Inhaler generic
Chemical Name: FLUTICASONE (flew-TICK-uh-sone) and SALMETEROL (sal-MET-er-all)
Common uses
This medicine is a long-acting corticosteroid and bronchodilator combination used to treat chronic asthma in certain patients. It may also be used to treat other breathing conditions as determined by your doctor.
Before using
LONG-ACTING BETA-AGONISTS, SUCH AS SALMETEROL, AN INGREDIENT IN THIS MEDICINE, HAVE BEEN RARELY ASSOCIATED WITH AN INCREASED RISK OF ASTHMA-RELATED DEATH. THIS MEDICINE SHOULD ONLY BE USED BY CERTAIN PATIENTS WITH SEVERE ASTHMA OR BY PATIENTS WHO CANNOT GET ADEQUATE CONTROL OF ASTHMA SYMPTOMS BY USING OTHER ASTHMA-CONTROLLER MEDICINES (EG, INHALED CORTICOSTEROIDS). Some medicines or medical conditions may interact with this medicine. INFORM YOUR DOCTOR OR PHARMACIST of all prescription and over-the-counter medicine that you are taking. DO NOT TAKE THIS MEDICINE if you are also taking another type of long-acting inhaled bronchodilator (eg, salmeterol inhalation powder, formoterol inhalation powder). ADDITIONAL MONITORING OF YOUR DOSE OR CONDITION may be needed if you are taking monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitors (eg, phenelzine), tricyclic antidepressants (eg, amitriptyline), or if you have taken any of these within the last 14 days; diuretics (such as hydrochlorothiazide or furosemide); catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) inhibitors (such as entacapone); delavirdine; HIV protease inhibitors (such as ritonavir); ketoconazole; or short-acting beta-agonist bronchodilators (such as albuterol). DO NOT START OR STOP any medicine without doctor or pharmacist approval. Inform your doctor of any other medical conditions including fungal, bacterial, or parasitic infections; viral infections (such as measles, chickenpox, shingles); herpes virus infection of the eye; immune system problems; weak bones (osteoporosis) or risk factors for osteoporosis (such as family history of osteoporosis, tobacco use, long-term use of corticosteroids, use of certain seizure medicines, limited physical exercise, or poor nutrition); allergies; pregnancy; or breast-feeding. Also notify your doctor if you have a history of diabetes, glaucoma or increased pressure in the eye, heart problems (such as fast or irregular heartbeat, heart blood vessel problems), high blood pressure, liver problems, low blood potassium, seizures, thyroid problems, tumors on your adrenal gland (pheochromocytoma), tuberculosis (TB) infection or a positive TB skin test, recent vaccination, recent emergency room visits for asthma, frequent hospitalizations for asthma, or life-threatening asthma attack. Contact your doctor or pharmacist if you have any questions or concerns about taking this medicine. Use of this medicine in children under age 12 is not recommended. Discuss with your doctor the risks and benefits of giving this medicine to your child.
Directions
Follow the directions for using this medicine provided by your doctor. This medicine comes with a Medication Guide. Read it carefully. Read it again each time you get this medicine refilled. Ask your doctor, nurse, or pharmacist any questions that you may have about this medicine. You must prime the inhaler before you use it for the first time. To prime the inhaler, shake it well for 5 seconds then pump 1 test spray into the air away from your face. Repeat this 3 more times to be sure the inhaler is fully primed. You will need to re-prime the inhaler if you drop it or if you have not used it in more than 4 weeks. To re-prime the inhaler, shake it well for 5 seconds then pump 1 test spray into the air away from the face. Repeat this step 1 more time to be sure the inhaler is fully primed. BEFORE USING THIS MEDICINE, be sure that the canister is properly inserted into the inhaler unit. SHAKE WELL for 5 seconds before each use. Be sure the medicine is at room temperature and that there are no foreign objects inside the inhaler unit. Breathe out slowly and completely. UNLESS YOUR DOCTOR HAS TOLD YOU OTHERWISE, position the mouthpiece between your lips and try to rest your tongue flat. Your doctor may have told you to hold the inhaler 1 or 2 inches (2 or 3 centimeters) away from the open mouth or may have instructed you to use a special spacing device. As you start to take a slow deep breath, press the canister and mouthpiece together at exactly the same time to administer a dose of this medicine. Continue breathing in slowly and deeply and hold for as long as comfortable, then exhale slowly through pursed lips or through your nose. If more than 1 inhalation is to be used, wait 30 seconds and repeat the above process. KEEP THE SPRAY AWAY from your eyes. Place the cap over the mouthpiece of the inhaler after use. Rinse your mouth with water after using this medicine. Do NOT swallow the rinse solution. Spit the rinse water out. Clean the inhaler once a week according to the directions in the Medication Guide. Do NOT put this medicine in water to estimate how much medicine is left in the canister. This medicine is made to deliver 120 sprays. Keep track of how many times you use this medicine. Throw this medicine away after you have used 120 sprays, even if the canister is not empty. You may not get the right amount of medicine in each spray after you have used 120 sprays. You may breathe more easily after you use the first dose of this medicine. However, it may take 1 week or longer before you get the most benefit. STORE THIS MEDICINE at room temperature 77 degrees F (25 degrees C) away from heat, moisture, and light. Brief storage between 59 and 86 degrees F (15 and 30 degrees C) is permitted. Do not puncture, break, or burn the canister even if it appears to be empty. Use this medicine regularly to receive the most benefit from it. Using this medicine at the same times each day will help you to remember. CONTINUE TO USE THIS MEDICINE even if you feel well. Do not miss any doses. IF YOU MISS A DOSE OF THIS MEDICINE, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. DO NOT use 2 doses at once.
Cautions
DO NOT TAKE THIS MEDICINE if you have had an allergic reaction to it or are allergic to any ingredient in this product. This medicine will not stop an asthma attack once it has already started. Be sure to carry a short-acting bronchodilator with you at all times to treat any breathing problems that may occur between doses of this medicine. If you have any questions about which medicines stop asthma attacks, check with your doctor or pharmacist. THIS MEDICINE MAY sometimes cause severe breathing problems right after you use a dose. When this occurs, it is often after the first use of a new canister. If this happens, use your short-acting bronchodilator inhaler. Seek medical care at once if your breathing does not improve after you use the short-acting bronchodilator. Tell your doctor about the reaction. TELL YOUR DOCTOR AT ONCE if you notice that your short-acting bronchodilator inhaler does not work as well, if you need to use it often (eg, more than 4 times a day for more than 2 days in a row), or if you have a decrease in your peak flow meter results. USE CAUTION IF YOU SWITCH from an oral steroid (eg, prednisone) to this medicine. It may take several months for your body to make enough natural steroids to handle events that cause physical stress. Such events may include injury, surgery, infection, loss of blood electrolytes, or a sudden asthma attack. These may be severe and sometimes fatal. Contact your doctor right away if any of these events occur. DO NOT STOP USING THIS MEDICINE without first checking with your doctor. DO NOT EXCEED THE RECOMMENDED DOSE or use this medicine for longer than prescribed without checking with your doctor. The risk of serious heart problems (such as irregular heartbeat) may be greater if you use this medicine in high doses. Laboratory and/or medical tests, including lung function tests and eye exams may be performed to monitor your progress or to check for side effects. KEEP ALL DOCTOR AND LABORATORY APPOINTMENTS while you are using this medicine. This medicine may cause dizziness. DO NOT DRIVE, OPERATE MACHINERY, OR DO ANYTHING ELSE THAT COULD BE DANGEROUS until you know how you react to this medicine. Using this medicine alone, with other medicines, or with alcohol may lessen your ability to drive or to perform other potentially dangerous tasks. BEFORE YOU BEGIN TAKING ANY NEW MEDICINE, either prescription or over-the-counter, check with your doctor or pharmacist. CAUTION IS ADVISED WHEN USING THIS MEDICINE IN CHILDREN AND THE ELDERLY because they may be more sensitive to the effects of the medicine. CORTICOSTEROID MEDICINES MAY AFFECT growth rate in children and adolescents in some instances. Your child's growth should be checked regularly while using this medicine. FOR WOMEN: IF YOU PLAN ON BECOMING PREGNANT, discuss with your doctor the benefits and risks of using this medicine during pregnancy. IF YOU ARE OR WILL BE BREAST-FEEDING while you are using this medicine, check with your doctor or pharmacist to discuss the risks to your baby. IF YOU HAVE DIABETES, this medicine may affect your blood sugar. Check blood sugar levels closely and ask your doctor before adjusting the dose of your diabetes medicine.
Possible side effects
SIDE EFFECTS that may occur while using this medicine include dizziness, headache, menstrual changes, nausea, nervousness, throat irritation, tremor, and vomiting. If they continue or are bothersome, check with your doctor. CHECK WITH YOUR DOCTOR AS SOON AS POSSIBLE if you experience signs of infection (eg, fever, chills, persistent headache/sore throat, ear pain). CONTACT YOUR DOCTOR IMMEDIATELY if you experience behavior changes; blurred vision or other vision changes; bone pain; chest pain; choking; fast or irregular heartbeat; hoarseness; numbness or tingling in hands or feet; seizures; severe muscle weakness, cramps, or spasms; severe or persistent dizziness or headache; swelling or tightness in the throat; trouble sleeping; vaginal odor or discharge; weight gain; white patches or sores on the tongue or mouth; worsening of asthma symptoms (eg, increased wheezing, coughing, chest tightness, or shortness of breath). An allergic reaction to this medicine is unlikely, but seek immediate medical attention if it occurs. Symptoms of an allergic reaction include rash, itching, swelling, severe dizziness, or trouble breathing. If you notice other effects not listed above, contact your doctor, nurse, or pharmacist.
If you take too much
If overdose is suspected, contact your local poison control center or emergency room immediately. Symptoms of overdose may include seizures, chest pain, unusually fast/irregular heartbeat, severe muscle weakness, muscle cramping, and fainting.
Additional information
If your symptoms do not improve within a week or if they become worse, check with your doctor. Carry an identification card at all times that states you are taking this medicine. Consult your doctor for more information. TALK TO YOUR DOCTOR about using a peak flow meter to monitor your lung function. Try to avoid irritants that may trigger an asthma attack such as smoke, pollen, pet dander, dust, or molds. DO NOT SHARE THIS MEDICINE with others for whom it was not prescribed. KEEP THIS MEDICINE out of the reach of children and pets. IF USING THIS MEDICINE FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME, obtain refills before your supply runs out.
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