|

Featured Product: Advair Diskus (Fluticasone / Salmeterol)
Fluticasone is a steroid. It prevents the release of
substances in the body that cause inflammation.
Salmeterol is a
bronchodilator. It works by relaxing muscles in the
airways to improve breathing.
Advair Diskus (Fluticasone and Salmeterol) inhalation
is used to prevent asthma attacks. It is also used to
prevent flare-ups or worsening of chronic obstructive
pulmonary disease (COPD) associated with chronic bronchitis
and/or emphysema.
What is Advair
Diskus (fluticasone and salmeterol)? Fluticasone is
a steroid. It prevents the release of substances in
the body that cause inflammation. Salmeterol is a bronchodilator.
It works by relaxing muscles in the airways to improve
breathing. Advair Diskus (fluticasone and salmeterol)
inhalation is used to prevent asthma attacks. It is
also used to prevent flare-ups or worsening of chronic
obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) associated with
chronic bronchitis and/or emphysema. Advair Diskus (fluticasone
and salmeterol) may also be used for other purposes
not listed in this medication guide.
What is the most
important information I should know about fluticasone
and salmeterol? Do not use fluticasone and salmeterol
to treat an asthma attack that has already begun. Before
using fluticasone and salmeterol, tell your doctor if
you have a food or drug allergy, heart disease, high
blood pressure, a seizure disorder, an infection, a
weak immune system, diabetes, glaucoma, tuberculosis,
osteoporosis, a thyroid disorder, or liver disease.
Call your doctor right away if you feel that this medicine
is not working as well as usual, or if it makes your
condition worse. Salmeterol has been shown to increase
the risk of asthma-related death. It is critical that
you use only the prescribed dose of this medicine and
follow all patient instructions for safe use of the
medication.
What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before
using this medication? Do not use this medication if
you are allergic to fluticasone (Flonase, Flovent),
salmeterol (Serevent), or milk proteins, or if you are
having an asthma attack or severe COPD symptoms. Salmeterol
has been shown to increase the risk of asthma-related
death. It is critical that you use only the prescribed
dose of this medicine and follow all patient instructions
for safe use of the medication.
If you have any
of these other conditions, you may need a dose adjustment
or special tests to safely use this medication: •a food
or drug allergy; •heart disease or high blood pressure;
•epilepsy or other seizure disorder; •an infection of
any kind; •a weak immune system; •diabetes; •glaucoma;
•tuberculosis; •osteoporosis; •a thyroid disorder; or
•liver disease.
FDA pregnancy category C. It is not known whether fluticasone
and salmeterol is harmful to an unborn baby. Before
using this medication, tell your doctor if you are pregnant
or plan to become pregnant during treatment. It is not
known whether fluticasone and salmeterol passes into
breast milk or if it could harm a nursing baby. Do not
use fluticasone and salmeterol inhalation without telling
your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby. Advair
Diskus (fluticasone and salmeterol) inhalation can affect
growth in children. Talk with your doctor if you think
your child is not growing at a normal rate while using
this medication. Long-term use of steroids may lead
to bone loss (osteoporosis), especially if you smoke,
if you do not exercise, if you do not get enough vitamin
D or calcium in your diet, or if you have a family history
of osteoporosis.
How should I use
this medication? Use this medication exactly as it was
prescribed for you. Do not use the medication in larger
amounts, or use it for longer than recommended by your
doctor. Follow the directions on your prescription label.
This medication comes with patient instructions for
safe and effective use, and directions for priming the
inhaler device if needed. Follow these directions carefully.
Do not use fluticasone and salmeterol inhalation to
treat an asthma attack that has already begun. It will
not work fast enough. Use only a fast-acting inhalation
medication. Advair Diskus is a powder form of fluticasone
and salmeterol that comes with a special inhaler device
pre-loaded with blister packs containing measured doses
of the medicine. The device opens and loads a blister
each time you use the inhaler. This device is not to
be used with a spacer. Advair HFA is an aerosol form
of fluticasone and salmeterol that comes in a canister
that is used with an actuator inhaler device. Use only
the inhaler device provided with Advair HFA. This device
is not to be used with a spacer. Shake the Advair HFA
inhaler for at least 5 seconds before each spray. Keep
track of the number of sprays you have used and throw
away the Advair HFA canister after 120 sprays, even
if it feels like there is still medicine in it. If you
also use a steroid medication, do not stop using the
steroid suddenly or you may have unpleasant withdrawal
symptoms. Talk with your doctor about using less and
less of the steroid before stopping completely. Call
your doctor right away if any of your asthma medications
do not seem to work as well in treating or preventing
asthma attacks. An increased need for medication could
be an early sign of a serious asthma attack. If you
use a peak flow meter, call your doctor if your numbers
are lower than normal. Asthma is usually treated with
a combination of different drugs. To best treat your
condition, use all of your medications as directed by
your doctor. Do not change your doses or medication
schedule without advice from your doctor. Carry an identification
card or wear a medical alert ID to let others know that
you may need an oral steroid in an emergency. Store
this medication at room temperature away from moisture
and heat. Keep the Advair HFA canister away from high
heat, such as open flame or in a car on a hot day. The
canister may explode if it gets too hot.
Synonyms: Cutivate,
Flixonase, Flixotide, Flonase, Flovent Diskus, Flunase,
Seretide
What happens if
I miss a dose? Use the medication as soon as you remember.
If it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed
dose and wait until your next regularly scheduled dose.
Do not use extra medicine to make up the missed dose.
What happens if I overdose? Seek emergency medical attention
if you think you have used too much of this medicine.
Overdose symptoms may include angina or chest pain,
fast or irregular heartbeats, seizures, tremor, weakness,
headache, nausea, and vomiting.
What should I avoid while using this medication? Do
not use a second form of salmeterol (such as Serevent)
or use a similar inhaled bronchodilator such as formoterol
(Foradil) unless your doctor has told you to. Advair
Diskus (fluticasone and salmeterol) can lower the blood
cells that help your body fight infections. Avoid being
near people who are sick or have infections. Call your
doctor for preventive treatment if you are exposed to
chicken pox or measles. These conditions can be serious
or even fatal in people who are using steroid medicines.
This medication
side effects Get emergency medical help if you have
any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty
breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.
Call your doctor at once if you have any of these serious
side effects: •bronchospasm (wheezing, chest tightness,
trouble breathing); •fast or uneven heart beats, restless
feeling, tremor; •fever, chills, stabbing chest pain,
cough with yellow or green mucus; •blurred vision, eye
pain, or seeing halos around lights; •white patches
or sores inside your mouth or on your lips; or •worsening
asthma symptoms. Less serious side effects include:
•headache, dizziness; •nausea, vomiting, diarrhea; •dry
mouth, nose, or throat; •stuffy nose, sinus pain, cough,
sore throat; or •hoarseness or deepened voice. This
is not a complete list of side effects and others may
occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side
effects.
What other drugs will affect this medication? Before
using fluticasone and salmeterol inhalation, tell your
doctor if you are using any of the following drugs:
•amiodarone (Cordarone); •a diuretic or “water pill”;
•HIV medicines such as atazanavir (Reyataz), ritonavir
(Norvir), indinavir (Crixivan), nelfinavir (Viracept),
or saquinavir (Invirase); •an MAO inhibitor such as
isocarboxazid (Marplan), tranylcypromine (Parnate),
phenelzine (Nardil), rasagiline (Azilect), or selegiline
(Eldepryl, Emsam); •an antidepressant such as amitriptyline
(Elavil), desipramine (Norpramin), fluoxetine (Prozac),
nefazodone, or imipramine (Tofranil); •antibiotics such
as clarithromycin (Biaxin) or telithromycin (Ketek);
•antifungal medications such as ketoconazole (Nizoral)
or itraconazole (Sporanox); or •a beta-blocker such
as atenolol (Tenormin), carvedilol (Coreg), metoprolol
(Lopressor, Toprol), and others. This list is not complete
and there may be other drugs that can interact with
fluticasone and salmeterol inhalation. Tell your doctor
about all the prescription and over-the-counter medications
you use. This includes vitamins, minerals, herbal products,
and drugs prescribed by other doctors. Do not start
using a new medication without telling your doctor.
Widest Selection of Drugs Online
Save money with Generics. Priced up to 80 percent below
brand name prescription drugs, generics offer huge savings
on your medical bills. Generic drug manufacturers spend
less on product development and advertisers and can
drive costs down.
Online doctor consultations
are free, saving time and money on your prescription
drug purchase. No existing proof of prescription is
required to place an order online. Of course, you should
always consult your own doctor or medical professional
before buying any prescription medication or taking
any pharmacy drugs.
Shipments are fast
and discreet. Don't forget to check your local laws,
regulations and customs information regarding the puchase
of mail order prescription drugs online.
Low prices on hundreds of brand-name and generic equivalent
medications for you and your family. Strict quality
standards ensure that you receive your pharmaceuticals
in top condition.
Generic drugs are
copies of brand name medications that are the same in
dosage, safety, strength, quality, performance and intended
use. Many people prefer to puchase generic drugs because
of the cost savings they often offer in comparison to
their brand name counterparts.
|
|