)
• oral contraceptives
• phenobarbital
• phenytoin (Dilantin)
• rifampin (Rifadin)
• theophylline (Theo-Dur)
• vitamins

This is not a complete list of Azmacort drug interactions. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

Serious side effects have been reported with Azmacort including the following:

• ​Slowed growth in children. A child's growth should be checked often.
• Steroid withdrawal from oral steroids. Tell your healthcare provider if you or your child experiences:
  • ​joint or muscular pain
  • lack of energy
  • depression
• ​Adrenal insufficiency that can lead to death can happen when you stop taking oral corticosteroid medicines and start using inhaled corticosteroid medicines. Adrenal insufficiency can also happen in people who take higher doses of Azmacort than recommended over a long period of time. When your body is under stress such as from fever, trauma (such as a car accident), infection, or surgery, adrenal insufficiency can get worse. Symptoms of adrenal insufficiency include:
  • feeling tired or exhausted (fatigue)
  • lack of energy
  • weakness
  • nausea and vomiting
  • low blood pressure (hypotension)
  • dizziness or feeling faint

Do not take Azmacort if you are allergic to Azmacort or to any of its ingredients.

Medications can interact with certain foods. In some cases, this may be harmful and your doctor may advise you to avoid certain foods. In the case of Azmacort, there are no specific foods that you must exclude from your diet when receiving this medication.

Before taking Azmacort, tell your doctor about all of your medical conditions. Especially tell your doctor if you:

• If you are pregnant or intending to become pregnant.
• If you are breast-feeding a baby.
• If you are allergic to Azmacort Inhalation Aerosol or any other orally inhaled glucocorticoid.
• If you are taking other medications. In some circumstances, this medication may not be suitable and your doctor may wish to give you a different medicine. 

Tell your doctor about all the medicines you take including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant.

The FDA categorizes medications based on safety for use during pregnancy. Five categories - A, B, C, D, and X, are used to classify the possible risks to an unborn baby when a medication is taken during pregnancy.

Azmacort fall into category C. In animal studies, pregnant animals were given this medication and had some babies born with problems. No well-controlled studies have been done in humans. Therefore, this medication may be used if the potential benefits to the mother outweigh the potential risks to the unborn child.

Tell your doctor if you are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed.

It is not known whether Azmacort crosses into human milk. Because many medications can cross into human milk and because of the possibility for serious adverse reactions in nursing infants with use of this medication, a choice should be made whether to stop nursing or stop the use of this medication. Your doctor and you will decide if the benefits outweigh the risk of using Azmacort.

Use Azmacort exactly as prescribed. 

Azmacort comes as an inhaler and is used up to 4 times a day.

Do not use it more often than instructed; do not skip doses.

Use Azmacort Inhalation Aerosol regularly at the intervals recommended by your doctor, and not as an emergency measure. Your physician will decide whether other medication is needed, should you require immediate relief.

Preparing to use Azmacort:

1. Line up the arrows on the inhaler.
2. Gently pull the inhaler to its fully extended position. You will see the valve (small hole) where the medication will come out. 
3. Adjust the inhaler into an 3. “L” shape. It is hinged to swing in one direction only.
4. The ridge on the top part of the inhaler should fit into the notch on the bottom part.
5. Remove the mouthpiece cap. The inhaler must be primed prior to the first use. To prime, hold the inhaler upright, with the mouthpiece facing away from you. Shake the inhaler gently, then press the canister firmly and quickly. Repeat this procedure again so a total of 2 puffs are released. Your Azmacort is now ready for use. Repriming is only necessary when your inhaler has not been used for more than 3 days. To reprime, shake the inhaler and release one puff. Repeat this procedure again so a total of two puffs are released.

How to use Azmacort:

1. Once you have opened the inhaler, shake it well before each use. IMPORTANT: You must shake the inhaler each and every time before inhaling the medication. If your doctor has instructed you to take more than one breath of medication at a time, you must shake the inhaler EACH TIME before each inhalation of medication, NOT JUST ONCE.
2. Breathe out to empty your lungs completely before using the inhaler! This is important to make sure that you can breathe the medication deeply into your lungs.
3. Place the mouthpiece into your mouth, and close your lips tightly around it. Press down firmly and steadily on the metal canister while breathing in slowly and deeply THROUGH YOUR MOUTH ONLY. (If necessary, pinch your nose closed.) Be sure to release your finger pressure from the top of the canister after the medication is released. Remember, Azmacort delivers a gentle mist of medication, so don't be surprised if you hardly feel it. Do not remove the inhaler from your mouth after breathing in the medication. Hold your breath for 10 seconds with the inhaler STILL in your mouth, THEN remove the inhaler and breathe out very slowly.
4. If your doctor has told you to take more than one breath of medication at a time: WAIT AT LEAST 60 SECONDS between each one.
5. After the prescribed number of inhalations, thoroughly rinse out your mouth with water. NOTE: If your mouth becomes sore or develops a rash, be sure to mention this to your physician, but do not stop using your inhaler unless instructed to do so.

Cleaning your inhaler.

Azmacort MUST be cleaned in lukewarm water only once each day to avoid build-up of medication particles in the inhaler that can block the puff of medication and interfere with proper operation. The use of soap, detergents, or disinfectants is unnecessary. Follow the instructions that come with your medication on how to properly clean your inhaler. 

You will receive a new Azmacort Inhalation Aerosol unit each time you refill your prescription. This is done to assure optimal working order of the unique Azmacort Inhalation Aerosol spacer device/delivery system. In addition, a new Azmacort Inhalation Aerosol will guard against a build-up of the drug on the barrel portion of the device, maximizing the cleanliness of your unit. The cost of Azmacort Inhalation Aerosol is MINIMALLY affected by including a new inhaler with each prescription.

Take this medication exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Follow the directions on your prescription label carefully.

The dose your doctor recommends may be based on the following:

• your age
• the severity of the condition being treated
• how your respond to this medication

The usual recommended dosage of Azmacort for adults is two inhalations (150 mcg) given three to four times a day or four inhalations (300 mcg) given twice daily. The maximal daily intake should not exceed 16 inhalations (1200 mcg) in adults. Higher initial doses (12 to 16 inhalations per day) may be considered in patients with more severe asthma.

The usual recommended dosage of Azmacort in children 6-12 years of age is one or two inhalations (75 to 150 mcg) given three to four times a day or two to four inhalations (150 to 300 mcg) given twice daily. The maximal daily intake should not exceed 12 inhalations (900 mcg) in children 6 to 12 years of age.

If you take too much Azmacort, call your healthcare provider or local Poison Control Center, or seek emergency medical attention right away.

• Store Azmacort, including the metal canister, at room temperature.
• Protect from freezing temperatures and direct sunlight.
• For best results, the canister should be at room temperature before use.
• DO NOT use after the date shown as DO NOT “EXP” on the label or box.
• Azmacort canisters are for use with Azmacort Inhalation Aerosol actuators and spacer-mouthpieces only. The actuator and spacer-mouthpiece should not be used with other aerosol medications.
• Keep this and all medicines out of the reach of children.
• This medicine has been prescribed for you by your doctor. DO NOT give this medicine to anyone else.