Advair Discus

Advair Discus (Fluticasone/Salmeterol) is used for long-term prevention and treatment of asthma and chronic lung diseases.

Drug Name

Advair Discus (Fluticasone/Salmeterol)

Drug Uses

Advair Diskus is used for long-term prevention and treatment of asthma and chronic lung diseases.

How Taken

Use Advair Diskus as directed by your doctor.

Always activate and use this device in a level, horizontal position. Do not breathe into the inhaler. Do not use a spacer. Gargle and rinse your mouth with water after using Advair Diskus to prevent dryness and mouth infections and relieve throat irritation. Do not swallow the rinse solution.

If you are using other inhalers, wait a few minutes between using Advair Diskus and other inhalers, unless directed otherwise by your doctor.

Advair Diskus delivers your dose as a very fine powder that most, but not all, patients can taste or feel. Whether you are able to taste or feel your dose of medicine, you should not take more than the recommended dose of 1 inhalation each morning and evening (approximately 12 hours apart). If you are not sure if you are receiving your dose, contact your doctor or pharmacist.

You may breathe more easily after the first dose of Advair Diskus . It may take 1 week or longer to achieve the most benefit. It is important that you use Advair Diskus regularly. Do not stop treatment even if you are feeling better unless your doctor tells you to do so.

Never wash the mouthpiece or any other part of the inhaler. Keep it dry and always keep it in a dry place.

Ask your health care provider any questions you may have about how to use Advair Diskus.

Drug Class and Mechanism

Advair Diskus improves lung function and makes breathing easier by reducing airway swelling and irritation and by causing muscle relaxation.

Missed Dose

If you miss a dose of Advair Diskus , skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not use 2 doses at once.

Storage

Store Advair Diskus at room temperature, between 68 and 77 degrees F (20 and 25 degrees C), in a dry place. Store away from direct heat and sunlight, moisture, and light. The inhalation device is not reusable and should be discarded 1 month after removal from the moisture-protective foil overwrap pouch or after all blisters have been used, whichever comes first.

Warnings/Precautions

Do not use Advair Diskus if:

• you are allergic to any ingredient in Advair Diskus;
• you are having sudden symptoms of shortness of breath (eg, sudden severe onset or worsening of wheezing, cough, chest tightness).

Important:

Do not drive or perform other possibly unsafe tasks until you know how you react to it.

Advair Diskus will not stop an asthma attack once one has started. If you are also using another inhaler for asthma attacks, be sure to carry it with you at all times for use during an asthma attack.

Try to avoid irritants that may trigger an asthma attack, such as smoke, pollen, pet dander, dust, or molds. Learn to use a peak flow meter, use it daily, and promptly report worsening of asthma (such as readings in the yellow or red range).

Tell your doctor at once if your condition is getting worse, indicated by these situations: your inhaled, short-acting bronchodilator becomes less effective; you need more inhalation than usual of your inhaled, short-acting bronchodilator; you have asthma and you have a serious decrease in your peak flow measurement as previously defined by your doctor.

Rarely, your wheezing may increase right after using Advair Diskus . If this occurs, use your quick-relief inhaler. Seek immediate medical attention if your breathing does not improve at that time. you have been taking oral steroids (eg, prednisone) on a regular basis (eg, 4 times a day or more than 20 mg/day of prednisone), you may need to stop taking the oral medicines before staring this one. Joint and muscle pain, lack of energy, and depression may occur when you stop taking oral steroids.

Additional oral steroids may be needed during periods of high stress (eg, trauma, surgery, infection) or during a severe asthma attack. Carry a warning card indicating this potential need. You should have regular eye exams while on Advair Diskus . Avoid exposure to measles or chickenpox.

If you are exposed, contact your doctor immediately. Diabetes patients - Advair Diskus may affect your blood sugar. Check blood sugar levels closely. Ask your doctor before you change the dose of your diabetes medicine. Lab tests may be performed while you use this medicine. These tests may be used to monitor your condition or check for side effects. Be sure to keep all doctor and lab appointments.

Use Advair Diskus with caution in the elderly; they may be more sensitive to its effects, especially effects on the heart.

Advair Diskus should not be used in children younger than 4 years old; safety and effectiveness in these children have not been confirmed.

Pregnancy and breast-feeding:

If you become pregnant, contact your doctor. You will need to discuss the benefits and risks of using Advair Diskus while you are pregnant.

Advair Diskus is found in breast milk. Do not breast-feed while taking Advair Diskus.

Possible Side Effects

• Cough;
• diarrhea;
• dizziness;
• dry mouth or throat;
• headache;
• hoarseness;
• nausea;
• nervousness;
• stomach pain;
• upper respiratory tract or viral infection;
• vomiting.

More Information

Advair Discus is to be used only by the patient for whom it is prescribed. Do not share it with other people.

What is the shelf life of the pills?

• The expiry date is mentioned on each blister. It is different for different batches. The shelf life is 2 years from the date of manufacture and would differ from batch to batch depending on when they were manufactured.

Other Useful Information:

Calcium: A mineral found mainly in the hard part of bones, where it is stored. Calcium is added to bones by cells called osteoblasts and is removed from bones by cells called osteoclasts. Calcium is essential for healthy bones. It is also important for muscle contraction, heart action, nervous system maintenance, and normal blood clotting. Food sources of calcium include dairy foods, some leafy green vegetables such as broccoli and collards, canned salmon, clams, oysters, calcium-fortified foods, and tofu. According to the National Academy of Sciences, adequate intake of calcium is 1,200 milligrams a day (four glasses of milk) for men and women 51 and older, 1,000 milligrams a day for adults 19 through 50, and 1,300 milligrams a day for children 9 through 18. The upper limit for calcium intake is 2.5 grams daily.

Cavities: Holes in the two outer layers of a tooth called the enamel and the dentin. The enamel is the outermost white hard surface and the dentin is the yellow layer just beneath enamel. Both layers serve to protect the inner living tooth tissue called the pulp, where blood vessels and nerves reside. Small cavities may not cause pain, and may be unnoticed by the patient. Larger cavities can collect food, and the inner pulp of the affected tooth can become irritated by bacterial toxins, foods that are cold, hot, sour, or sweet - causing toothache.

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Naturopathy is an American healthcare profession. It was founded in the US as a formal healthcare system at the turn of the 20th century by medical practitioners from various natural therapeutic disciplines. By the early 1900s, more than 20 naturopathic medical schools existed, and naturopathic physicians were licensed in most States. Today there are more than 1,000 licensed naturopathic doctors in the US.

As practiced today, naturopathic medicine integrates traditional natural therapeutics -- including botanical medicine, clinical nutrition, homeopathy, acupuncture, traditional oriental medicine, hydrotherapy, and naturopathic manipulative therapy -- with modern scientific medical diagnostic science and standards of care. The medical research base of naturopathic practice consists of empirical documentation of treatments using case history observations, medical records, and summaries of practitioners' clinical experiences.

At present, the two accredited naturopathic medical schools in the US have active research departments. Naturopathic researchers have investigated the pharmacology and physiological effects of nutritional and natural therapeutic agents, and naturopathic physicians have been active in the investigation of new homeopathic remedies and in the natural treatment of women's health problems. The most recently completed naturopathic study in women's health tested the clinical and endocrine effects of a botanical formula as an alternative to estrogen replacement therapy.

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The word "doctor" comes from the Latin "docere" meaning to teach. A doctor was a teacher, especially a learned or authoritative one.