Advair Diskus
- What is Advair Diskus?
- Advair Diskus Generics
- Dosage and Instructions for Use
- Side Effects
- Contraindications
- Interactions
- Advair Diskus and Alcohol
- Advair Diskus for Children
- Advair Diskus during Pregnancy
- Additional Information
1. What is Advair Diskus?
Advair Diskus is an inhaler which consists of two active substances: Fluticasone
and Salmeterol. A combination of these two ingredients is used for the treatment
of bronchial asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary problems that cause
difficulties in the lungs during the breathing process. Fluticasone has
anti-inflammatory, antiallergic, antipruritic effect by intranasal, inhalation,
external application and helps prevent the problem of asthma and allergic
inflammation. Salmeterol acts as 2 beta receptor that is used for prevention of
asthma and chronic obstructive lung problems. See
a more detailed description of what Advair Diskus is…
2. Advair Diskus Generics
Some pharmacies offer generics that can replace the original preparation: for
example Fluticasone/Salmeterol. This generic product contains the same active
ingredients: Fluticasone/Salmeterol, act the same way and produce the same
effect. The generics price is lower as the manufacturers of generic products
take fewer expenses: they do not need the drug testing, researchers and clinical
trials, advertising, and promotion, as the original drug has already proven its
efficiency and high quality. Nowadays, many people prefer generic version: the
same effect + money spared. Continue
reading about generics…
3. Dosage and Instructions for Use
The recommended dosage of Advair Diskus depends on the age of the patient and other asthma medications that he takes.
- For children aged from 4 to 11, the recommended dosage makes one inhalation: 100/50 mg twice per day with a 12 hours interval;
- For children over the age of 11 and adults, the dosage will depend on the dose of other medications for asthma treatment and prevention – the dose can be 100/50 mg twice a day or 500/50 mg twice a day;
- The normal dose for chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases treatment is 250/50 mg twice a day. Find out more details about dosage…
4. Side Effects
Advair Diskus side effects are observed in patients not so often. Sometimes they are severe, but in the most cases, side effects are mild. The drug’s active ingredients may trigger different side effects:
- Salmeterol: paradoxical bronchospasm, irritation of the mucous membranes of the mouth or throat, changes in taste (dysgeusia), hypokalemia, nervous disorders, abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, hyperglycemia, tremors, palpitations, headache, arrhythmias (including atrial fibrillation, supraventricular tachycardia and extrasystoles), arthralgia, allergic reactions (skin rash, angioedema), spasms of skeletal muscles;
- Fluticasone: hoarseness, irritation of the mucous membrane of the pharynx, candidiasis of the oral cavity and pharynx, paradoxical bronchospasm, allergic skin reactions.
The prolonged use of this medicine at high doses may provoke Fluticasone systemic
effects: reduction of adrenocortical function, osteoporosis, children’s
growth retardation, cataract, glaucoma. Continue
reading about side effects…
5. Contraindications
Advair Diskus is contraindicated in the following cases:
- Hypersensitivity to the drug;
- Children under the age of 4.
Use the drug with caution: pulmonary tuberculosis, fungal, viral
or bacterial infections of the respiratory system, thyrotoxicosis,
pheochromocytoma, diabetes, uncontrolled hypokalemia, idiopathic hypertrophic
subaortic stenosis, uncontrolled hypertension, arrhythmia, QT prolongation on
the ECG, coronary artery disease, hypoxia of different genesis, cataracts,
glaucoma, hypothyroidism, osteoporosis, pregnancy, lactation. Continue reading about
contraindications…
6. Interactions
If you are combining other medications or supplements with Advair Diskus, the effects of Fluticasone or Salmeterol may change. Tell your doctor about all medications, vitamins, and supplements that you are taking at the moment. Your doctor will be able to work out the correct plan of the treatment, which would help avoid negative interactions. Fluticasone and Salmeterol may interact with the following medications:
- Amoxicillin;
- Amprenavir;
- Atazanavir;
- Biaxin;
- Boceprevir;
- Brimonidine.
More details about Advair Diskus interactions…
7. Advair Diskus and Alcohol
Alcohol does not have a direct impact on the effects of this medicine and it
seems that the small doses of alcohol will not affect the course of asthma
treatment with Advair Diskus. But the fact is that alcohol and asthma are
incompatible concepts. The effect of asthma treatment may be directly opposite
to the expected if a patient consumes alcohol with asthma medications. Alcohol
penetrates the blood through the walls of the gastrointestinal tract, poisoning
the whole body with toxins – this may only worsen inflammatory processes.
The body takes efforts to fight the intoxication of the organism, so the disease
may be intensified. My Canadian Pharmacy advises to refuse alcohol to have a
positive course of asthma treatment. See more details on Advair Diskus and Alcohol
compatibility…
8. Advair Diskus for Children
This medicine may be used as a maintenance asthma treatment for children. The medication is also used for adults with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) associated with chronic bronchitis. If your child is suffering from frequent asthma symptoms, asthma attacks, then he may need an inhaler like Advair Diskus.
* The asthma drug is contraindicated in children under the age of 4.
Attention: read carefully instructions for use, side effects, warnings, and
contraindications. Continue reading about Advair
Diskus for children…
9. Advair Diskus during Pregnancy
Using this remedy during pregnancy and lactation period should be prescribed only if the expected benefit of the drug to the mother outweighs any possible risk to the fetus or the child.
There are no sufficient scientific data on the uses of Salmeterol and Fluticasone during pregnancy and lactation period.
The reproductive toxicity of the Canadian drug and its components was examined during preclinical trials. Excessive concentration of active systemic beta2-agonists and corticosteroids affects the fetus.
Extensive clinical experience indicates that the drug effects are not clinically significant when a patient uses therapeutic doses. Advair Diskus for asthma (Fluticasone and Salmeterol) have no genotoxicity.
The concentration of Salmeterol and Fluticasone in the blood plasma after
inhalation of the medicine in therapeutic doses is extremely low, so their
concentration in breast milk should be low as well. This was confirmed in the
course of studies on animals. There are no data on the concentration of
Salmeterol and Fluticasone in breast milk of a woman during breastfeeding. Continue reading about
Advair Diskus during pregnancy…
10. Additional Information
Read this additional information and special instructions to increase the drug efficiency and avoid complications.
- The drug is intended for long-term treatment and prevention of the disease aggravation rather than cupping (in this case a patient should use short-acting inhaled bronchodilators);
- The drug should be taken regularly even in the absence of asthma symptoms;
- The increase in demand for Advair Diskus use indicates an exacerbation of the disease;
- Do not stop treatment with the drug sharply;
- Excessive use of Athis drug may cause systemic effects;
- It is recommended to monitor the growth dynamics of children using this medicine for a long time;
- Due to possible adrenal insufficiency, monitor the adrenal cortex functioning carefully and regularly;
- During stress a patient may need an additional dosage of the drug;
- If the drug should be discontinued due to Salmeterol overdose, the patient should be prescribed the appropriate replacement asthma therapy. See for more details about Advair Diskus…
Advair Diskus Reviews
