Advair Diskus

Advair Diskus Information

Why is this Advair medication prescribed?

Advair - The combination of fluticasone and salmeterol (Advair) is used to prevent wheezing, shortness of breath, and breathing difficulties caused by asthma. Advair/Fluticasone is in a class of medications called steroids. Advair works by reducing swelling in the airways. Advair/Salmeterol is in a class of medications called long-acting beta-agonists. Advair works by relaxing and opening air passages in the lungs.

How should this Advair medicine be used?

Advair/Fluticasone and salmeterol comes as a powder to inhale only by mouth using a special Advair inhaler device. Advair usually is used twice a day, in the morning and evening approximately 12 hours apart. Follow the Advair directions on your Advair prescription label carefully, and ask your doctor or pharmacist to explain any part you do not understand. Use Advair/fluticasone and salmeterol exactly as directed. Do not use more or less of Advair or use Advair more often than prescribed by your doctor.

Advair/Fluticasone and salmeterol controls asthma but does not cure it. It may take a week or longer before you feel the full benefit of Advair/fluticasone and salmeterol. Continue to use Advair/fluticasone and salmeterol even if you feel well. Do not stop using Advair/fluticasone and salmeterol without talking to your doctor.

Before you use Advair/fluticasone and salmeterol inhalation for the first time, read the written Advair instructions that come with it. Ask your doctor, Advair pharmacist, or respiratory therapist to show you how to use the Advair inhaler. Practice using your Advair inhaler while he or she watches.

To use the Advair inhaler, follow these steps:

• Hold the Advair inhalation device in one hand, and put the thumb of your other hand on the thumbgrip. Push your thumb away from you as far as it will go until the mouthpiece appears and snaps into position.
• Hold the Advair inhalation device in a horizontal position with the mouthpiece toward you. Slide the lever away from you as far as it will go until it clicks.
• Every time the lever is pushed back, a dose is ready to inhale. You will see the number in the dose counter go down. Do not waste doses by closing the device, playing with the lever, or advancing the lever more than once.
• Hold the Advair inhalation device level and away from your mouth, and breathe out as far as you comfortably can.
• Put the Advair mouthpiece to your lips. Breathe in quickly and deeply though the Advair inhalation device, not through your nose.
• Remove the Advair inhalation device from your mouth, and hold your breath for 10 seconds or as long as you comfortably can. Breathe out slowly.
• Put your thumb on the thumbgrip and slide it back toward you as far as it will go. The device will click shut.
• Rinse your mouth with water.
• Never exhale into the Advair inhalation device. Never take the Advair device apart. Never wash the mouthpiece or any part of the Advair device. Keep the Advair device dry.
• Do not use the Advair device with a spacer.

• tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic to Advair/fluticasone (Flonase, Flovent), salmeterol (Serevent), or any other medications.
• do not take formoterol (Foradil), salmeterol (Serevent), or regularly scheduled (for example, four-times-a-day) short-acting beta-agonists such as albuterol (Proventil, Ventolin) while taking Advair/fluticasone and salmeterol.
• tell your doctor and pharmacist what other prescription and nonprescription medications, vitamins, nutritional supplements, and herbal products you are taking. Be sure to mention. Your doctor may need to change the doses of your medications or monitor you carefully for side effects.
• tell your doctor if you have or have ever had heart or liver disease, high blood pressure, convulsions, an overactive thyroid (hyperthyroidism), diabetes, or tuberculosis, and if you have a herpes eye infection or a fungal, viral, or bacterial infection (except an infection of the skin).
• tell your doctor if you are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding. If you become pregnant while using Advair/fluticasone and salmeterol, call your doctor.
• if you are having surgery, including dental surgery, tell your doctor or dentist that you are taking Advair/fluticasone and salmeterol.
• do not use Advair/fluticasone and salmeterol during a sudden asthma attack. You should have a fast-acting inhaler such as albuterol (Proventil, Ventolin) to use during asthma attacks.
• avoid exposure to chickenpox or measles. If you are exposed to these diseases, call your doctor immediately. You may need to get a vaccine to protect you from these infections.

• hives
• skin rash
• itching
• swelling of the face, throat, tongue, lips, hands, feet, ankles, or lower legs
• choking or difficulty swallowing
• increased difficulty breathing
• less relief from your short-acting inhaler
• need to use more puffs of your short-acting inhaler or need to use it more often
• decrease in peak flow measurements
• pounding or fast heartbeat
• chest pain
• nervousness
• tremor
• restlessness
• loss of vision
• white patches in the mouth

• ADVAIR won't replace fast-acting inhalers for sudden symptoms and should be taken twice daily.
• ADVAIR should not be taken more than twice daily. Rare but serious asthma episodes and asthma-related fatalities occurred in a study with SEREVENT®, one of the components of ADVAIR. These risks may be greater in African-Americans.
• While adjusting to a switch from an oral steroid, like prednisone, to the inhaled steroid in ADVAIR, be very careful, as you may be less able to heal after surgery, infection, or serious injury.
• Tell your doctor if you have a heart condition or high blood pressure. Some people may experience increased blood pressure, heart rate, or changes in heart rhythm.
• See your doctor if your asthma does not improve.
• ADVAIR is for patients 12 and older.