Roflumilast is a phosphodiesterase 4 inhibitor sold in the U.S. under 3 brand and generic names, for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Below: what the FDA label says, every product that contains it, what the pills look like, and its recall record.
From the FDA label for Roflumilast (application ANDA208272). Other roflumilast products — different forms, different strengths — are dosed differently. Follow the label for the one you were prescribed.
The maintenance dose of roflumilast tablet is one 500 micrograms (mcg) tablet per day, with or without food. Starting treatment with a dose of roflumilast tablets 250 mcg once daily for 4 weeks and increasing to roflumilast tablets 500 mcg once daily thereafter may reduce the rate of treatment discontinuation in some patients [see Clinical Studies (14.1) ]. However, 250 mcg per day is not the effective (therapeutic) dose. The maintenance dose for patients with COPD is one 500 mcg tablet per day, with or without food. Starting treatment with a dose of roflumilast tablets 250 mcg once daily for 4 weeks and increasing to roflumilast tablets 500 mcg once daily thereafter may reduce the rate of treatment discontinuation in some patients. ( 2 )
The following adverse reactions are described in greater detail in other sections: Psychiatric Events Including Suicidality [see Warnings and Precautions (5.2) ] Weight Decrease [see Warnings and Precautions (5.3) ] Most common adverse reactions (≥2%) are diarrhea, weight decrease, nausea, headache, back pain, influenza, insomnia, dizziness and decreased appetite. ( 6.1 ) To report SUSPECTED ADVERSE REACTIONS, contact Aurobindo Pharma USA, Inc. at 1-866-850-2876 or FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or www.fda.gov/medwatch. 6.1 Adverse Reactions in Clinical Studies Because clinical trials are conducted under widely varying conditions, adverse reaction rates observed in the clinical trials of a drug cannot be directly compared to rates in the clinical trials of another drug and may not reflect the rates observed in practice. The safety data described below reflect exposure of 4438 patients to roflumilast 500 mcg once daily in four 1-year placebo-controlled trials, two 6-month placebo-controlled trials, and two 6-month drug add-on trials [see Clinical Studies (14.1) ]. In these trials, 3136 and 1232 COPD patients were exposed to roflumilast 500 mcg once daily for 6 months and 1 year, respectively. The population had a median age of 64 years (range 40 to 91), 73% were male, 92.9% were Caucasian, and had COPD with a mean pre-bronchodilator forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV 1 ) of 8.9…
Same active ingredient — different manufacturer, form, price and FDA recall record. That last one is what our independent score measures.
| # | Drug | Rating | Type | Form | Generic? | Typical price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 60/100 | Prescription | Tablet | Generic | $10 | View → | |
| 2 | Not yet rated | Prescription | Tablet | Generic | $10 |
Imprint codes, colour and shape from the FDA’s labelling data. Match the imprint on your pill — or search any imprint.
| Imprint | Strength | Colour | Shape | Maker |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 05;R | 500 ug | white | round | — |
| 4;C | 250 ug | white | round | — |
| A116 | 250 ug | yellow | round | — |
| A117 | 500 ug | white | round | — |
| 0;25 | 250 ug | yellow | round | — |
| R0;5 | 500 ug | white |
Sources: FDA openFDA drug label, National Drug Code Directory, and Enforcement (recall) database. This page reproduces public FDA data and is not medical advice. Dosing is set by your prescriber.
The use of roflumilast tablets are contraindicated in the following condition: Moderate to severe liver impairment (Child-Pugh B or C) [see Clinical Pharmacology (12.3) and Use in Specific Populations (8.6) ] . Moderate to severe liver impairment (Child-Pugh B or C) ( 4 )
A major step in roflumilast metabolism is the N-oxidation of roflumilast to roflumilast N-oxide by CYP3A4 and CYP1A2 [see Clinical Pharmacology (12.3) ] . Use with inhibitors of CYP3A4 or dual inhibitors of CYP3A4 and CYP1A2 (e.g., erythromycin, ketoconazole, fluvoxamine, enoxacin, cimetidine) will increase roflumilast systemic exposure and may result in increased adverse reactions. The risk of such concurrent use should be weighed carefully against benefit. ( 7.2 ) 7.1 Drugs that Induce Cytochrome P450 (CYP) Enzymes Strong cytochrome P450 enzyme inducers decrease systemic exposure to roflumilast and may reduce the therapeutic effectiveness of roflumilast. Therefore the use of strong cytochrome P450 inducers (e.g., rifampicin, phenobarbital, carbamazepine, and phenytoin) with roflumilast is not recommended [see Warnings and Precautions (5.4) and Clinical Pharmacology (12.3) ]. 7.2 Drugs that Inhibit Cytochrome P450 (CYP) Enzymes The co-administration of roflumilast (500 mcg) with CYP3A4 inhibitors or dual inhibitors that inhibit both CYP3A4 and CYP1A2 simultaneously (e.g., erythromycin, ketoconazole, fluvoxamine, enoxacin, cimetidine) may increase roflumilast systemic exposure and may result in increased adverse reactions. The risk of such concurrent use should be weighed carefully against benefit [see Clinical Pharmacology (12.3) ]. 7.3 Oral Contraceptives…
| 3 | Not yet rated | Prescription | Topical | Generic | $10 | View → |
| round |
| — |