Mometasone, Inhalation moh-MET-a-sone

What are other names for this medicine?

Type of medicine: corticosteroid; controller

Generic and brand names: mometasone, inhalation; Asmanex Twisthaler

What is this medicine used for?

This medicine is a steroid that is inhaled through the mouth as long-term treatment to prevent asthma attacks. You may be able to reduce the dose of other steroids that you take in pill form to treat asthma.

This medicine will not stop asthma attacks that have already started. Your healthcare provider will prescribe another medicine to be used during an attack.

What should my healthcare provider know before I take this medicine?

Before taking this medicine, tell your healthcare provider if you have:

• an allergy any medicine, or to lactose or milk
• diabetes
• eye problems such as glaucoma or cataracts
• heart disease
• liver or kidney disease
• myasthenia gravis
• osteoporosis or other problems with bone density
• seizures
• thyroid disease

Also tell your provider if you have recently had an infection such as chickenpox, herpes, measles, or tuberculosis.

Females of childbearing age: Tell your healthcare provider if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant while using this medicine. It is not known whether this medicine will harm an unborn baby. Do not breast-feed while using this medicine without your healthcare provider's approval.

How do I use it?

Carefully read the information sheet that comes in the medicine package. If you do not understand the directions or how to use the medicine, ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist to explain.

1. Wash your hands before and after using this medicine.
2. Remove the inhaler from its foil pouch.
3. Hold the inhaler straight up with the pink part on the bottom.
4. Twist the cap to your left to remove it. As you lift off the cap, the dose counter on the base will count down by one. This loads the medicine that you are now ready to inhale.
5. Breathe out fully. Then bring the inhaler up to your mouth with the mouthpiece facing toward you.
6. Place it in your mouth, holding it straight out. Close your lips firmly around the mouthpiece and take in a fast, deep breath through your mouth.
7. Remove the inhaler from your mouth and hold your breath for 5 to 10 seconds, or as long as is comfortable. Do not breathe out through the inhaler.
8. After you take your medicine, wipe the mouthpiece dry. Replace the cap firmly by turning it in a clockwise direction as you gently press down. You will hear a click when the cap is fully closed.

Rinse your mouth with water after each use to prevent thrush (a fungal infection that shows up as white spots on your tongue and in your mouth).

Use this medicine regularly and exactly as your healthcare provider prescribes. Do not use more of it or use it more often than prescribed. Do not use this medicine for other conditions unless your healthcare provider approves. Do not stop using this medicine without your provider's approval.

What if I miss a dose?

If you miss a dose, use it as soon as you remember unless it is almost time for the next scheduled dose. In that case, skip the missed dose and use the next one as directed. Do not use double doses. If you are not sure of what to do if you miss a dose, or if you miss more than one dose, contact your healthcare provider.

What if I overdose?

Symptoms of an acute overdose have not been reported.

What should I watch out for?

If you have switched from steroid tablets taken by mouth to this medicine, you may need extra doses of steroid tablets during periods of stress such as injury, surgery, infection, or severe asthma attacks. Talk with your healthcare provider about this.

You may get infections more easily when you are taking this medicine. Stay away from people with colds, flu, or other infections. If you are exposed to chickenpox or measles while taking this medicine, contact your healthcare provider right away. Also, do not have any vaccines without getting your healthcare provider's approval first.

This medicine may be absorbed into your body. If you use it for a long time, your healthcare provider will want to see you regularly to see how the medicine is affecting you. Keep all your appointments for checkups.

Contact your healthcare provider if your symptoms do not improve in 2 weeks or if they get worse. Also contact your healthcare provider if you develop any signs of an infection.

If you need emergency care, surgery, or dental work, tell the healthcare provider or dentist you are taking this medicine.

This medicine may affect growth in children. Talk to your healthcare provider about this.

What are the possible side effects?

Along with its needed effects, your medicine may cause some unwanted side effects. Some side effects may be very serious. Some side effects may go away as your body adjusts to the medicine. Tell your healthcare provider if you have any side effects that continue or get worse.

Life-threatening (Report these to your healthcare provider right away. If you cannot reach your healthcare provider right away, get emergency medical care or call 911 for help): Allergic reaction (hives; itching; rash; trouble breathing; tightness in your chest; swelling of your lips, tongue, and throat).

Serious (report these to your healthcare provider right away): Sore throat, fever, wheezing, changes in vision, unusual tiredness or weakness, severe nausea or vomiting, dizziness.

Other: Painful white or red patches inside your mouth, loss of taste or smell, headache, nausea, vomiting, cough, dry throat, muscle or joint pain, back pain.

What products might interact with this medicine?

When you take this medicine with other medicines, it can change the way this or any of the other medicines work. Nonprescription medicines, vitamins, natural remedies, and certain foods may also interact. Using these products together might cause harmful side effects. Talk to your healthcare provider if you are taking:

• aldesleukin (Proleukin)
• antibiotics such as clarithromycin (Biaxin) isoniazid, and telithromycin (Ketek)
• antifungals such as fluconazole (Diflucan), itraconazole (Sporanox), and ketoconazole (Nizoral)
• anti-HIV medicines such as atazanavir (Reyataz), delavirdine (Rescriptor), indinavir (Crixivan), nelfinavir (Viracept), and ritonavir (Norvir)
• other corticosteroids such as cortisone, dexamethasone, fludrocortisone (Florinef), hydrocortisone (Cortef, Hydrocortone, A-HydroCort), methylprednisolone (Medrol), prednisone (Prednisone Intensol, Sterapred), and prednisolone (Prelone)
• telaprevir (Incivek)
• tocilizumab (Actemra)

If you are not sure if your medicines might interact, ask your pharmacist or healthcare provider. Keep a list of all your medicines with you. List all the prescription medicines, nonprescription medicines, supplements, natural remedies, and vitamins that you take. Be sure that you tell all healthcare providers who treat you about all the products you are taking.

How should I store this medicine?

Store this medicine at room temperature. Keep the container tightly closed. Protect it from heat, high humidity, and bright light. Throw away the Twisthaler 45 days after this day or when the dose counter reads 00, whichever comes first.

This advisory includes selected information only and may not include all side effects of this medicine or interactions with other medicines. Ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist for more information or if you have any questions.

Ask your pharmacist for the best way to dispose of outdated medicine or medicine you have not used. Do not throw medicine in the trash.

Keep all medicines out of the reach of children.

Do not share medicines with other people.