Fartolin Special Precautions

The management of asthma should normally follow a stepwise programme, and patient response should be monitored clinically by lung function tests.
Increasing use of short-acting inhaled beta-2-agonists to control symptoms indicates deterioration of asthma control. Under these conditions the patient's therapy plan should be given to starting or increasing corticosteroid therapy. In patients considered at risk, daily peak flow monitoring may be instituted.
Patients receiving treatment at home with salbutamol inhalation solution must be warned that if either the usual relief is diminished or the usual duration of action reduced, they should not increase the dose or its frequency of administration, but should seek medical advice.
Salbutamol inhalation solution should be used with caution in patients known to have received large doses of other sympathomimetic drugs.
Salbutamol should be administered cautiously to patients with thyrotoxicosis. A small number of cases of acute angle closure glaucoma have been reported in patients treated with a combination of nebulised salbutamol with nebulised salbutamol and ipratropium Bromide. A combination of nebulised salbutamol with nebullsed anticholinergics should be used cautiously. Patients should receive adequate instruction in correct administration and be warned to let the solution or mist enter the eye.
Potentially serious hypokalaemia may results from beta-2 agonist therapy mainly from parenteral and nebulised administration. Particular caution is advised in acute severe asthma as this effect may be potentiated by concomitant treatment with xanthine derivatives, steroids, diuretics and by hypoxia.
It is recommended that serum potassium levels are monitored in such situations.