Starting a Management Plan
CF is an ongoing and progressive disease, and studies are showing that hidden damage may be happening as early as birth. Having a proactive CF care plan in place can help you manage the disease.
Get involved with a CF Center to be sure that you have access to experts. Locate the CF Center in your area and make an appointment to find out more. You will be able to get a CF Care Team, which may improve the quality of your CF care.
It's possible that your CF management plan will have multiple aspects. Here are some examples of things that might be a part of your plan:
Oral antibiotics, which may be swallowed
Intravenous (IV) antibiotics, which may require a hospital stay
Inhaled antibiotics, which may be an aerosol or mist
Airway Clearance Techniques (ACTs), which may include postural drainage and percussion, as well as special equipment, such as a vest
Inhaled medications, which may require a nebulizer. Nebulizers vary, so you should talk to your CF Care Team about which is FDA approved for use with your medicine.
Indication and Usage
Daily administration of Pulmozyme® (dornase alfa) Inhalation Solution along with standard therapies is indicated in the management of cystic fibrosis patients to improve lung function. In patients with a forced vital capacity (volume of air exhaled with maximum effort and speed) greater than or equal to 40% of predicted, daily administration of Pulmozyme has also been shown to reduce the risk of respiratory tract infections requiring the administration of injectable antibiotics. In our pivotal study, safety and efficacy of daily administration has not been studied in patients beyond 12 months.
Important Safety Information
Pulmozyme should not be used in patients who are allergic to any of its ingredients
Pulmozyme should be used along with standard therapies for cystic fibrosis
When starting Pulmozyme therapy, patients may experience change in or loss of their voice, discomfort in the throat, chest pain, red watery eyes, rash, dizziness, fever, or runny nose
These side effects are usually mild and short-lived
The effect of Pulmozyme on exercise tolerance has not been established in adults and children
For further information, please see the Pulmozyme full prescribing information. If you have questions, please discuss them with your CF healthcare team.
