formoterol
Brand names: Foradil, Perforomist
Formoterol is a medicine that helps open your airways. It is used to make breathing easier for people with COPD.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 5,565 FDA adverse event reports.
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 component...
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.
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?
Related Medications in Long-Acting Beta-2 Agonist (LABA)
Other drugs grouped near formoterol — same-class peers and common alternatives.
aclidinium
Tudorza Pressair
Duaklir Pressair is a combination medicine used to help people with COPD breathe better.
Compare with formoterol →
albuterol
Ventolin, ProAir
Albuterol is a drug that helps you breathe easier.
Compare with formoterol →
albuterol/ipratropium
Combivent Respimat, DuoNeb
Combivent Respimat is a combination medicine that helps open your airways.
Compare with formoterol →
beclomethasone
Qvar
Qvar Redihaler is an inhaled medicine that helps control asthma symptoms.
Compare with formoterol →
benralizumab
Fasenra
Fasenra is a medicine that can help treat severe asthma and EGPA.
Compare with formoterol →
Medication Guides
Understanding Drug Interactions
How CYP450 enzymes, inhibitors, and inducers affect your medications
Generic vs Brand Name Drugs
FDA requirements, cost savings, and when the difference matters
Narrow Therapeutic Index Drugs
Why some drugs demand precise dosing and monitoring
Common Drug Interactions
Dangerous medication combinations and how to protect yourself
Related Health & Safety Data
🩺 Find a Doctor
Search prescribers for Long-Acting Beta-2 Agonist (LABA)
🏨 Hospital Quality
CMS hospital ratings, safety scores & patient outcomes
💊 Supplement Data
NIH DSLD — check supplement ingredients & label claims
🍽️ Food Safety Alerts
FDA recalls, inspections & outbreak investigations
⚠️ Product Recalls
FDA, CPSC & NHTSA recall search
💉 Procedure Costs
Medicare procedure pricing for 9,297 procedures
Save on formoterol
Compare prices and find discounts at pharmacies near you. Free coupons can save up to 80% on prescriptions.
Disclosure: This link may earn us a commission at no extra cost to you. See our terms.
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 5,565 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.
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