Advair Diskus

Advair Diskus is a prescription medication used to treat asthma and COPD. It is a single product containing 2 medications: fluticasone and salmeterol. Fluticasone belongs to a class of medications called steroids. These work by reducing swelling in the airways. Salmeterol belongs to a class of drugs called long-acting beta-agonists (LABAs). These work by relaxing and opening air passages in the lungs, making it easier to breathe.

This medication comes in an inhaler form and is typically used twice a day, in the morning and evening, about 12 hours apart.

Common side effects of Advair Diskus include upper respiratory tract infection, throat irritation, hoarseness and voice changes, and thrush in the mouth or throat.

Advair Diskus can also cause drowsiness. Do not drive or operate heavy machinery until you know how Advair Diskus affects you.

WARNING: ASTHMA-RELATED DEATH

Long-acting beta2-adrenergic agonists (LABA), such as salmeterol, one of the active ingredients in ADVAIR DISKUS, increase the risk of asthma-related death. A US trial showed an increase in asthma-related deaths in patients receiving salmeterol (13 deaths out of 13,176 subjects treated for 28 weeks on salmeterol versus 3 out of 13,179 subjects on placebo). Currently available data are inadequate to determine whether concurrent use of inhaled corticosteroids or other long-term asthma control drugs mitigates the increased risk of asthma-related death from LABA. Available data from controlled clinical trials suggest that LABA increase the risk of asthma-related hospitalization in pediatric and adolescent patients.

When treating patients with asthma, only prescribe ADVAIR DISKUS for patients not adequately controlled on a long-term asthma control medication, such as an inhaled corticosteroid, or whose disease severity clearly warrants initiation of treatment with both an inhaled corticosteroid and a LABA. Once asthma control is achieved and maintained, assess the patient at regular intervals and step down therapy (e.g., discontinue ADVAIR DISKUS) if possible without loss of asthma control and maintain the patient on a long-term asthma control medication, such as an inhaled corticosteroid. Do not use ADVAIR DISKUS for patients whose asthma is adequately controlled on low- or medium-dose inhaled corticosteroids.

Asthma [1] Pulmonary Disease [2] Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease [3]

Reviewed by:

Beth Bolt, RPh [4] Anyssa Garza, PharmD [5]

Citation:

"Advair Diskus", DailyMed: Current Medication Information; U.S. National Library of Medicine [6] "Fluticasone and Salmeterol Oral Inhalation", Medline Plus: Current Medication Information; U.S. National Library of Medicine. [7]

http://www.rxwiki.com/advair-diskus [8]

Fluticasone and Salmeterol [9]

Rx Company Link:

Glaxo SmithKline Pharmaceuticals [10]

RxNorm ATC Ref:

Inhaled adrenergic and other drugs for obstructive airway diseases [11]

Contributor:

Anyssa Garza, PharmD [5] Jennifer Gershman, PharmD, CPh [12]

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Advair Diskus

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Advair Diskus makes breathing easier for people with asthma or COPD. Be sure to rinse your mouth with water without swallowing after inhalation to help reduce the risk of thrush.

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Advair [13]