Intal Warnings and Precautions

To help ensure safe treatment with Intal, warnings and precautions should be discussed with your healthcare provider prior to starting the drug. It is important to know that Intal should not be used to treat an asthma attack and that it can cause an immediate worsening of asthma symptoms. You should not use Intal if you are allergic to any active or inactive components of the medication.

 

Intal: What Should I Tell My Healthcare Provider?

You should talk with your healthcare provider prior to taking Intal® (cromolyn inhalation) if you have:
 
  • Kidney disease, including kidney failure (renal failure)
  • Liver disease, including liver failure or cirrhosis
  • Any allergies, including allergies to food (especially milk), dyes, or preservatives.
     
Also, let your healthcare provider know if you are:
 
  • Pregnant or thinking of becoming pregnant
  • Breastfeeding.
     
Make sure to tell your healthcare provider about all other medicines you are currently taking, including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.
 

Some Precautions and Warnings With Intal

Some warnings and precautions to be aware of with Intal include the following:
 
  • Intal is not a fast-acting asthma medication and cannot replace fast-acting rescue inhalers. Do not use Intal to treat an asthma attack. Everyone taking Intal should also have a rescue asthma medication available at all times. Let your healthcare provider know if you need to use your rescue inhaler more frequently than usual, as this may be a sign of worsening asthma.
     
  • Intal can cause an immediate worsening of asthma symptoms. If this happens, use your rescue inhaler (such as an albuterol inhaler) as needed and contact your healthcare provider for further instruction.
     
  • The liver and kidneys help to remove cromolyn (the active ingredient of Intal) from the body. If you have liver or kidney disease, your healthcare provider may decide to prescribe a lower Intal dosage, to prevent cromolyn from building up in your body.
     
  • Intal is considered a pregnancy Category B medication. This means that it is probably safe for use in pregnant women, although the full risks are not known. Talk to your healthcare provider about the risks and benefits of using Intal during pregnancy (see Intal and Pregnancy for more information).
     
  • It is not known if inhaled cromolyn (the active ingredient of Intal) passes through breast milk. Therefore, if you are breastfeeding or plan to start breastfeeding, be sure to talk with your healthcare provider about using Intal (see Intal and Breastfeeding for more information).
     
(Intal Warnings and Precautions Continued: Page 2)
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Written by/reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD; Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD;