Cromolyn Sodium, Inhalation

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What are other names for this medicine?

Type of medicine: mast cell stabilizer; asthma treatment

Generic and brand names: cromolyn sodium, inhalation; Intal Aerosol; Intal Spincaps; Intal Solution; Intal Syncroner

What is this medicine used for?

This medicine is inhaled through the mouth every day to help prevent asthma attacks. It will not stop attacks that are in progress. Your healthcare provider will prescribe another medicine to be used during an attack.

This medicine may be used for other conditions as determined by your healthcare provider.

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

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

• an allergic reaction to any medicine
• heart disease
• liver or kidney disease

Females of childbearing age: Tell your healthcare provider if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. Do not breast-feed while taking this medicine without your healthcare provider's approval.

How do I use it?

When you use this medicine every day it lessens the number and severity of asthma attacks. Check the label on the medicine for directions about your specific dose. Your healthcare provider may adjust your dosage, depending on your response. Do not use more or less without your healthcare provider's approval. Do not stop using this medicine without your healthcare provider's approval. If you are using this medicine to prevent trouble breathing when you exercise, use it about 15 to 20 minutes before you start exercising. Talk with your healthcare provider about this.

This medicine comes in 3 forms: an aerosol in a metered-dose inhaler (MDI), capsules for use in a special inhaler, and a solution for use in a power-operated nebulizer.

Wash your hands before using this medicine. If you are using the metered dose inhaler (MDI):

1. Shake the metered dose inhaler (MDI) gently.
2. Hold the MDI upright so the mouthpiece is at the bottom.
3. The best way to use the MDI is to hold the mouthpiece 1-and-1/2 to 2 inches in front of an open mouth (about 2 to 3 finger widths). Try this technique first. It helps keep medicine from ending up in your mouth, which may cause increased side effects. It also helps medicine to reach your lungs rather than the back of the throat. If the open mouth technique is too difficult, you may also place the MDI mouthpiece directly into your mouth and close your lips snugly around it. Talk with your provider or pharmacist about this.
4. Breathe out normally.
5. Press the MDI down once so it releases a spray of medicine into your mouth while you breathe in slowly. (One spray is called a puff.) Each time you press down, a metered (measured) dose is delivered.
6. Continue breathing in as slowly and deeply as possible.
7. Hold your breath for 5 to 10 seconds, or as long as is comfortable (this gives the medicine time to reach the airways).
8. Breathe out slowly through your nose.
9. Take a few normal breaths and then repeat steps 1 through 8 for another inhalation (puff) if required. Take the number of puffs prescribed by your healthcare provider.

Use the metered-dose inhaler exactly as your healthcare provider prescribes. The inhaler delivers the right amount of medicine. Ask your healthcare provider about using this inhaler with a spacer device.

If you have the Spincaps and Spinhaler:

1. Do not take these capsules by mouth. They are only to be used in the inhaler. Do not take a capsule out of the foil until you are ready to use it.
2. Load the capsule into the inhaler.
3. Breathe out.
4. Put the mouthpiece in your mouth, with your lips all the way around it.
5. Inhale deeply. Hold your breath for 10 seconds or as long as is comfortable (this gives the medicine time to reach the airways).
6. Take the inhaler out of your mouth and breathe out through your nose.
7. Repeat the process until the capsule is empty.
8. Wash your inhaler once a week in warm water.

If you are using other inhaled medicines, ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist which you should use first. Use inhaled medicines 10 minutes apart from each other.

The solution for use in a nebulizer may be used by children 2 years old and older as well as adults. Pour 1 bottle of solution into the nebulizer. The nebulizer makes the solution into a mist that is inhaled. Follow your healthcare provider's instructions exactly.

An adult should supervise the use of this medicine by a child.

Hand-operated nebulizers will not work with this medicine. Ask your healthcare provider about using a power-operated nebulizer.

If you do not understand how to use the inhaler or the nebulizer, ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist to explain.

Rinse your mouth with water and spit out the rinse right after you use this medicine. This may reduce the risk of thrush (a fungus infection) in your mouth. It may also help reduce aftertaste, dry mouth, and hoarseness.

Do not get the spray into your eyes. If you do get some of this medicine in your eyes, flush them with lots of cool water.

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?

An acute overdose of this medicine is not likely to cause life-threatening symptoms. If you think that you or anyone else may have taken too much of this medicine, call the poison control center at 800-222-1222.

What should I watch out for?

This medicine is taken daily to prevent symptoms, NOT to treat acute attacks. For acute asthma attacks, you will need a quick-relief medicine.

Do not suddenly stop using this medicine. Your asthma symptoms may get worse.

This medicine may make you dizzy or drowsy. Do not drive or operate machinery unless you are fully alert.

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): increase in asthma symptoms.

Other: Throat irritation or dryness, bad taste in the mouth, cough, nausea, dizziness, drowsiness, headache.

What products might interact with this medicine?

No significant drug interactions have been reported.

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.

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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.

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