Eklira Genuair

Eklira Genuair contains aclidinium bromide, a long-acting muscarinic antagonist (LAMA) indicated for the maintenance bronchodilator treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in adults.

It is used to relieve symptoms such as breathlessness, wheezing, and cough associated with COPD.

Aclidinium works by blocking muscarinic M3 receptors in the airway smooth muscle. Acetylcholine, acting on these receptors, normally causes bronchoconstriction.

By inhibiting this action, aclidinium produces sustained relaxation of the airway smooth muscle, leading to improved airflow and reduced air trapping.

The drug has a rapid onset of action compared with some other LAMAs, with bronchodilation beginning within approximately 30 minutes.

The Genuair inhaler is a multidose dry powder device that is breath-actuated and provides visual and audible confirmation of successful dose inhalation.

A colour control window changes from green to red, and an audible click confirms that the full dose has been inhaled. This feedback mechanism helps patients confirm correct inhaler technique.

Inhale one dose from the Genuair device twice daily, in the morning and evening. Before inhaling, press the green button fully down and release.

Place the mouthpiece between your lips and inhale strongly and deeply through the device. The control window will change from green to red and you will hear a click, confirming successful inhalation.

Eklira Genuair is a maintenance treatment and should not be used to relieve acute breathlessness. Always have a fast-acting bronchodilator available for rescue use.

The recommended dose is 322 micrograms of aclidinium bromide (equivalent to 375 micrograms aclidinium) inhaled twice daily.

This is one inhalation from the Genuair device in the morning and one in the evening. Do not exceed the recommended dose.

No dose adjustment is required in elderly patients or those with renal or hepatic impairment.

Common (1 in 10 to 1 in 100): headache, nasopharyngitis, cough, diarrhoea, sinusitis.

Uncommon (1 in 100 to 1 in 1,000): blurred vision, tachycardia, dysphonia, dry mouth, nausea, rash, pruritus, urinary retention, dizziness.

Rare (1 in 1,000 to 1 in 10,000): hypersensitivity reactions including angioedema, paradoxical bronchospasm. Dry mouth is generally mild and transient.

Patients experiencing difficulty passing urine should contact their doctor.

As with other inhaled anticholinergic agents, aclidinium should be used with caution in patients with narrow-angle glaucoma, prostatic hyperplasia, or bladder neck obstruction.

If paradoxical bronchospasm occurs, discontinue treatment and consider alternative therapy. Eklira Genuair is not suitable for treating acute bronchospasm or COPD exacerbations.

Patients should be instructed on correct inhaler technique at the time of prescribing and at subsequent reviews.

Eklira Genuair is contraindicated in patients with known hypersensitivity to aclidinium bromide, atropine, or any of its derivatives, and in patients with a known allergy to any of the excipients.

It is not indicated for the treatment of asthma.