PULMICORT TURBOHALER 200 - patient leaflet, side effects, dosage

1. what pulmicort turbohaler is and what it is used for

Pulmicort Turbohaler is an inhaler. It contains a medicine called budesonide. This belongs to a group of medicines called corticosteroids’. It works by reducing and preventing swelling and inflammation in your lungs.

Your doctor has prescribed this medicine to treat asthma. Your doctor will prescribe two asthma inhalers: Pulmicort Turbohaler and a separate ‘reliever inhaler’.

• Use Pulmicort Turbohaler every day, as your doctor has told you to. This helps to prevent asthma symptoms from happening.
• Use your ‘reliever inhaler’ when you get asthma symptoms, to make it easier to breathe again.

2. what you need to know before you use pulmicort turbohaler

Do not use Pulmicort Turbohaler:

If you are allergic to budesonide.

Warnings and precautions

Talk to your doctor or pharmacist before using Pulmicort Turbohaler if:

• You have a lung infection.
• You have a cold or chest infection or any problems with your breathing.
• You have or have ever had tuberculosis (TB).
• You have liver problems.

Contact your doctor if you experience blurred vision or other visual disturbances.

Other medicines and Pulmicort Turbohaler

Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking, have recently taken or might take any other medicines. This includes medicines that you buy without a prescription and herbal medicines. This is because Pulmicort Turbohaler can affect the way some medicines work and some medicines can have an effect on Pulmicort Turbohaler and your doctor may wish to monitor you carefully.

In particular, tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking any of the following medicines:

• Steroid medicines.
• Medicines to treat fungal infections (such as itraconazole and ketoconazole).
• HIV medicines (such as ritonavir or cobicistat-containing products).

Pregnancy, breast-feeding and fertility

• If you are pregnant or breast-feeding, think you may be pregnant or are planning to have a baby, ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice before using this medicine. Do not use Pulmicort Turbohaler unless your doctor tells you to.
• If you get pregnant while using Pulmicort Turbohaler, do not stop using Pulmicort Turbohaler but talk to your doctor immediately.

Driving and using machines

Pulmicort Turbohaler is not likely to affect you being able to drive or use any tools or machines.

Information you may have to carry while you are using Pulmicort Turbohaler

If you are using a high dose of Pulmicort Turbohaler your doctor may ask you to carry a steroid warning card. This explains to others about your medication.

3. how to use pulmicort turbohaler

• Always use this medicine exactly as your doctor or pharmacist has told you. Check with your doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure.
• If Pulmicort Turbohaler is to be used by your child, make sure they use it correctly as your doctor has told you.
• It is important to use Pulmicort Turbohaler every day, even if you have no asthma symptoms at the time.
• Your breathing may improve within 2 days. However it can take up to 4 weeks for the medicine to have its full effect.

Important information about your asthma symptoms

If you feel you are getting breathless or wheezy while using Pulmicort Turbohaler, you should continue to use Pulmicort Turbohaler but go to see your doctor as soon as possible, as you may need additional treatment.

Contact your doctor immediately if:

• Your breathing is getting worse or you often wake up at night with asthma.
• Your chest starts to feel tight in the morning or your chest tightness lasts longer than usual.

These signs could mean that your condition is not being properly controlled and you may need different or additional treatment immediately.

Use your Pulmicort Turbohaler every day. This helps to prevent asthma symptoms from happening. Your doctor will advise you of the correct dose to treat your asthma. Your doctor will reduce your medication to the lowest dose needed to control your asthma.

If your doctor has told you to use your Turbohaler twice a day: Adults and children (13 years and above)

• The recommended dose is 1 or 2 inhalations, twice a day (in the morning and in the evening).
• Your doctor may increase this to a maximum of 1600 micrograms a day.
• If your asthma is getting worse and you are using your ‘reliever inhaler’ more often or you have more symptoms:

• – double your dose of Pulmicort Turbohaler immediately and talk to your doctor as soon as possible

• – double your dose by taking twice as many inhalations each time.

Use in Children (5 – 12 years of age)

• The recommended dose is 1 or 2 inhalations, twice a day (in the morning and in the evening).
• The doctor may increase this to a maximum of 800 micrograms a day.

If your doctor has told you to use your Turbohaler once a day:

• Only use your Turbohaler once a day if your doctor has told you to.
• Use your Turbohaler at the same time each evening.

Adults and children (13 years and above)

• The recommended dose is 1 or 2 inhalations, in the evening.
• If your asthma is getting worse and you are using your ‘reliever inhaler’ more often or you have more symptoms:

• – double your dose immediately and talk to your doctor as soon as possible

• – double your dose by taking the same number of inhalations your doctor has told you twice a day (once in the morning and once in the evening).

Use in Children (5 – 12 years of age)

• The recommended dose is 1 or 2 inhalations, in the evening.
• The maximum dose is 400 micrograms a day.

Use your separate ‘reliever inhaler’ to treat asthma symptoms when they happen. Always keep your ‘reliever inhaler’ with you to use when you need it. Do not use Pulmicort Turbohaler to treat asthma symptoms – use your ‘reliever inhaler’.

How to prepare a new Turbohaler for use Before using Pulmicort Turbohaler for the first time you need to prepare the Turbohaler for use.

Unscrew the white cover and lift it off.

Hold your Turbohaler upright with brown base at the bottom. Do not hold the mouthpiece when you turn the grip. Turn the brown base as far as it will go in one direction. Then turn it back as far as it will go in the other direction. It does not matter which way you turn first. You should hear a click sound. Perform the procedure twice.

The Turbohaler is now ready for use, and you should not repeat the above procedure again.

To take a dose, please follow the instructions below.

How to take an inhalation

Every time you need to take an inhalation, follow the instructions below.

• 1. Unscrew the white cover and lift it off.

• 2. Hold your Turbohaler upright with the brown base at the bottom.

• 3. Do not hold the mouthpiece when you load your Turbohaler. To load your Turbohaler with a dose, turn the brown base as far as it will go in one direction. Then turn it as far as it will go in the other direction. It does not matter which way you turn it first. You should hear a click sound. Your Turbohaler is now loaded and ready to use. Only load your Turbohaler when you need to use it.

• 4. Hold your Turbohaler away from your mouth. Breathe out gently (as far as is comfortable).

Do not breathe out through your Turbohaler.

• 5. Place the mouthpiece gently between your teeth. Close your lips. Breathe in as deeply and as hard as you can through your mouth. Do not chew or bite on the mouthpiece.