Prescription medication · Long-Acting Beta-2 Agonist (LABA)
formoterol
Also sold as Foradil, Perforomist. Formoterol inhalation solution is used to treat chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
Data updated 2026-05-15
- 5,509
- FDA reports
- 3
- InteractionsFew interactions
- 64% less
- Generic vs brandBig savings
- $9.29
- Brand price (NADAC)
What the data shows
formoterol (Foradil) is a prescription Long-Acting Beta-2 Agonist (LABA), with 5,509 FDA adverse-event reports on file, whose generic runs roughly half the brand price or less (64% less).
Reporting volume reflects how widely a drug is used and studied, not how dangerous it is, a FAERS report documents a temporal association, never proof of cause.
formoterol (Foradil) is a prescription Long-Acting Beta-2 Agonist (LABA). Formoterol inhalation solution is used to treat chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
Formoterol is a medicine that helps open your airways. It is used to make breathing easier for people with COPD.
Verify with FDA → · CMS NADAC pricing →
Drug Pricing (NADAC)
Brand Price
$9.29/unit
Generic Price
$3.37/unit
Generic Savings
64%
Generic Available
Yes (9 manufacturers)
Pricing data from NADAC (CMS), effective December 25, 2024. Compare all drug costs →
What it does
Formoterol inhalation solution is used to treat chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
Common side effects
Diarrhea, Nausea, Runny nose
Key warnings
If you have asthma, you should not take formoterol without also using an inhaled corticosteroid medicine.
The sections below are summarized in plain English from formoterol's FDA-approved prescribing information. They describe what the official label says, and are not personal medical advice.
How It Works
Formoterol is a long-acting beta-2 agonist (LABA). It works by relaxing the muscles around your airways. This allows more air to flow in and out of your lungs.
How to Take It
Use one 20 mcg vial twice a day, once in the morning and once in the evening. Use a nebulizer machine to breathe in the medicine. Do not use more than 40 mcg in one day. Always store the vial in its foil pouch until right before you use it.
This is a plain-language summary of formoterol's FDA labeling, not individualized dosing advice. Ask a pharmacist or prescriber before changing how you take this medication.
Pregnancy & Breastfeeding
Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known if formoterol will harm your unborn baby. Talk to your doctor about the risks and benefits of using formoterol during pregnancy. It is also not known if formoterol passes into breast milk.
This is a plain-language summary of formoterol's FDA labeling, not individualized advice. Ask a pharmacist or prescriber about pregnancy or breastfeeding on this medication.
Missed Dose
If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and take your next dose at the regular time.
This is a plain-language summary of formoterol's FDA labeling, not individualized advice. Ask a pharmacist or prescriber what to do about your specific missed dose.
Storage
Store unopened vials in the refrigerator. Once dispensed, you can store it in the refrigerator or at room temperature for up to 3 months.
Side Effects (from patient reports)
Based on 5,509 FDA adverse event reports.
Most-reported reactions
Adverse reactions in FAERS for formoterol, by number of reports
- Difficulty breathing
Difficulty breathing
1,076 reports
- Asthma
Asthma
1,032 reports
- Cough
Cough
604 reports
- Wheezing
Wheezing
543 reports
- Pneumonia 416
Pneumonia
416 reports
- Medicine not fully working 410
Medicine not fully working
410 reports
- Blocked airways 404
Blocked airways
404 reports
- Acid reflux 373
Acid reflux
373 reports
- Headache 331
Headache
331 reports
- Tiredness 320
Tiredness
320 reports
What this shows Bars show how often each reaction was reported, not how likely it is to happen, a report records a temporal association, never proof that the drug caused it.
Serious Warnings
If you have asthma, you should not take formoterol without also using an inhaled corticosteroid medicine. Using formoterol alone for asthma can increase the risk of serious asthma problems, including death. Do not use formoterol to treat sudden breathing problems. Always have a rescue inhaler with you to treat sudden symptoms.
Known Drug Interactions
May potentiate effect of formoterol fumarate on cardiovascular system. ( 7.6 ) 7.1 Adrenergic Drugs If additional adrenergic drugs are to be administered by any route, they should be used with caution because the sympathetic effects of formoterol, a component of DUAKLIR PRESSAIR, may be potentiated [see Warnings and Precautions (5.7) ] . 7.2 Xanthine Derivatives, Steroids Concomitant treatment with xanthine derivatives, or steroids may potentiate any hypokalemic effect of beta-adrenergic agonists such as formoterol, a component of DUAKLIR PRESSAIR.
Mechanism: These drugs can increase the effects on your heart and blood vessels. This might cause your heart to beat too fast or raise your blood pressure.
What to do: Use this combination with caution. Your doctor should check your heart health and blood pressure regularly while you are using these medicines.
May potentiate effect of formoterol on vascular system. 7.2 Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors and Tricyclic Antidepressants SYMBICORT should be administered with caution to patients being treated with monoamine oxidase inhibitors or tricyclic antidepressants, or within 2 weeks of discontinuation of such agents, because the action of formoterol, a component of SYMBICORT, on the vascular system may be potentiated by these agents. 7.3 Beta-Adrenergic Receptor Blocking Agents Beta-blockers (including eye drops) may not only block the pulmonary effect of beta-agonists, such as formoterol, a...
Mechanism: These medicines can work together to increase the effects of formoterol on your heart and blood vessels. This can lead to changes in your heart rate or blood pressure.
What to do: Use this combination with caution. Your doctor should monitor your heart health and blood pressure closely while you are taking these drugs.
May potentiate effect of formoterol fumarate on cardiovascular system. ( 7.6 ) 7.1 Adrenergic Drugs If additional adrenergic drugs are to be administered by any route, they should be used with caution because the sympathetic effects of formoterol, a component of BEVESPI AEROSPHERE, may be potentiated [see Warnings and Precautions (5.3) ] . 7.2 Xanthine Derivatives, Steroids, or Diuretics Concomitant treatment with xanthine derivatives, steroids, or diuretics may potentiate any hypokalemic effect of beta 2 adrenergic agonists such as formoterol, a component of BEVESPI AEROSPHERE.
Mechanism: Taking two drugs that work the same way can cause a stronger effect on your heart and nervous system. This happens because both drugs stimulate the same receptors in your body.
What to do: Use this combination with caution. Your doctor may need to monitor your heart rate and blood pressure more closely.
This is a plain-language summary of interactions documented in FDA labeling, not individualized advice. Ask a pharmacist or prescriber before combining medications.
Common Questions
Can I use this medicine for a sudden asthma attack?
How often should I use this medicine?
What should I do if my breathing gets worse?
Can I mix this medicine with other medicines in my nebulizer?
How should I store this medicine?
What type of nebulizer should I use?
Is it okay if the solution is not clear?
Can I take this medicine by mouth?
What if I accidentally use too much?
Can I stop taking this medicine if I feel better?
What are the common side effects of formoterol?
Does formoterol interact with other medications?
What drug class is formoterol?
Is there a generic version of formoterol?
Is formoterol safe during pregnancy?
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Medication Guides
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What the FDA Data Shows for formoterol
The FDA label for formoterol (sold under brand names such as Foradil, Perforomist) classifies it as a prescription-only medication in the Long-Acting Beta-2 Agonist (LABA) class. Formoterol inhalation solution is used to treat chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Official labeling lists 7 commonly reported side effects, including Diarrhea, Nausea, Runny nose.
Post-market surveillance from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) captures real-world experience. For this drug, FAERS contains 5,509 voluntary reports. The database also lists 3 documented drug interactions derived from FDA labeling, with the top-flagged interaction rated moderate severity. NADAC pricing from CMS shows a generic unit cost of $3.37 versus $9.29 for the brand - a 64% generic savings.
Report counts do not establish causation, a FAERS entry documents a temporal association, not proof that the drug produced the outcome. Widely prescribed medications naturally accumulate more reports than niche therapies, so raw totals must be interpreted alongside total exposure. Shortage status, recall history, and patent information further shape supply and switching decisions. This page summarizes public FDA data for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, always consult a licensed healthcare provider before starting, stopping, or changing any medication.
Data Sources
Drug labeling: FDA Drug Labels (SPL/DailyMed). Adverse events: FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). Pricing: CMS National Average Drug Acquisition Cost (NADAC).
FAERS reports are voluntary and do not establish causation. Drug interactions are derived from FDA labeling and clinical references. Always consult a healthcare professional before making medication decisions.
Last updated: September 26, 2024
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.
Data currency: FDA FAERS adverse-event reports through 2025, CMS NADAC acquisition-cost pricing effective December 2024, compiled and last refreshed May 2026. See our methodology for per-source dates and refresh cadence. Spot a figure that looks wrong? Report a correction.
All federal data sources used on this page
- FDA Orange Book - approved drug products with therapeutic equivalence. accessdata.fda.gov/cder/ob
- FDA DailyMed - NIH-hosted drug labeling for FDA-approved meds. dailymed.nlm.nih.gov
- FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) - post-marketing safety surveillance. fda.gov/drugs/faers
- NLM RxNorm - standardized clinical drug nomenclature. nlm.nih.gov/research/umls/rxnorm
- CMS Medicare Part B Drug Average Sales Price Files - federal drug pricing data. cms.gov/medicare/part-b-drugs/asp
- FDA Drug Shortages Database - current and resolved drug shortage tracking. accessdata.fda.gov/drugshortages