Program Description

COPD is the sixth leading cause of death worldwide, and more alarming is the fact that mortality from this disease is predicted to rise. The impact of COPD may be underestimated, especially given that as many as half of all cases of COPD may be undiagnosed. Of the patients who are diagnosed with COPD, a significant percentage experience daily symptoms that affect their everyday lives. Early diagnosis and treatment are key to effective management of COPD.

In this promotional program, Improving Management of COPD, sponsored by AstraZeneca, the makers of SYMBICORT (budesonide/formoterol fumarate dihydrate) Inhalation Aerosol, Dr David Mannino and Dr James Donohue discuss improving diagnosis and effective management of COPD.

Program highlights:

• Discussing COPD as a treatable disease with airflow obstruction that is partially reversible and differentiating COPD from asthma and other diagnoses with similar symptoms and presentations
• Emphasizing the importance of spirometry in the diagnosis and assessment of COPD
• Reinforce the role that Symbicort can play in the management of COPD. 
  
  

Important Safety Information, including boxed WARNING

• For patients with COPD, the approved dosage of SYMBICORT is 160/4.5 mcg, 2 inhalations twice daily
• Lower respiratory tract infections, including pneumonia, have been reported following the inhaled administration of corticosteroids
  
  

  -In 2 placebo-controlled SYMBICORT COPD clinical studies, pneumonia did not occur with greater incidence in the SYMBICORT 160/4.5 group, compared with placebo, while the incidence of lung infections other than pneumonia (eg, bronchitis) was higher for SYMBICORT than placebo

• SYMBICORT is NOT a rescue medication and does NOT replace fast-acting inhalers to treat acute symptoms
• Long-term use of orally inhaled corticosteroids, such as budesonide, a component of SYMBICORT, may affect normal bone metabolism resulting in a loss of bone mineral density
• Glaucoma, increased intraocular pressure, and cataracts have been reported in patients following the long-term administration of inhaled corticosteroids, including budesonide, a component of SYMBICORT
• Patients who are receiving SYMBICORT should not use additional formoterol or other long-acting beta2-agonists for any reason
• Caution should be exercised when considering the coadministration of SYMBICORT with long-term ketoconazole and other known potent CYP3A4 inhibitors
• SYMBICORT should be administered with caution in patients being treated with MAO inhibitors or tricyclic antidepressants, or within 2 weeks of discontinuation of such agents
• Particular care is needed for patients being transferred from systemically active corticosteroids to inhaled corticosteroids
• Excessive beta-adrenergic stimulation has been associated with central nervous system and cardiovascular effects. SYMBICORT, like all products containing sympathomimetic amines, should be used with caution in patients with cardiovascular disorders, especially coronary insufficiency, cardiac arrhythmias, and hypertension
• The most common adverse events ≥3% reported in COPD clinical trials included nasopharyngitis, oral candidiasis, bronchitis, sinusitis, and upper respiratory tract infection
• WARNING: Long-acting beta2-adrenergic agonists may increase the risk of asthma-related death. Therefore, when treating patients with asthma, SYMBICORT should only be used for patients with asthma not adequately controlled on other asthma-controller medications (eg, low- to medium-dose inhaled corticosteroids) or whose disease severity clearly warrants initiation of treatment with 2 maintenance therapies. Data from a large placebo-controlled US study that compared the safety of another long-acting beta2-adrenergic agonist (salmeterol) or placebo added to usual asthma therapy showed an increase in asthma-related deaths in patients receiving salmeterol. This finding with salmeterol may apply to formoterol (a long-acting beta2-adrenergic agonist), one of the active ingredients in SYMBICORT (see WARNINGS in full Prescribing Information)
   

Indications

• SYMBICORT 160/4.5 is indicated for the maintenance treatment of airflow obstruction in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), including chronic bronchitis and emphysema
• SYMBICORT is NOT indicated for the relief of acute bronchospasm and should not be initiated in patients during rapidly deteriorating or potentially life-threatening episodes of COPD

Please see full Prescribing Information, including boxed WARNING, also available at www.SymbicortTouchPoints.com

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300823 05/10

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