Dornase alfa

Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on May 24, 2022.

Commonly used brand name(s)

In the U.S.

• Pulmozyme

Available Dosage Forms:

• Solution

Therapeutic Class: Mucolytic

Pharmacologic Class: Mucolytic Enzyme

Uses for dornase alfa

Dornase alfa inhalation solution is used together with other medicines (eg, antibiotics, bronchodilators, and steroids) to control symptoms of cystic fibrosis. Cystic fibrosis is a condition in which a thick mucus is formed in the lungs and breathing passages. The mucus blocks the airways and increases the chance of lung infections. The infections then cause the mucus to become even thicker, making it more difficult to breathe.

Dornase alfa will not cure cystic fibrosis. However, when it is used every day, it helps make breathing easier and reduces the number of serious lung infections that require treatment with antibiotics.

Dornase alfa is available only with your doctor's prescription.

Before using dornase alfa

In deciding to use a medicine, the risks of taking the medicine must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you and your doctor will make. For dornase alfa, the following should be considered:

Allergies

Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to dornase alfa or any other medicines. Also tell your health care professional if you have any other types of allergies, such as to foods, dyes, preservatives, or animals. For non-prescription products, read the label or package ingredients carefully.

Pediatric

Appropriate studies performed to date have not demonstrated pediatric-specific problems that would limit the usefulness of Pulmozyme® in children 5 years of age and older. Safety and efficacy have been established.

Geriatric

Although appropriate studies on the relationship of age to the effects of Pulmozyme® have not been performed in the geriatric population, no geriatric-specific problems have been documented to date.

Interactions with medicines

Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. Tell your healthcare professional if you are taking any other prescription or nonprescription (over-the-counter [OTC]) medicine.

Interactions with food/tobacco/alcohol

Certain medicines should not be used at or around the time of eating food or eating certain types of food since interactions may occur. Using alcohol or tobacco with certain medicines may also cause interactions to occur. Discuss with your healthcare professional the use of your medicine with food, alcohol, or tobacco.

Other medical problems

The presence of other medical problems may affect the use of dornase alfa. Make sure you tell your doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:

• Allergy to Chinese hamster ovary cell products—Should not be used in patients with this condition.

Proper use of dornase alfa

Use dornase alfa only as directed by your doctor. Do not use more of it, do not use it more often, and do not use it for a longer time than your doctor ordered. Also, do not stop using dornase alfa withou...