Taking Pulmozyme
With Pulmozyme, every day matters
Even when symptoms aren't present, CF is still present. That's why taking Pulmozyme every day, along with other standard therapies, is so important. This may help interrupt the cycle of cystic fibrosis progression.
It has been shown that daily use of Pulmozyme may help maintain or even improve lung function. But studies have also shown that when patients stopped taking their Pulmozyme, they quickly lost the lung function improvements they had gained.
About the study
This was an open-label study, which means that these patients knew they were taking Pulmozyme. The study was designed to learn more about the effect of Pulmozyme on lung function for patients who go on and off Pulmozyme treatment. The dosing of Pulmozyme in this study differs from the approved dose, which is 2.5 mg once or twice daily. At the beginning of the study, 184 patients took 10mg of Pulmozyme twice a day for 2 weeks. Then, for the next 2 weeks, they stopped taking Pulmozyme. This 2-week-on and 2-week-off cycle continued for 24 weeks. The patients had their lung function measured and tracked at the end of each 2-week period.
Effect on lung function for patients on intermittent treatment with Pulmozyme
Adapted with permission from Eisenberg JD, Aitken ML, Dorkin HL, et al. J Pediatr. 1997;131:118-124.
Patients who took 2-week “breaks” from Pulmozyme therapy quickly lost the lung function benefits they had gained.
Remember, to help delay disease progression, it's important to maintain a commitment to a daily routine that includes Pulmozyme treatment. It's also important to continue taking Pulmozyme even while taking other cystic fibrosis medications. Missing treatment with Pulmozyme can impact the improvement in lung function that you or your child are working so hard to achieve.
Making time for treatment
Taking Pulmozyme along with other standard therapies takes time, but fitting it into your daily schedule doesn't have to be hard. Here are some tips to consider that will help keep you or your child on the right track with daily treatment:
- Administer treatment during a favorite TV show
- If you use a vest for airway clearance, you can spend less time on overall treatment by using your nebulizer at the same time
- Set aside magazines or a fun book to read specifically during administration time
- Use administration time to plan your day, an upcoming vacation, or other enjoyable activities
- If your child has CF, get him or her involved. Let your child hold the nebulizer during treatment or help with cleaning it.
