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Advair Diskus This page contains recent news articles, when available, and an overview of Advair Diskus but does not offer medical advice. You should contact your physician with regard to any health issues or concerns. Why is Advair Diskus prescribed? [MedMaster Patient Drug Information database] Fluticasone oral inhalation is used to control the symptoms of asthma (a disease in which the airways become blocked causing difficulty breathing, chest tightness, wheezing, and coughing). Fluticasone is in a class of medications called corticosteroids. It works by decreasing swelling and irritation in the airways to allow for easier breathing. Fluticasone helps to prevent asthma attacks (sudden episodes of shortness of breath, wheezing, and coughing), but it will not work to stop an asthma attack that has already started. Your doctor will probably prescribe a different medication to use whenever you have an asthma attack. Recent news articles mentioning Advair Diskus [an error occurred while processing this directive]How should Advair Diskus be used? [MedMaster Patient Drug Information database] Fluticasone comes as an aerosol to inhale by mouth. Fluticasone is usually inhaled twice a day. To help you remember to use fluticasone, use it around the same times every day. Follow the directions on your prescription label carefully, and ask your doctor or pharmacist to explain any part you do not understand. Use fluticasone exactly as directed. Do not use more or less of it or use it more often than prescribed by your doctor. Your doctor will probably start you on a higher dose of fluticasone and may decrease your dose when your symptoms are controlled or increase it if your symptoms have not improved after at least 2 weeks. Fluticasone controls asthma but does not cure it. Your symptoms may improve 24 hours after you begin taking fluticasone, but it may take 2 weeks or longer before you feel the full benefit of the medication. Continue to take fluticasone even if you feel well. Do not stop taking fluticasone without talking to your doctor. If you miss doses or stop using fluticasone, your symptoms may return. Your doctor will probably decrease your dose gradually. The inhaler that comes with fluticasone aerosol is designed for use only with a canister of fluticasone. Never use it to inhale any other medication, and never use any other inhaler to inhale fluticasone. If you are using any other inhaled medications, ask your doctor or pharmacist whether you should inhale these medications a certain amount of time before or after you you use fluticasone inhalation. Each canister of fluticasone aerosol is designed to provide 60 or 120 inhalations, depending on its size. After the labeled number of inhalations has been used, later inhalations may not contain the correct amount of medication. You should keep track of the number of inhalations you have used and throw away the canister after you have used the labeled number of inhalations even if it still contains some liquid. You can divide 60 or 120 by the number of inhalations you use each day to find out how many days your inhaler will last. Before you use your fluticasone aerosol inhaler the first time, read the written instructions that come with it. Look at the diagrams carefully and be sure that you recognize all the parts of the inhaler. Ask your doctor, pharmacist, or respiratory therapist to show you how to use it. Practice using the inhaler while he or she watches. To use the aerosol inhaler, follow these steps: Be sure that the inhaler is at room temperature. Shake the inhaler well for 15 seconds Remove the cap form the mouthpiece. The strap on the side of the cap will stay attached to the actuator to keep the cap from getting lost. If the strap does come off and the cap gets lost, check the mouthpiece for dirt and other objects before each use. Be sure the canister is correctly inserted in the actuator. If you are using the inhaler for the first time, or you have not used the inhaler in at least 4 weeks, hold it pointing away from you and release four sprays into the air. If you have not used the inhaler in 1-3 weeks, release one spray into the air. Be careful not to spray the medication into your eyes. Breathe out through your mouth. Hold the inhaler facing you with the mouthpiece on the bottom. Place your thumb under the mouthpiece and your index finger on the top of the canister. Place the mouthpiece in your mouth and close your lips around it or hold the inhaler 1-2 inches away from your open mouth. Breathe in deeply and slowly through your mouth. At the same time, press down firmly on the top of the canister with your index finger. Continue to inhale and try to hold your breath for 10 seconds. While you are holding your breath, remove the inhaler from your mouth and let go of the canister. Breathe out. If your doctor told you to inhale more than one puff, wait 30 seconds, shake the canister again, and repeat steps 5-9 for each puff. Put the cap back on the mouthpiece. Rinse your mouth with water, but do not swallow the water. Other uses for Advair Diskus [MedMaster Patient Drug Information database] Before taking gemifloxacin, tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic to gemifloxacin; other quinolone and fluoroquinolone antibiotics such as cinoxacin (Cinobac), ciprofloxacin (Cipro), enoxacin (Penetrex), gatifloxacin (Tequin), levofloxacin (Levaquin), lomefloxacin (Maxaquin), moxifloxacin (Avelox), nalidixic acid (NegGram), norfloxacin (Noroxin), ofloxacin (Floxin), sparfloxacin (Zagam), trovafloxacin and alatrofloxacin combination (Trovan); or any other medications. tell your doctor and pharmacist what other prescription and nonprescription medications, vitamins, nutritional supplements, and herbal products you are taking. Be sure to mention any of the following: anticoagulants ('blood thinners') such as warfarin (Coumadin); antidepressants such as amitriptyline (Elavil), amoxapine (Asendin), clomipramine (Anafranil), desipramine (Norpramin), doxepin (Adapin, Sinequan), imipramine (Tofranil), nortriptyline (Aventyl, Pamelor), protriptyline (Vivactil), and trimipramine (Surmontil); aspirin and other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) and naproxen (Aleve, Naprosyn); cisapride (Propulsid); diuretics ('water pills'); erythromycin (E.E.S., E-mycin, Erythrocin); gatifloxacin (Tequin); hormone replacement therapy; levofloxacin (Levaquin); medications for irregular heartbeat such as amiodarone (Cordarone), dofetilide (Tikosyn), disopyramide (Norpace), procainamide (Procanbid, Pronestyl), quinidine (Quinidex), and sotalol (Betapace); medications for mental illness; moxifloxacin (Avelox); oral contraceptives (birth control pills); oral steroids such as dexamethasone (Decadron, Dexone), methylprednisolone (Medrol), and prednisone (Deltasone); pimozide (Orap); probenecid; sparfloxacin (Zagam); or thioridazine (Stelazine). Your doctor may need to change the doses of your medications or monitor you carefully for side effects. if you are taking magnesium- and/or aluminum-containing antacids (ALternaGEL, Amphojel, Basaljel, Gaviscon, Maalox, Mylanta); didanosine (Videx) chewable tablets or solution (liquid); or iron, magnesium, or zinc in supplements or multivitamins; take them 3 hours before or 2 hours after gemifloxacin. if you are taking sucralfate (Carafate), take it at least 2 hours after gemifloxacin. tell your doctor if you or any of your family members have or have ever had irregular, slow, or pounding heartbeat; if you have recently had a heart attack; and if you have or have ever had blood problems; low potassium or magnesium levels in your blood; mental illness; recent head injury; seizures; or heart, kidney, or liver disease. you should know that antibiotics similar to gemifloxacin have caused serious and occasionally fatal allergic reactions in some patients. If you develop hives; difficulty breathing or swallowing; rapid, irregular or pounding heartbeat; fainting; dizziness; blurred vision; or other symptoms of a severe allergic reaction, seek emergency medical care right away. If you develop a skin rash, stop taking gemifloxacin and call your doctor. Call your doctor if you experience other signs of an allergic reaction such as itching; swelling of the face, throat, tongue, lips, eyes, hands, feet, ankles, or lower legs; fever; sore throat, chills or other sign of infection; hoarseness; joint or muscle pain; decreased urination; unusual bruising or bleeding; lack of energy; weakness; yellowing of the skin or eyes; or upset stomach. you should know that gemifloxacin may cause tendonitis (swelling or tearing of the fiber that connects a bone to a muscle). Tell your doctor if you have ever had tendonitis ,and if you participate in regular athletic activity. If you experience symptoms of tendonitis, such as pain, swelling, tenderness, or difficulty in moving a muscle, stop taking gemifloxacin, rest, and call your doctor immediately. tell your doctor if you are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding. If you become pregnant while taking gemifloxacin, call your doctor. if you are having surgery, including dental surgery, tell the doctor or dentist that you are taking gemifloxacin. you should know that gemifloxacin may make you dizzy. Do not drive a car or operate machinery until you know how this medication affects you. plan to avoid unnecessary or prolonged exposure to sunlight, sunlamps, or tanning beds and wear protective clothing, sunglasses, and sunscreen when outside in sunlight. Gemifloxacin may make your skin sensitive to sunlight. What side effects can Advair Diskus cause? [MedMaster Patient Drug Information database] Fluticasone may cause side effects. Tell your doctor if any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away: headache stuffy or runny nose difficulty speaking diarrhea back or joint pain Some side effects can be serious. The following symptoms are uncommon, but if you experience any of them, call your doctor immediately: sore throat, cough, fever, chills, or other signs of infection influenza (flu) painful white patches in mouth or throat burning or tingling in hands, feet, arms, or legs new or increased acne (pimples) easy bruising enlarged face and neck extreme tiredness muscle weakness irregular menstruation (periods) hives rash itching swelling of the face, throat, tongue, lips, eyes, hands, feet, ankles, or lower legs hoarseness difficulty breathing or swallowing chest pain or tightness red or fluid filled bumps on skin burning, tingling, or numbness in arms or legs Fluticasone may cause children to grow more slowly. It is not known whether using fluticasone decreases the final adult height that children will reach. Talk to your child's doctor about the risks of giving this medication to your child. Fluticasone may increase your risk of developing osteoporosis (a condition in which the bones become thin and weak and break easily). Talk to your doctor about the risks of using this medication. Fluticasone may cause other side effects. Call your doctor if you have any unusual problems while taking this medication. If you experience a serious side effect, you or your doctor may send a report to the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting program online [at http://www.fda.gov/MedWatch/report.htm] or by phone [1-800-332-1088]. Brand names for Advair Diskus [MedMaster Patient Drug Information database] Advair® Flovent® Diskus®