Flovent HFA Information and Uses

Flovent HFA

Flovent HFA Overview

Flovent HFA (generic: fluticasone) is a prescription medication used to treat asthma in patients who are 4 years of age or older.

Flovent HFA belongs to a group of drugs called corticosteroids. It works by reducing inflammation in the airways, making breathing easier.

This medication comes in aerosol form and is inhaled via the mouth usually twice daily.

Common side effects of Flovent HFA are cold or upper respiratory tract infection, throat irritation, headache, and fever.

Uses of Flovent HFA

Flovent HFA is a prescription medication used to treat asthma in patients who are 4 years old or older.

This medication may be prescribed for other uses. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

Side Effects of Flovent HFA

Flovent HFA can cause serious side effects, including:

fungal infections (thrush) in your mouth and throat. Tell your doctor if you have any redness or white-colored coating in your mouth.
decreased ability to fight infections. Symptoms of infection may include: fever, pain, aches, chills, feeling tired, nausea and vomiting. Tell your doctor about any signs of infection while you use Flovent HFA.
decreased adrenal function (adrenal insufficiency). Symptoms of decreased adrenal function include tiredness, weakness, nausea and vomiting, and low blood pressure. Decreased adrenal function can lead to death
allergic reaction (anaphylaxis). Call your doctor and stop Flovent HFA right away if you have any symptoms of an allergic reaction:

swelling of the face, throat and tongue
hives
rash
breathing problems

lower bone mineral density. This may be a problem for people who already have a higher chance of low bone density (osteoporosis).
slow growth in children. The growth of children using Flovent HFA should be checked regularly.
eye problems including glaucoma and cataracts. Tell your doctor about any vision changes while using Flovent HFA. Your doctor may tell you to have your eyes checked.
increased wheezing (bronchospasm). Increased wheezing can happen right away after using Flovent HFA. Always have a rescue inhaler with you to treat sudden wheezing.
Tell your doctor right away if you have any of the serious side effects listed above or if you have worsening lung symptoms.

The most common side effects of Flovent HFA include:

a cold or upper respiratory tract infection
throat irritation
headache
fever
diarrhea
ear infection

Tell your doctor about all the medicines you take including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Flovent HFA may affect the way other medicines work, and other medicines may affect how Flovent HFA works. Especially, tell your doctor if you take:

a medicine containing ritonavir (commonly used to treat HIV infection or AIDS). The anti-HIV medicines NORVIR (ritonavir capsules) Soft Gelatin, Norvir (ritonavir oral solution), and Kaletra (lopinavir/ritonavir) tablets contain ritonavir.
any other corticosteroid medicines.
ketoconazole (Nizoral), an antifungal medicine.

Flovent HFA Precautions

Do not use Flovent HFA if you:

are allergic to any of the ingredients in Flovent HFA or other inhaled corticosteroids.
have an acute asthma attack or status asthmaticus. Flovent HFA is not a bronchodilator and should not be used to give you fast relief from your breathing problems during an asthma attack. Always use a short-acting bronchodilator (rescue medicine), such as albuterol inhaler, during a sudden asthma attack. You must take Flovent HFA at regular times as recommended by your doctor, and not as an emergency medicine.

If you have not had or not been vaccinated against chickenpox, measles, or active tuberculosis, you should stay away from people who are infected.

Flovent HFA Food Interactions

Medicines can interact with certain foods. In some cases, this may be harmful and your doctor may advise you to avoid certain foods. In the case of Flovent HFA there are no specific foods that you must exclude from your diet when receiving Flovent HFA.

Inform MD

Tell your doctor if you:

have liver problems.
have been exposed to chickenpox or measles.
have any other medical conditions.
are pregnant or planning to become pregnant. It is not known if Flovent HFA will harm your unborn baby.
are breastfeeding a baby. It is not known if Flovent HFA passes into your breast milk.

a medicine containing ritonavir (commonly used to treat HIV infection or AIDS). The anti-HIV medicines Norvir (ritonavir capsules) Soft Gelatin, Norvir (ritonavir oral solution), and Kaletra (lopinavir/ritonavir) tablets contain ritonavir.
any other corticosteroid medicines.
ketoconazole (Nizoral), an antifungal medicine.

Flovent HFA and Pregnancy

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant. It is not known if Floven HFA will harm your unborn baby.

Flovent HFA and Lactation

Tell your doctor if you are breastfeeding or planning to breastfeed. It is not known if Flovent HFA is excreted in human milk or if it will harm your nursing baby.

Flovent HFA Usage

It is important that you inhale each dose as your doctor has prescribed. The prescription label provided by your pharmacist will usually tell you what dose to take and how often.
If it doesn’t or if you aren’t sure, ask your doctor or pharmacist. DO NOT inhale more doses or use your Flovent HFA more often than your doctor has prescribed.
It may take 1 to 2 weeks or longer for this medicine to work, and it is very important that you use it regularly. Do not stop taking Flovent HFA, even if you are feeling better, unless your doctor tells you to.
If you miss a dose, just take your next scheduled dose when it is due. Do not double the dose.
Your doctor may prescribe additional medicine (such as fast-acting bronchodilators) for emergency relief if a sudden asthma attack occurs.

Contact your doctor if:

an asthma attack does not respond to the additional medicine or
you need more of the additional medicine than usual.
If you also use another medicine by inhalation, you should ask your doctor for instructions on when to use it while you are also using Flovent HFA.
Children should use Flovent HFA with an adult’s help, as instructed by the child’s healthcare provider. A valved holding chamber (a kind of spacer) and face mask may be used to deliver Flovent HFA to young patients.

Flovent HFA Dosage

Take Flovent HFA exactly as your doctor prescribes it. Follow the directions on your prescription label carefully. Starting doses range from 88 mcg twice daily to 440 mcg twice daily. The highest recommended dose in adults is 880 mcg twice daily. In children aged 4 to 11 years, the highest recommended dose is 88 mcg twice daily. Your doctor will determine the best Flovent HFA dose for you.

Flovent HFA Overdose

If you take too much Floven HFA, call your local Poison Control Center or seek emergency medical attention right away.

Forms of Flovent HFA

Flovent HFA 44 mcg Inhalation Aerosol is supplied in canisters containing 120 metered inhalations. Each actuation delivers 44 mcg.

Flovent HFA 110 mcg inhalation Aerosol is supplied in canisters containing 120 metered inhalations. Each actuation delivers 110 mcg.

Flovent HFA 220 mcg inhalation Aerosol is supplied in canisters containing 120 metered inhalations. Each actuation delivers 220 mcg.

Each canister is fitted with a counter. The correct amount of medication in each inhalation cannot be assured after the counter reads 000. The inhaler should be discarded when the counter reads 000.

Active ingredient: fluticasone propionate (micronized)

Inactive ingredient: propellant HFA-134a

Other Requirements

Store Flovent HFA at room temperature between 59°and 86°F (15°-30°C). Store the inhaler with the mouthpiece down. For best results, the inhaler should be at room temperature before use.
Keep Flovent HFA and all medicines out of the reach of children.