Brand Names:
Generic Names:
- Fluticasone dry powder inhaler
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Fluticasone is an anti-inflammatory steroid that is inhaled into the lungs
to control asthma.
Do not use fluticasone to treat an asthma attack as it will not work. By
itself, fluticasone is not a bronchodilator.
In order to be effective, fluticasone must be taken every day at regular
intervals. Although improvement may occur within the first day of
treatment, the onset of effect is expected within 4-7 days and maximal
benefit may take 1-2 weeks or more.
If you are also prescribed a bronchodilator inhaler and the timing of the
bronchodilator coincides with that of the fluticasone, use the
bronchodilator inhaler first and wait several minutes to allow
bronchodilation to occur before using the fluticasone inhaler. By doing
this, the fluticasone may penetrate better into your lungs.
Do not use more often than prescribed. To do so increases the risk of
developing side effects.
If you miss a dose, take it as soon as possible. However, if it is near the
time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and continue with your
regular dosing schedule. Do not double the dose.
Before you have any kind of surgery (including dental surgery) or emergency
treatment, tell the physician or dentist that you are on this medication.
Do not stop treatment abruptly unless your physician has instructed you to
do so, as this could result in rebound worsening of your condition. The
dose is usually gradually reduced before this medication is stopped.
Rarely, symptoms of steroid withdrawal may occur if the medication is
stopped too quickly (fatigue, muscle or joint aches).
Contact your physician if:
1) You are injured, or are going through a period of stress;
2) You have asthma attacks that cannot be controlled by bronchodilator
medications, your asthma seems worse, or your nasal condition does not
improve after 3 weeks or worsens;
3) Breathing difficulty occurs;
4) Signs of infection occur (e.g. chest pain, chills, fever, cough,
congestion in nose, sinuses, or chest, change in sputum colour or
amount, sneezing, sore throat etc.);
5) You develop creamy white patches inside the mouth;
6) You notice unusual symptoms such as fast or irregular heartbeat,
change in weight or appetite, increased thirst, lethargy, weakness,
dizziness or lightheadedness, skin rash, acne, muscle or joint pain,
nausea or vomiting, fullness of the face, back pain, menstrual
changes, unexpected change in stool colour or bowel habits, frequent
urination, unexplained nosebleeds, change in mood;
7) Nasal irritation or sneezing persist following intranasal fluticasone;
8) Frequent nosebleeds or crusting in the nose occurs.
USE OF THE DRY POWDER INHALER:
1) Obtain an instruction sheet from your pharmacist.
2) Hold the Diskus preloaded oral inhaler in one hand, put the thumb of
your other hand in the thumbgrip, and push the thumbgrip until the
mouthpiece appears and snaps into position. Hold the inhaler level and
depress the lever away from you. This will pierce the foil blister and
make the dose available for inhaling and advance the dose counter.
Note that the last 5 doses appear in red on the dose counter.
3) Exhale completely. Do not exhale into the Diskus device.
4) Place mouthpiece between your lips and inhale deeply and steadily
through your mouth.
5) Remove the inhaler from your mouth while holding your breath as long
as possible (5-10 seconds).
6) Breathe out slowly.
7) Close the device and prepare for the next dose by sliding the thumb
grip towards you as far as possible; until it clicks.
8) If you are prescribed more than one dose, repeat steps (b) through
(g).
9) Rinse your mouth and gargle with water. Do not swallow the water. Wash
dentures if you wear them.
10) Clean the outside of the inhaler mouthpiece with a dry tissue once a
week. Do not use water to clean the mouthpiece; if water gets into the
inhaler it may not work. Store in a dry place, away from moisture and
excess heat.
Store this medication in its original labelled container, out of the reach
of children. Do not allow anyone else to use this medication.
