banner-bgbanner-bg-m

Taking CAYSTON

img-cayston-vial Image not to scale

If you have been prescribed CAYSTON to treat Pa infection, don't skip a dose or end treatment early.

It's important to take the medication exactly as directed by your doctor. Skipping doses or not completing the full course of treatment may:

  • Decrease the effectiveness of the treatment
  • Increase the likelihood that bacteria will develop resistance and will not be treated by CAYSTON or other antibacterial drugs in the future

Do not use any other nebulizer for your CAYSTON treatment.

CAYSTON OFFERS FAST TREATMENT AND FLEXIBLE DOSING

One course consists of taking CAYSTON 3 times a day for 28 days, followed by at least 28 days off CAYSTON, as directed by your doctor. Nebulization with CAYSTON typically takes between 2-3 minutes.*

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 doses and sitting in an upright position to take your dose. Take your 3 daily doses of CAYSTON at least 4 hours apart.

*The estimated 2-3 minutes of nebulization time does not include the time for setting up, cleaning, and disinfecting the nebulizing equipment.
img-dose-schedule img-dose-schedule-m

Time between nebulizations = At least 4 hours apart

Time of nebulizations = Typically takes between 2-3 minutes†

†The estimated nebulization time does not include the time for setting up, cleaning, and disinfecting the nebulizing equipment.

CAYSTON can be stored at room temperature for up to 28 days

Always keep your CAYSTON and saline together. CAYSTON and saline can be stored at room temperature (less than 77 °F) for up to 28 days and should be refrigerated at 36 °F to 46 °F (2 °C to 8 °C) for longer periods. Do not use CAYSTON if it has been stored at room temperature for more than 28 days. It should also be protected from light.

Use an inhaled bronchodilator (a type of medicine used to relax and open your airways) before taking a dose of CAYSTON. If you are taking several medicines or treatments to treat your cystic fibrosis, you should take your medicines or other treatments in this order:

  1. Bronchodilator
  2. Mucolytics (medicines to help clear mucus from your lungs)
  3. CAYSTON

PREPARING CAYSTON

Preparing CAYSTON

Preparing CAYSTON

Step 1. Mix (reconstitute) CAYSTON with the saline only when ready to take a dose. Take 1 amber vial of CAYSTON and 1 ampule of saline from the carton. Separate the saline ampules by gently pulling apart.

Step 2. Look at the ampule of saline. If it looks cloudy do not use it. Throw away this ampule and get another ampule of saline.

Step 3. Gently tap the vial so that the powder settles to the bottom of the vial. This helps you get the proper dose of medicine. Follow Step A to Step D in Figure 6 below to open the vial:

Follow Step A to Step D

Step 4. Safely throw away (dispose of) the metal seal in household garbage. Carefully remove (but do not yet discard) the rubber stopper.

Step 5. Open the ampule of saline by twisting off the tip. Squeeze out the contents completely into the vial (Figure 7). Next, close the vial with the rubber stopper and gently swirl the vial until the powder has completely dissolved and the liquid is clear.

Open the ampule of saline by twisting off the tip

Step 6. After mixing CAYSTON with the saline, check to make sure the diluted medicine is clear. If it is cloudy or has particles in it, do not use this medicine. Throw away this dose of medicine and start over again with a new vial of CAYSTON and a new ampule of saline.

Step 7. Use CAYSTON right away after you mix with the saline.

Check to make sure that your ALTERA Nebulizer System works properly before starting your treatment with CAYSTON.

assistance-icon-m

Need setup assistance?

Refer to the manufacturer’s instructions for information about how to assemble, prepare, use, and care for your ALTERA® Nebulizer System.

Instructions for Use 

HOW TO TAKE CAYSTON

img-figure-1

img-figure-1-m

img-figure-2

img-figure-2-m

  1. Make sure the Handset is on a flat, stable surface
  2. Remove the rubber stopper from the vial, then pour all of the mixed CAYSTON and saline into the Medication Reservoir of the Handset (Figure 8). Be sure to completely empty the vial, gently tapping the vial against the side of the Medication Reservoir if necessary. Close the Medication Reservoir (Figure 9)
  3. Begin your treatment by sitting in a relaxed, upright position. Hold the Handset level, and place the Mouthpiece in your mouth. Close your lips around the Mouthpiece
  4. Breathe in and out normally (inhale and exhale) through the Mouthpiece. Avoid breathing through your nose. Continue to inhale and exhale comfortably until the treatment is finished
  5. The empty vial, stopper, and saline ampule should be disposed of in your household garbage upon completion of dosing

CARING FOR YOUR ALTERA NEBULIZER SYSTEM

The ALTERA Nebulizer System is small, portable, and battery operated, allowing you to administer your CAYSTON quickly‡ and quietly throughout the day.

Four new standard AA batteries provide about 2 hours of treatment time. Rechargeable AA batteries may also be used. The AC power supply provided is optional.

‡The estimated nebulization time does not include the time for setting up, cleaning, and disinfecting the nebulizing equipment.

Important Information about using the ALTERA Nebulizer System

  • Do not use any other nebulizer for your CAYSTON treatment
  • Do not use any medication other than CAYSTON in the ALTERA Nebulizer System
  • Use of drugs other than CAYSTON in the ALTERA Nebulizer System could result in potential incorrect dosage or overdoses of medication
  • Use of other drugs could clog the ALTERA Aerosol Head, which may cause nebulization of your CAYSTON treatment to be ineffective and shorten the useful life of the device
  • Do not mix CAYSTON with any other medicines in your ALTERA Nebulizer System. Mixing medicines could cause unexpected and unsafe drug interactions to occur
  • Do not mix CAYSTON with saline until right before you are ready to use it
  • Clean and dry each Handset as soon as you are able after treatment to reduce the risk of infection and help unclog the ALTERA Aerosol Head to ensure proper operation. You may then batch disinfect all Handsets at the end of the day

CLEANING AND DISINFECTING

Clean the ALTERA Handset after each dose to help prevent the Aerosol Head from clogging.

Disinfect the ALTERA Handset at the end of every treatment day to reduce bacterial contamination.

img-cleaning-disinfecting img-cleaning-disinfecting-m

You will receive 2 ALTERA Handsets with your first shipment of CAYSTON. You will also receive an additional Handset with each of your following shipments. You should clean and dry each Handset as soon as you are able after treatment to reduce the risk of infection and help unclog the Aerosol Head to ensure proper operation. After your third and final treatment of the day, all of your Handsets can be disinfected at once.

With normal operation and proper cleaning, it should take about 2–3 minutes to complete each treatment of CAYSTON.§ If it takes significantly longer than expected, the Aerosol Head could be clogged. A thorough cleaning following the directions in the ALTERA Nebulizer System Instructions for Use may help. If you notice your fully cleaned ALTERA Nebulizer Handset continues to take more than 3 minutes to nebulize, call 1-877-7CAYSTON (1-877-722-9786).

§The estimated nebulization time does not include the time for setting up, cleaning, and disinfecting the nebulizing equipment.

Important information about cleaning the ALTERA Nebulizer System

  • To reduce the risk of infection, illness, and/or injury from contamination and/or improper use, clean the ALTERA Nebulizer Handset as soon as possible after treatment
  • DO NOT wash or use any liquids with the Controller, Nebulizer Connection Cord, AC Power Supply, or Plug Converters
  • Use clear liquid soap designed for washing dishes. DO NOT use pearly, non-clear liquid dish soaps (eg, Ivory® or Dove®) or antibacterial liquid dish soaps