Alvesco guidelines.

Advise your patients to use Alvesco Inhalation Aerosol regularly as prescribed. It is important for them to know that it may take 4 weeks or longer after starting therapy for symptoms to improve. Patients should continue using Alvesco even when they are feeling better.1

Dosing information.1

  • Alvesco (ciclesonide) Inhalation Aerosol should be administered by oral inhalation.
  • Alvesco Inhalation Aerosol is available in 2 strengths—80 mcg or 160 mcg. Both are pressurized, metered-dose aerosol units fitted with a dose indicator.
  • Prime Alvesco Inhalation Aerosol by actuating 3 times prior to using the first dose from a new canister or when the inhaler has not been used for more than 10 days.
  • Individual patients will experience a variable time to onset and degree of symptom relief. Maximum benefit may not be achieved for four weeks or longer after initiation.
  • After asthma stability has been achieved, it is desirable to titrate to the lowest effective dosage to reduce the possibility of side effects.
  • For patients who do not respond adequately to the starting dose after 4 weeks of therapy, higher doses may provide additional asthma control. The safety and efficacy of Alvesco when administered in excess of the highest recommended doses has not been established.
  • Patients should be advised to use Alvesco at regular intervals, since its effectiveness depends on regular use. Patients should be instructed not to stop Alvesco abruptly.

Recommended dosages.1

The recommended starting dose and the highest recommended dose of Alvesco Inhalation Aerosol are listed in the following table.

Recommended Dosages chart

*Prednisone should be reduced gradually, no faster than 2.5 mg/day on a weekly basis, beginning after at least 1 week of therapy with Alvesco. Patients should be carefully monitored for signs of asthma instability, including monitoring of serial objective measures of airflow, and for signs of adrenal insufficiency during steroid taper and following discontinuation of oral corticosteroid therapy [see Warnings and Precautions (5.1) in Full Prescribing Information].

Using Alvesco.

Using the Alvesco inhalation device properly is important to getting the medicine deep into the large and small airways of the lungs. Share the “Proper Use” video below with your patients and help them make the most of their Alvesco Inhalation Aerosol therapy.

Administration — How to use Alvesco.1

1. Prime the inhaler.

  • Patients will need to prime their Alvesco Inhalation Aerosol by actuating 3 times prior to using the first dose from a new canister or when the inhaler has not been used for more than 10 days.
  • The dose indicator display should be at the “60” inhalation mark after priming but before using Alvesco for the first time.

2. Using the inhaler.

  • Instruct patients to breathe out fully through the mouth, letting as much air out of their lungs as possible.
  • Then they should put their lips around the mouthpiece, above the tongue.
  • While breathing in deeply and slowly through the mouth, patients should press down on the dose indicator with their finger, and hold their breath for about 10 seconds, or for as long as is comfortable.
  • Then they should remove the inhaler from the mouth and breathe out gently.
  • Note: It’s normal to hear a soft click from the indicator as it counts down during use.
  • Instruct patients to rinse their mouth with water and spit it out, but not to swallow.

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