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Luforbec
- For people already using Luforbec for asthma - repeat supply only
- A preventer inhaler for asthma
- Use it every morning and evening, even when you feel well, to keep wheezing, cough and breathlessness away
- Keep a quick-acting reliever with you. On 200/6 that is always a separate inhaler; on 100/6 your prescriber may set Luforbec up as your reliever too
- Prescription only: answer our health questions, and a prescriber checks them before your inhaler is sent
What it is for
Luforbec is a daily preventer inhaler for asthma. You use it twice a day, morning and evening, and keep using it when you feel well. That is how it keeps symptoms such as wheezing, cough and shortness of breath from coming back.
It is for asthma that is not controlled on a steroid inhaler plus a reliever. It is also for asthma that is already well controlled on a steroid and a long-acting reliever. It is not a first inhaler.
Both strengths, 100/6 and 200/6, are for asthma.
Next step: for people already using Luforbec for asthma - repeat supply only. Start our health questions when you order. Your inhaler is only sent once a prescriber has checked your answers.
- Always have a quick-acting reliever inhaler with you for sudden symptoms or an asthma attack. If you use Luforbec 200/6, or 100/6 for daily treatment only, that has to be a separate quick-acting reliever inhaler. If your prescriber has set up Luforbec 100/6 as your reliever as well, keep it with you at all times.
Which strength is which?
| Luforbec 100/6 | Luforbec 200/6 | |
|---|---|---|
| Cap colour | Pink | Green |
| Asthma, adults 18 and over | Yes | Yes |
| Can also be your reliever | Yes, if your prescriber sets it up this way | No - keep a separate reliever |
| Usual dose for asthma | 1 or 2 puffs twice a day, or 1 puff twice a day plus extra puffs for symptoms | 2 puffs twice a day |
Order the strength you already use. If your asthma stays well controlled, the dose may later come down. That step down is done with the 100/6, not the 200/6.
Is it right for you?
Do not use it if you:
- are allergic to beclometasone dipropionate, formoterol or any of the other ingredients
- are under 18
If you have had an allergic reaction to another asthma medicine or inhaler, tell our prescriber before you order.
Luforbec is not a first treatment for asthma. It is also not started during an asthma attack, or while your asthma is getting quickly worse.
Talk to our prescriber before you use it if you:
- have a heart problem, such as angina, a recent heart attack or heart failure
- have narrowed arteries around your heart, heart valve disease, or a thickened heart muscle (HOCM)
- have narrowed arteries, high blood pressure, or a bulge in a blood vessel wall (an aneurysm)
- have a fast, uneven or pounding heartbeat, or have been told your heart trace (ECG) is abnormal
- have an overactive thyroid gland
- have low potassium in your blood
- have liver or kidney disease
- have diabetes - high doses of formoterol can raise your blood sugar, so you may need extra blood sugar tests
- have a tumour of the adrenal gland (phaeochromocytoma)
- are due to have an anaesthetic - you may need to stop Luforbec at least 12 hours before
- have, or have had, tuberculosis (TB), or have a viral or fungal chest infection
- must avoid alcohol for any reason
- are pregnant, might be, are planning a baby, or are breast-feeding
How it works
Each puff holds two medicines. Beclometasone dipropionate is a corticosteroid - a medicine that brings down swelling and irritation inside your airways. Formoterol is a long-acting bronchodilator. It relaxes the muscles around your airways so you can breathe more easily. Formoterol starts to work within 1 to 3 minutes, and one dose lasts about 12 hours.
The beclometasone in Luforbec comes as extrafine particles. Because of this, the dose is lower than in some other beclometasone inhalers: 100 micrograms in Luforbec matches 250 micrograms in a non-extrafine inhaler. If you are moving from a different beclometasone inhaler, your prescriber will tell you exactly how many puffs of Luforbec to take.
How to use it for asthma
There are two ways Luforbec can be prescribed for asthma. The label from the pharmacy tells you which one is yours, and how many puffs to take.
With a separate reliever (100/6 or 200/6)
- Luforbec 100/6: 1 or 2 puffs twice a day. No more than 4 puffs a day.
- Luforbec 200/6: 2 puffs twice a day. No more than 4 puffs a day.
Use your separate quick-acting reliever for sudden symptoms.
As your only asthma inhaler (100/6 only)
Take 1 puff in the morning and 1 in the evening. That is your daily dose.
Get symptoms during the day? Take 1 puff and wait a few minutes. If you do not feel better, take another.
- No more than 6 reliever puffs a day.
- No more than 8 puffs a day in all.
Reliever puffs are for symptoms. They are not for routine use, such as before exercise - if you need that, ask your prescriber about a separate reliever. If you find you need more puffs each day to control your symptoms, contact your doctor. Your treatment may need to change.
Every day, even when you feel well
Keep taking Luforbec when your symptoms are gone. Do not lower the dose or stop on your own - talk to your doctor first. If you think it is not working well enough, talk to your doctor before you take more.
Missed a dose? Take it when you remember. If your next dose is nearly due, skip the missed one. Never take a double dose.
Used too much? Too much formoterol can make you feel or be sick, shaky or sleepy. It can also give you a headache or a racing or uneven heartbeat. Too much beclometasone can affect your adrenal glands for a few days. Tell your doctor if you get any of these. They may want to check your blood.
If your asthma gets worse
See a doctor straight away if your symptoms get worse or are hard to control, or if you need your reliever more often than usual. The same applies if your reliever, or your Luforbec reliever puffs, do not help. Your asthma may be getting worse and your treatment may need to change.
Using your inhaler
Test it first. Do this before you use a new inhaler, or if you have not used it for 14 days or more.
- Take the cap off the mouthpiece.
- Hold the inhaler upright, mouthpiece at the bottom, pointing away from you.
- New inhaler: press the canister firmly 3 times, releasing a puff each time. Not used for 14 days or more: press it once.
- Check the counter. A new inhaler should now read 120.
Take a puff. Stand or sit up straight if you can. Check the counter shows a number between 1 and 120.
- Take the cap off. Check the mouthpiece is clean.
- Breathe out as slowly and deeply as you can.
- Hold the inhaler upright, canister on top. Close your lips around the mouthpiece without biting it.
- Breathe in slowly and deeply through your mouth. Just after you start to breathe in, press down firmly on the top to release one puff.
- Hold your breath for as long as you can. Then take the inhaler out and breathe out slowly - not into the inhaler.
For a second puff, keep the inhaler upright for about half a minute, then repeat steps 2 to 5. Do not rush them. Put the cap back on after.
If you see a mist coming from the top of the inhaler or the sides of your mouth, the medicine has not reached your lungs. Take another puff, starting again from step 2.
Weak hands? Hold the inhaler with both hands - both index fingers on top of the canister, both thumbs on the base.
Rinse your mouth, gargle with water or brush your teeth after every use. It lowers the risk of a fungal infection in your mouth and throat (thrush).
If the inhaler has been out in severe cold, warm it in your hands for a few minutes first. Never use any other source of heat.
Find pressing and breathing in at the same time hard? You may use an AeroChamber Plus spacer with Luforbec. Ask your pharmacist, doctor or nurse to show you how, and read the leaflet that comes with the spacer.
The dose counter
The counter on the front shows how many puffs are left, in steps of 20: 120, 100, 80 and so on. Dropping the inhaler may make it count down.
- At 20, the counter turns half red - order a new inhaler.
- At 0, stop using it. Any puffs left may not give you a full dose.
Cleaning
Clean it once a week. Pull the cap off and wipe the mouthpiece, inside and out, with a clean, dry cloth or tissue. Do not take the canister out, and do not use water or any other liquid.
Other medicines
Tell our prescriber about every medicine you take, including ones you buy without a prescription and eye drops.
- Beta-blockers - such as atenolol, propranolol and sotalol, or timolol eye drops for glaucoma. Do not use them with Luforbec. They can weaken formoterol or stop it working.
- Ritonavir or cobicistat (for HIV) - can increase the effect of Luforbec, so you may need closer checks.
- Other asthma medicines - theophylline, aminophylline, steroids, or another medicine that works like formoterol.
- Diuretics (water tablets) and digoxin - with Luforbec, these can lower your potassium, which can affect your heart rhythm.
- Medicines that can change your heart trace. These include quinidine, disopyramide and procainamide for heart rhythm, antihistamines and phenothiazines. Some antidepressants do it too: tricyclics such as amitriptyline, and MAOIs such as phenelzine.
- MAOIs and similar medicines, including furazolidone and procarbazine - can raise your blood pressure.
- L-dopa (for Parkinson's), levothyroxine (L-thyroxine, for an underactive thyroid) and oxytocin - can lower your heart's tolerance of formoterol. So can alcohol.
- Disulfiram or metronidazole - Luforbec contains a small amount of alcohol, so tell our prescriber if you take either.
Some anaesthetics raise the risk of an uneven heartbeat. Tell your doctor or dentist you use Luforbec before an operation or dental work under general anaesthetic.
Hospital, operations and stress
If you have used high doses of a steroid inhaler for a long time, your body may need extra steroid at times of stress. That includes a serious injury, an accident or an operation. The doctor treating you may give you steroid tablets or an injection. If you go into hospital, take all your medicines and inhalers with you, in their packs if you can.
Pregnancy and breast-feeding
Do not use Luforbec if you are pregnant, think you might be, are planning a baby or are breast-feeding, unless your doctor advises you to.
Driving
Luforbec is unlikely to affect driving. If it makes you dizzy or shaky, though, that can affect your driving or use of machines.
Alcohol in the inhaler
Each puff contains a small amount of alcohol (ethanol): 7 mg in the 100/6 and 9 mg in the 200/6. Two puffs hold less than 1 ml of wine or beer, which will not have any noticeable effect.
What it will not do
- It is not a first inhaler for asthma.
- The 200/6 is not a reliever.
- Reliever puffs of the 100/6 are not meant to be taken before exercise as routine.
- We do not start you on Luforbec. If you have not used it before, talk to your GP or asthma nurse.
Looking at other asthma treatments? See our asthma range.
Most side effects of Luforbec are mild. The most common are thrush in the mouth or throat, a hoarse voice, a sore throat and headache. Rinsing your mouth after each use helps with the thrush and hoarseness.
- If your wheezing or shortness of breath gets worse straight after a puff, stop using Luforbec. Use your quick-acting reliever straight away and contact your doctor.
- Tell your doctor at once if you get signs of an allergic reaction. These include an itchy rash, red skin, or swelling of your eyes, face, lips or throat.
Common - may affect up to 1 in 10 people:
- fungal infection of the mouth and throat (thrush)
- headache
- hoarse voice
- sore throat
- a lung infection (pneumonia) in people with COPD (100/6; on the 200/6 this is uncommon)
Uncommon - may affect up to 1 in 100 people:
- a fast heartbeat, palpitations, an uneven heart rhythm, changes to your heart trace (ECG)
- an asthma attack
- trembling, restlessness, dizziness
- flu-like symptoms, inflamed sinuses, a runny or blocked nose, an inflamed ear, throat irritation
- a cough, or a cough with phlegm
- feeling sick, dry mouth, a burning feeling on the lips, a change in taste, trouble swallowing, indigestion, upset stomach, diarrhoea
- muscle pain and cramps
- red face (and red throat on the 200/6), more blood flow to some parts of the body, heavy sweating
- hives (nettle rash)
- vaginal thrush
- changes in blood tests: fewer white blood cells, more platelets, low potassium, high blood sugar, higher insulin, free fatty acids and ketones
- higher blood pressure (200/6 - on the 100/6 this is rare)
Two more uncommon effects have been reported in COPD. One is less cortisol in your blood, an effect of the steroid on your adrenal glands. The other is an uneven heartbeat.
Rare - may affect up to 1 in 1,000 people:
- a tight chest
- a missed heartbeat
- lower blood pressure (and, on the 100/6, higher blood pressure)
- inflamed kidneys
- swelling of the skin and the lining of the mouth or throat that lasts several days
Very rare - may affect up to 1 in 10,000 people:
- worse asthma, shortness of breath
- fewer platelets in your blood
- swollen hands and feet
Using high doses of an inhaled steroid for a long time can, very rarely, affect the whole body:
- problems with how your adrenal glands work
- thinner bones
- raised pressure in the eye (glaucoma) or cloudy lenses (cataracts)
- slower growth in children and teenagers
Not known - how often cannot be estimated:
- sleep problems, depression or anxiety, feeling nervous, over-excited or irritable (more likely in children)
- blurred vision - tell your doctor if your sight changes
You can report any side effect to the MHRA through the Yellow Card scheme. Or search for MHRA Yellow Card in the Google Play or Apple App Store.
Can I start Luforbec with you?
No. We only supply Luforbec to people who are already using it. If you have not used it before, talk to your GP or asthma nurse about starting it.
Is Luforbec a preventer or a reliever?
It is a preventer you use every day. The 100/6 can also be your reliever, but only if your prescriber has set it up that way. The 200/6 is never a reliever - you need a separate quick-acting inhaler with you.
Is Luforbec the same as Fostair?
Both contain the same two medicines, beclometasone dipropionate and formoterol, at the same two strengths. The MHRA authorised Luforbec as a hybrid medicine, meaning a medicine similar to one already licensed - here, Fostair. It was shown to give the same effect (to be therapeutically equivalent). Luforbec is made by Lupin. If you are changing inhaler, your prescriber will tell you the dose to take.
Why is the beclometasone dose lower than in my old inhaler?
The beclometasone in Luforbec is extrafine. So 100 micrograms in Luforbec matches 250 micrograms in a non-extrafine beclometasone inhaler. Your prescriber works out your Luforbec dose for you.
How quickly does it work?
The formoterol in Luforbec starts to work within 1 to 3 minutes, and one dose lasts about 12 hours. Keep using it every day, even when you feel well.
Can I use a spacer with Luforbec?
Yes. If you find it hard to press the inhaler and breathe in at the same time, you may use an AeroChamber Plus spacer. Ask your pharmacist, doctor or nurse to check how you use it, and read the spacer's own leaflet.
Why do I need to rinse my mouth after using it?
Luforbec contains a steroid. Rinsing your mouth, gargling with water or brushing your teeth after each use lowers the risk of thrush in your mouth and throat. It can help with a hoarse voice too.
How do I know when to order a new inhaler?
Order a new one when the counter shows 20 and turns half red. Stop using it at 0, even if it still seems to spray.
How should I store Luforbec?
Below 25°C, and do not freeze it. Use it within 3 months of the date the pharmacy supplied it, and never after the expiry date. The canister is under pressure: keep it away from temperatures above 50°C and never pierce it.
Does Luforbec contain alcohol?
Yes, a small amount: 7 mg of ethanol in each puff of the 100/6 and 9 mg in the 200/6. Two puffs hold less than 1 ml of wine or beer. Tell our prescriber if you must avoid alcohol, or take disulfiram or metronidazole.
Ingredients
Active ingredients, per puff (metered dose):
- Luforbec 100/6: beclometasone dipropionate 100 micrograms and formoterol fumarate dihydrate 6 micrograms. The dose that leaves the mouthpiece is 84.6 micrograms and 5.0 micrograms.
- Luforbec 200/6: beclometasone dipropionate 200 micrograms and formoterol fumarate dihydrate 6 micrograms. The dose that leaves the mouthpiece is 177.7 micrograms and 5.1 micrograms.
Other ingredients (both strengths): ethanol anhydrous, water for injections, maleic acid and norflurane (HFA-134a), a propellant. Luforbec contains no CFCs.
Contains alcohol (ethanol): 7 mg per puff (100/6) or 9 mg per puff (200/6).
What is in the pack
One aluminium canister of 120 puffs, in a white plastic inhaler with a dose counter. The cap is pink on the 100/6 and green on the 200/6.
Storage
- Keep it out of the sight and reach of children.
- Do not store above 25°C. Do not freeze.
- Use within 3 months of the date the pharmacy supplied it, and not after the expiry date on the carton and label.
- The canister holds a liquid under pressure. Do not expose it to temperatures above 50°C, and do not pierce it.
- Do not throw medicines away in wastewater or household rubbish. Ask your pharmacist how to get rid of an inhaler you no longer need.
Leaflet
Each strength has its own leaflet, linked below. Read the one in your pack before you first use the inhaler.
Related
- Fostair - beclometasone and formoterol, the medicine Luforbec was authorised against
- Clenil Modulite - a beclometasone preventer inhaler
- Ventolin and Salbutamol - quick-acting reliever inhalers
- Asthma - our full range
Sources
The facts on this page come from these documents:
- Luforbec 100/6 micrograms per actuation pressurised inhalation solution (Lupin Healthcare (UK) Ltd, PL 35507/0204): Summary of Product Characteristics (MHRA) - revised 21 June 2024; also on emc
- Luforbec 200/6 micrograms per actuation pressurised inhalation solution (Lupin Healthcare (UK) Ltd, PL 35507/0205): Summary of Product Characteristics (MHRA) - revised 21 June 2024; also on emc
- Luforbec 100/6 patient information leaflet (emc) - Lupin, revised October 2024
- Luforbec 200/6 patient information leaflet (emc) - Lupin, revised October 2024
- MHRA Public Assessment Reports: Luforbec 100/6 (August 2021) and Luforbec 200/6 (April 2023) - hybrid of Fostair, therapeutically equivalent
- MHRA Yellow Card scheme - how to report a side effect
The leaflet inside your pack is the one that applies to your inhaler. Last checked against these sources: 14 October 2026.
