Alupent Syrup (Orciprenaline Sulfate)

Use ALUPENT as directed by your doctor. Check the label on the medicine for exact dosing instructions.

• ALUPENT may be taken with or without food. If stomach upset occurs, take with food to reduce stomach irritation.
• If you miss a dose of ALUPENT, take it as soon as possible. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not take 2 doses at once.

Ask your health care provider any questions you may have about how to use ALUPENT.

Major Side Effects

You should check with your doctor immediately if any of these side effects occur when taking metaproterenol:

More common:

• Fast, pounding, or irregular heartbeat or pulse

Less common:

• Shakiness in the legs, arms, hands, or feet
• trembling or shaking of the hands or feet
• worsening of asthma

Rare

• Blurred vision
• chest pain
• chills
• cough
• diarrhea
• dizziness
• fainting
• fever
• general feeling of discomfort or illness
• headache
• increased sweating
• joint pain
• loss of appetite
• muscle aches and pains
• nausea
• nervousness
• pounding in the ears
• puffiness of the face and fingers
• runny nose
• shivering
• slow or fast heartbeat
• sore throat
• sweating
• swelling
• trouble sleeping
• unusual tiredness or weakness
• vomiting

If any of the following symptoms of overdose occur while taking metaproterenol, get emergency help immediately:

Symptoms of overdose:

• Arm, back, or jaw pain
• chest discomfort
• chest tightness or heaviness
• confusion
• dizziness, faintness, or lightheadedness when getting up suddenly from a lying or sitting position
• dry mouth
• general feeling of discomfort or illness
• shortness of breath
• sleeplessness
• unable to sleep

Minor Side Effects

Some of the side effects that can occur with metaproterenol may not need medical attention. As your body adjusts to the medicine during treatment these side effects may go away. Your health care professional may also be able to tell you about ways to reduce or prevent some of these side effects. If any of the following side effects continue, are bothersome or if you have any questions about them, check with your health care professional:

Less common:

• Abdominal or stomach pain

Rare

• Bad, unusual, or unpleasant (after) taste
• change in appetite
• drowsiness
• dry mouth or throat
• itching skin
• pain
• raised red swellings on the skin, lips, tongue, or in the throat
• tightening of the muscles
• weakness

Do NOT use ALUPENT if:

• you are allergic to any ingredient in ALUPENT
• you have had an unexpected reaction to another sympathomimetic (eg, albuterol, pseudoephedrine)
• you have a fast heartbeat
• you are taking another beta-adrenergic bronchodilator (eg, albuterol) or droxidopa

Contact your doctor or health care provider right away if any of these apply to you.

Before using ALUPENT:

Some medical conditions may interact with ALUPENT. Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you have any medical conditions, especially if any of the following apply to you:

• if you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding
• if you are taking any prescription or nonprescription medicine, herbal preparation, or dietary supplement
• if you have allergies to medicines, foods, or other substances
• if you have heart problems (eg, irregular heartbeat, congestive heart failure) or high blood pressure
• if you have a history of seizures (eg, epilepsy), diabetes, an overactive thyroid, or have an adrenal gland tumor (eg, pheochromocytoma)

Some MEDICINES MAY INTERACT with ALUPENT. Tell your health care provider if you are taking any other medicines, especially any of the following:

• Beta-blockers (eg, propranolol) because the effectiveness of ALUPENT may be decreased
• Beta-adrenergic bronchodilators (eg, albuterol), catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) inhibitors (eg, entacapone), monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitors (eg, phenelzine), sympathomimetics (eg, pseudoephedrine), or tricyclic antidepressants (eg, amitriptyline) because side effects may be increased by ALUPENT
• Droxidopa because the risk of side effects, such as irregular heartbeat or heart attack, may be increased

This may not be a complete list of all interactions that may occur. Ask your health care provider if ALUPENT may interact with other medicines that you take. Check with your health care provider before you start, stop, or change the dose of any medicine.