Bevespi Aerosphere®

What is Bevespi Aerosphere?

Bevespi Aerosphere is a combined preventative inhaler for COPD. It contains a long-acting muscarinic agonist (LAMA) and a long-acting beta-2 agonist (LABA) that work together to open your airways, so you can breathe easier.

What is Bevespi Aerosphere’s active ingredient?

Bevespi Aerosphere has two active ingredients: glycopyrrolate, a LAMA, and formoterol fumarate, a LABA. Evidence suggests that combined therapy with a LAMA and a LABA is more effective than just using one or the other, based on the risk of COPD symptoms and hospitalisations.^[1]

How does Bevespi Aerosphere work?

Because Bevespi Aerosphere contains two active ingredients, it works in two complementary ways to help prevent COPD symptoms.

The first ingredient, glycopyrrolate, is a LAMA, which means it blocks a neurotransmitter called acetylcholine, which causes muscles around your airways to narrow. This relaxes these muscles, opening up your airways to allow more air to pass through.^[2]

The second, formoterol fumarate, is a LABA, which binds to beta-2-adrenergic-receptors on the smooth muscle in your airways, opening them them up to improve airflow in and out of your lungs.^[3]

How do Bevespi Aerosphere doses work?

In the US, Bevespi Aerosphere comes in one dose: 9 mcg/4.8 mcg. You’ll usually take two inhalations at a time, for a combined dose of 18 mg glycopyrrolate, and 9.6 mcg formoterol fumarate.

How to take Bevespi Aerosphere

You’ll take two puffs from your Bevespi Aerosphere inhaler twice per day. It comes in a pressurized metered dose inhaler (pMDI), which means you need to press down on the inhaler as you breathe in to release the medicine.

If it’s the first time you’re using a new Bevespi Aerosphere inhaler:

• Take your inhaler out of the foil pouch.
• Ensure the dose indicator is pointing to the right of the ‘120’ mark on the dose display window.
• Take the cap off the mouthpiece and make sure it’s clear of any objects.
• Hold the inhaler upright, pointing away from your face, and give it a good shake.
• Firmly press down on the dose indicator until the canister stops moving to release a puff of medicine into the air (away from your face).
• Repeat this three more times to prime your inhaler, shaking well in between each puff.
• After priming four times, your inhaler is ready to use.

To use your Bevespi Aerosphere inhaler:

• Remove the cap from the mouthpiece and shake the inhaler thoroughly.
• Hold the inhaler upright with the mouthpiece facing towards you, and breathe out fully through your mouth (make sure you don’t breathe into the inhaler).
• Close your lips around the mouthpiece with your tongue underneath it, and tilt your head back a little.
• While taking in a slow, deep breath, press down on the center of the dose indicator until the canister stops moving.
• After a puff of medicine has been released, stop pressing down on the dose indicator.
• When you’ve finished breathing in, remove the mouthpiece from your mouth and hold your breath for as long as you comfortably can – up to 10 seconds.
• Gently breathe out.
• Repeat the above steps to take your second puff.
• Replace the mouthpiece right away after use.

It’s important that you clean your inhaler once a week. This stops medicine building up and blocking the mouthpiece.

• Remove the canister from the inhaler and the cap from the mouthpiece.
• Make sure you don’t get the canister wet – we won’t be cleaning it.
• Hold the rest of your inhaler under a faucet running warm water for about 30 seconds.
• Turn it upside down and repeat for another 30 seconds.
• Shake off as much water as you can, and check to make sure any medicine build up has been washed away. If there’s still medicine present, repeat the last two steps.
• Let the inhaler dry overnight before you place the canister back inside.
• When the rest of the inhaler is dry, gently press the canister back down into it. Make sure you don’t press too hard, or you could release a dose of medicine.
• After cleaning, prime the inhaler two times by shaking it well and releasing a puff of medicine into the air.