Salmeterol/Fluticasone (By Breathing)

Fluticasone (floo-TIK-a-sone), Salmeterol (sal-ME-te-role)

Prevents asthma symptoms. This medicine is a combination of a steroid and a bronchodilator.

Brand Name(s):

Advair Diskus 250/50, Advair Diskus 100/50, Advair Diskus 500/50
There may be other brand names for this medicine.

When This Medicine Should Not Be Used:

You should not use this medicine if you have had an allergic reaction to salmeterol or fluticasone. Do not use this medicine to treat an asthma attack.

How to Use This Medicine:

Spray

• Your doctor will tell you how much of this medicine to use and how often. Do not use more medicine or use it more often than your doctor tells you to. Using too much medicine can cause serious side effects.
• You will inhale this medicine using a special device called a Diskus® inhaler. Read and follow the patient instructions carefully. Ask your doctor or pharmacist any questions you have about using the inhaler. Do not use the Diskus® with a spacer. Rinse your mouth with water after using the inhaler. Do not swallow any of the water.
• Keep the Diskus® inhaler closed when you are not using it. Keep the inhaler dry at all times. Do not blow into it.
• Advair is used with other medicines to treat asthma. Use all other medicines your doctor has prescribed as part of your combination treatment. Keep using this medicine for the full treatment time, even if you feel better after the first few doses.
• Never share your medicine with anyone.

If a dose is missed:

• If you miss a dose or forget to use your medicine, use it as soon as you can. If it is almost time for your next dose, wait until then to use the medicine and skip the missed dose. Do not use extra medicine to make up for a missed dose.

How to Store and Dispose of This Medicine:

• Store the inhaler at room temperature, away from heat, moisture, and direct light.
• After you have used all the medicine, throw the Diskus® away in a place that children or pets cannot reach.
• Do not use the Diskus® or any leftover medicine if it has been longer than one month since you opened the foil package the Diskus® came in.
• Keep all medicine away from children.

Drugs and Foods to Avoid:

Ask your doctor or pharmacist before using any other medicine, including over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products.

• Make sure your doctor knows if you are also using ketoconazole (Nizoral®), ritonavir (Norvir®), other asthma medicine (such as albuterol, Combivent®, Proventil®), medicine for heart rhythm problems, blood pressure medicines or diuretics ("water pills"), or any other steroid (such as cortisone, methylprednisolone, prednisone, prednisolone, Azmacort®, Flovent®, Nasonex®, Vancenase®). Tell your doctor if you have used medicine for depression such as amitriptyline or an MAO inhibitor (Eldepryl®, Marplan®, Nardil®, Parnate®) within the past 2 weeks.
• This medicine should not be used together with similar inhaled medicines such as salmeterol (Serevent®) or formoterol (Foradil®).

Warnings While Using This Medicine:

• Make sure your doctor knows if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, or if you have heart problems, high blood pressure, epilepsy, thyroid problems, diabetes, herpes simplex in the eye, tuberculosis, or any type of infection.
• Before you start using this medicine, tell your doctor if your asthma has been worse recently. Some signs might be if you have had to use more medicine or if you have been to the emergency room lately for asthma problems.
• This medicine will not stop an asthma attack that has already started. You should have another medicine to use in case of an acute asthma attack. If the other medicine does not work as well, tell your doctor right away. Tell your doctor if you have to use the other medicine for more than 3 puffs daily for 2 days in a row.
• If any of your asthma medicines do not seem to be working, call your doctor right away. Do not change your doses or stop using your medicines without asking your doctor.
• You may get infections more easily while using this medicine. Tell your doctor right away if you have been exposed to chickenpox or measles.

Possible Side Effects While Using This Medicine:

Call your doctor right away if you notice any of these side effects:

• Allergic reaction: Itching or hives, swelling in your face or hands, swelling or tingling in your mouth or throat, chest tightness, trouble breathing
• Fast, irregular, or pounding heartbeat
• Eye pain or trouble seeing
• Worsening asthma symptoms

If you notice these less serious side effects, talk with your doctor:

• Dry mouth, white patches inside mouth, hoarseness, sore throat, mild cough
• Pain or weakness in your muscles or joints
• Tremors or shaking

If you notice other side effects that you think are caused by this medicine, tell your doctor.