FAQs | CAYSTON® (aztreonam for inhalation solution)
About CAYSTON
Do not take CAYSTON if you are allergic to aztreonam, or any of the ingredients in CAYSTON.
Before taking CAYSTON, tell your doctor if you are:
- Allergic to any antibiotics
- Pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known if CAYSTON can harm your unborn baby.
- Breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. CAYSTON can pass into your breastmilk. Talk with your healthcare provider about the best way to feed your baby while you are taking CAYSTON.
Tell your doctor about all the medication you take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Some medicines may affect how CAYSTON works.
Each nebulization should take about 2–3 minutes.*
*This does not include setting up, cleaning, and disinfecting your nebulizing equipment.
The most common side effects of CAYSTON include cough, nasal congestion, wheezing, sore throat, fever (may be more common in children than in adults), chest discomfort, stomach area (abdominal) pain, and vomiting.
These are not all the possible side effects of CAYSTON. Tell your healthcare provider if you have any new or worsening symptoms while taking CAYSTON. Tell your healthcare provider about any side effect that bothers you or does not go away.
Your cystic fibrosis (CF) care team will prescribe CAYSTON if it's right for you. Learn more.
Once the prescription has been received and processed by the CAYSTON specialty pharmacy you choose, CAYSTON will be shipped to you directly via overnight mail. After ordering your CAYSTON, be sure to confirm a delivery date. If you do not take this step, your CAYSTON will not be delivered to your home.
Processing times may vary depending on your insurance; issues like a request for prior authorization and individual requirements for financial assistance may extend the processing time in some cases. For status updates on your specific situation, you can always talk directly to the specialty pharmacy or call the Cayston Access Program® at 1-877-7CAYSTON.
- CAYSTON vials and saline ampules
- An ALTERA® Nebulizer System, including the ALTERA Controller Unit and 2 handsets
- Additional items or instructions that may come from your specialty pharmacy, such as brochures and other information
With each prescription refill, you will receive 1 box of CAYSTON and an additional ALTERA Nebulizer System handset.
Taking CAYSTON
It is important for you to finish taking the full 28-day course of CAYSTON even if you are feeling better. If you skip doses or do not finish the full 28-day course of CAYSTON, your infection may not be fully treated and CAYSTON may not work as well as a treatment for Pa infection in the future.
Tips for coming back to CAYSTON
If you happen to stop treatment, it’s important to talk to your doctor about getting back on track. Here’s why.
No. The dosing of CAYSTON is flexible enough to allow you to fit it into your schedule as long as you take it 3 times a day with at least 4 hours in between each dose. To ensure that you get your complete dose of CAYSTON, make sure you are in an environment with a flat, stable surface to prepare your dose and sitting in an upright position to take your dose. Learn more.
No. You can take your daily supply of CAYSTON on the go, as long as you are in an environment with a flat, stable surface to prepare your dose and sitting in an upright position to take your dose.
You can take each dose of CAYSTON with or without food.
You should take CAYSTON as prescribed, in courses of 28 days on CAYSTON followed by 28 days off CAYSTON, as directed by your doctor.
You should use an inhaled bronchodilator (a type of medicine used to relax and open your airways) before taking a dose of CAYSTON, as instructed by your doctor.
If you are taking several medicines to treat your CF, CAYSTON should be the last medicine or treatment you administer. You should take your medicines in this order:
- Bronchodilator
- Mucolytics (medicines to help clear mucus from your lungs like Pulmozyme® [dornase alfa] Inhalation Solution or Hypertonic Saline)
- CAYSTON
Take CAYSTON exactly as prescribed by your doctor.
If you miss a dose of CAYSTON, you can still take all 3 daily doses as long as they are at least 4 hours apart.
No, the dose of CAYSTON is the same for both adults and children 7 years of age and older: 1 vial of CAYSTON, mixed with 1 ampule of saline (diluent) 3 times a day.
It is not known if CAYSTON is safe and effective in children under the age of 7 or in people with FEV1 <25% or >75% predicted.
CAYSTON can be stored at room temperature (up to 77 °F) and away from the light for up to 28 days after it has been removed from the refrigerator. See more information on storing CAYSTON.
ALTERA® Nebulizer System
No. It is very important NOT to use any other medications in the ALTERA Nebulizer Handset. The use of drugs other than CAYSTON could result in incorrect dosage or overdoses of medication.
Additionally, CAYSTON should not be mixed with any other drugs in the ALTERA Nebulizer Handset. See more information on preparing CAYSTON.
See detailed steps for cleaning and disinfecting the ALTERA Nebulizer System.
Inside your first shipment you will find the nebulizer system warranty card from the manufacturer (PARI). It’s important to complete and submit the ALTERA warranty card to PARI so they can honor the 2-year limited warranty and additional 12-month extended warranty.
You can also contact the Cayston Access Program® for help with issues with your ALTERA Nebulizer System.
Financial Support
The Cayston Access Program was established to provide financial assistance to uninsured or underinsured people who are experiencing financial difficulty accessing CAYSTON. The specialists at the program, who can be reached at 1-877-7CAYSTON between the hours of 8 AM to 8 PM EST, can review your unique situation and determine the best potential financial assistance solution for you. See more information on financial assistance.
