This medicine is subject to additional monitoring. This will allow quick identification
of new safety information. You can help by reporting any side effects you may get.
You can report side effects to your doctor, or directly at www.tga.gov.au/reporting-problems .
ATECTURA® BREEZHALER® 125/62.5, 125/127.5, 125/260 micrograms
Indacaterol (as acetate)/ mometasone furoate
Consumer Medicine Information
What is in this leaflet
This leaflet answers some common questions about ATECTURA BREEZHALER.
It does not contain all the available information. It does not take the place of talking
to your doctor or pharmacist.
All medicines have risks and benefits. Your doctor has weighed the risks of you taking
ATECTURA BREEZHALER against the benefits they expect it will have for you.
The information in this leaflet was last updated on the date listed on the final page.
More recent information on the medicine may be available.
You should ensure that you speak to your pharmacist or doctor to obtain the most up
to date information on the medicine.
You can also download the most up to date leaflet from www.novartis.com.au
Those updates may contain important information about the medicine and its use of
which you should be aware.
If you have any concerns about taking this medicine, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
Keep this leaflet with the medicine.
You may need to read it again.
What ATECTURA Breezhaler is used for
Your doctor has prescribed this medicine to treat asthma in adults and adolescents
12 years of age and older.
Asthma is a serious, long-term lung disease where the muscles surrounding the smaller
airways become tight (bronchoconstriction), swollen and irritated (inflammation).
Symptoms come and go, and include shortness of breath, wheezing, chest tightness and
cough.
Atectura capsules for inhalation contains two active substances called indacaterol
and mometasone furoate.
Indacaterol belong to a group of medicines called bronchodilators. They relax the
muscles of the small airways in the lungs. This helps to open the airways and makes
it easier for air to get in and out of the lungs. When they are taken regularly, it
helps the small airways to remain open.
Mometasone furoate belongs to a group of medicines called corticosteroids, often simply
called steroids. Corticosteroids reduce inflammation. They reduce the swelling and
irritation in the small airways in the lungs and so gradually ease breathing problems.
Corticosteroids also help to prevent attacks of asthma.
The pack contains an inhaler (Breezhaler®) and capsules in blister cards that contain the medicine as inhalation powder. The
inhaler enables you to inhale (breathe into the lungs) the medicine contained in a
capsule. Only use the inhaler provided in the pack.
You should use ATECTURA BREEZHALER every day as directed by your doctor and not only
when you have breathing problems or other symptoms of asthma. This will make sure
that it works properly in controlling your asthma. It should not be used to relieve
a sudden attack of breathlessness or wheezing.
Ask your doctor if you have any questions about why this medicine has been prescribed
for you.
Your doctor may have prescribed it for another reason.
This medicine is not addictive.
This medicine is available only with a doctor's prescription.
When you must not use it
Do not use ATECTURA BREEZHALER if you have an allergy (hypersensitive) to:
lactose or milk protein
indacaterol, mometasone furoate, or any other ingredients listed at the end of this
leaflet.
Some of the symptoms of an allergic reaction may include:
shortness of breath
wheezing or difficulty breathing
swelling of the face, lips, tongue or other parts of the body
rash, itching or hives on the skin
Do not give this medicine to a child under the age of 12 years.
Safety and effectiveness in children younger than 12 years have not been established.
Do not take this medicine after the expiry date printed on the pack or if the packaging
is torn or shows signs of tampering.
If it has expired or is damaged, return it to your pharmacist for disposal.
If you are not sure whether you should start taking this medicine, talk to your doctor.
Before you start to use it
Tell your doctor if you have allergies to any other medicines, foods, preservatives
or dyes.
Tell your doctor if you have or have had any of the following medical conditions:
heart problems, including an irregular or fast heart beat
thyroid gland problems
diabetes or high blood sugar
suffer from seizures or fits
low potassium in your blood
severe liver problems
tuberculosis (TB) of the lung, or any long standing or untreated infections
Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant or are breast-feeding.
Your doctor can discuss with you the risks and benefits involved.
ATECTURA Breezhaler should only be used during pregnancy if the expected benefit to
the patient justifies the potential risk to the fetus.
It is not known whether the active ingredients passes into breast milk. If you are
breast-feeding, your doctor will help you decide whether you can use ATECTURA Breezhaler.
If you have not told your doctor about any of the above, tell him/her before you start
taking ATECTURA BREEZHALER.
Taking other medicines
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking any other medicines, including any
that you get without a prescription from your pharmacy, supermarket or health food
shop.
Some medicines and Atectura may interfere with each other. These include:
medicines to treat depression (e.g. tricyclic antidepressants, monoamine oxidase inhibitors)
medicines similar to ATECTURA Breezhaler (contain similar active substances); these
medicines may increase the risk of experiencing possible side effects
medicines that decrease the level of potassium in your blood such as diuretics (also
known as “water tablets” and used to treat high blood pressure, e.g. hydrochlorothiazide),
other bronchodilators such as methylxanthines for breathing problems (e.g. theophylline)
or steroids (e.g. prednisolone)
medicine to treat high blood pressure or other heart problems (e.g. propranolol) or
to treat glaucoma (e.g. timolol)
medicine to treat fungal infections (e.g., ketoconazole or itraconazole)
medicine to treat HIV infection (e.g., ritonavir, nelfinavir or cobicistat)
Your doctor and pharmacist have more information on medicines to be careful with or
avoid while taking this medicine.
How to inhale ATECTURA Breezhaler
Follow all directions given to you by your doctor or pharmacist carefully.
They may differ from the information contained in this leaflet.
If you do not understand the instructions in the user leaflet, ask your doctor or
pharmacist for help.
How much to inhale
There are three dose strengths of ATECTURA Breezhaler, 125/62.5 micrograms, 125/127.5
micrograms and 125/260 micrograms. Your doctor will decide which dose strength is
appropriate for you.
The usual dose is to inhale the content of one capsule each day. You only need to
use this medicine once a day because its effect lasts for 24 hours. Do not use more
than your doctor tells you to use.
You should inhale the content of one capsule of ATECTURA Breezhaler every day and
continue to use it even when you are not experiencing asthma symptoms.
How to use the Breezhaler
Carefully read the full Instructions for use provided in the package leaflet before
use.
Only use the capsules with the inhaler provided in the pack. The capsules should remain
in the blister until you need to use them.
Peel the backing away from the blister to open it, do not push the capsule through
the foil.
Do not swallow the capsules.
Ensure you rinse your mouth out with water after each use.
Make sure you understand how to use the Breezhaler properly. If you are not sure,
ask your doctor or pharmacist.
When to use it
Inhale ATECTURA Breezhaler at the same time each day.
This will help minimize your symptoms throughout the day and night. It will also help
you remember to use your medicine.
How long to use it
Keep using ATECTURA Breezhaler for as long as your doctor tells you.
Don’t stop unless your doctor advises you to, even if you feel better, as your symptoms
may get worse.
This medicine helps to control your condition, but does not cure it. Your asthma symptoms
may come back if you stop using this medicine.
If you have questions about how long to continue your treatment with ATECTURA Breezhaler,
talk to your doctor or your pharmacist.
If you forget to take it
If you forget to inhale a dose, inhale the dose as soon as possible. Then inhale the
next dose at the usual time. However, do not inhale two doses on the same day.
This may increase the chance of you getting an unwanted side effect.
If you are not sure what to do, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
If you have trouble remembering to take your medicine, ask your pharmacist for some
hints.
If you take use much (overdose)
Immediately telephone your doctor or the Poisons Information Centre (telephone 13
11 26) for advice, or go to Accident and Emergency at the nearest hospital, if you
think that you or anyone else may have taken too much Atectura. Do this even if there
are no signs of discomfort or poisoning.
Things you must do
Only use the inhaler contained in the pack.
Always use this medicine exactly as your doctor or pharmacist has told you. Check
with your doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure.
If you are about to be started on any new medicine, remind your doctor and pharmacist
that you are taking ATECTURA Breezhaler.
Tell any other doctors, dentists, and pharmacists who treat you that you are taking
this medicine.
If you are going to have surgery, tell the surgeon or anaesthetist that you are taking
this medicine.
If you become pregnant while taking this medicine, tell your doctor immediately.
Keep all of your doctor's appointments so that your progress can be checked.
Stop taking ATECTURA Breezhaler and seek medical help immediately if you experience
any of the following:
tightness of the chest, coughing, wheezing or breathlessness immediately after inhalation
of Atectura Breezhaler (signs of paradoxical bronchospasm).
difficulty breathing or swallowing, swelling of the tongue, lips or face, skin rash,
itching and hives (signs of allergic reaction and angioedema).
Things you must not do
Do not use ATECTURA Breezhaler to treat any other complaints unless your doctor tells
you to.
Do not give your medicine to anyone else, even if they have the same condition as
you.
Do not stop taking your medicine or lower the dosage without checking with your doctor.
Things to be careful of
Be careful driving or operating machinery until you know how ATECTURA Breezhaler affects
you.
Side effects
As with all medicines, patients using ATECTURA Breezhaler may experience side effects,
although not everybody gets them.
Tell your doctor or pharmacist as soon as possible if you do not feel well while you
are taking ATECTURA Breezhaler.
This medicine helps most people with asthma, but it may have unwanted side effects
in a few people. Sometimes they are serious, most of the time they are not. You may
need medical attention if you get some of the side effects.
Do not be alarmed by the following lists of side effects. You may not experience any
of them.
Ask your doctor or pharmacist to answer any questions you may have.
Common side effects
voice alteration (hoarseness)
headache
pain in muscles, bones or joints (signs of musculoskeletal pain)
sore throat
The above list may affect up to 1 in every 10 people.
Uncommon side effects
fast heart beat
oral thrush (signs of candidiasis)
high level of sugar in the blood
muscle spasm
skin itching
rash
The above list may affect up to 1 in every 100 people.
If these side effects become severe, tell your doctor or pharmacist.
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you notice anything that is making you feel unwell.
Other side effects not listed above may also occur in some people.
Cleaning and Storage
Follow the instructions in the user leaflet on how to properly clean and take care
of your ATECTURA Breezhaler.
Keep your capsules in the original blister in order to protect from moisture and light,
and do not remove until immediately before use.
Keep your capsules in a cool dry place where the temperature stays below 25°C.
Do not store ATECTURA BREEZHALER or any other medicine in the bathroom or near a sink.
Do not leave it on a window sill or in the car.
Heat and dampness can destroy some medicines.
Keep it where children cannot reach it.
A locked cupboard at least one-and-a-half metres above the ground is a good place
to store medicines.
Disposal
If your doctor tells you to stop taking this medicine or the expiry date has passed,
ask your pharmacist what to do with any medicine that is left over.
What it looks like
The pack contains a white plastic Breezhaler inhaler device together with capsules
in blister cards.
ATECTURA BREEZHALER registered pack sizes include:
125/62.5 micrograms
125/127.5 micrograms
125/260 micrograms
Single pack containing 10 x 1, 30 x 1 hard capsules, together with 1 inhaler.
Ingredients
ATECTURA BREEZHALER contains the active ingredients: indacaterol acetate and mometasone
furoate.
Each capsule delivers:
125 micrograms of indacaterol
62.5 or 127.5 or 260 micrograms of mometasone furoate, depending on which strength
of ATECTURA you have been given.
Atectura capsules also contain:
lactose monohydrate
gelatin (capsule shell)
This medicine does not contain sucrose, gluten, tartrazine or any other azo dyes.
Sponsor
ATECTURA BREEZHALER is supplied in Australia by:
Novartis Pharmaceuticals Australia Pty Limited
ABN 18 004 244 160
54 Waterloo Road
Macquarie Park NSW 2113
Telephone: 1 800 671 203
Web site: www.novartis.com.au
® = Registered Trademark
This leaflet was prepared in June 2020.
Atectura Breezhaler 125/62.5
AUST R 319076
Atectura Breezhaler 125/127.5
AUST R 319075
Atectura Breezhaler 125/260
AUST R 319074
(ate160720c_V2 based on PI ate160720i)
