Advair Hfa, Advair, Fluticasone-salmeterol

Fluticasone and Salmeterol Inhaler

(floo TIK a sone & sal ME te role)

Advair HFA Inhaler

It is used to treat asthma. This drug is not to be used to treat intense flare-ups of shortness of breath. Use a rescue inhaler. Talk with the doctor.

If you have an allergy to fluticasone, salmeterol, or any other part of this drug. If you are allergic to this drug; any part of this drug; or any other drugs, foods, or substances. Tell your doctor about the allergy and what signs you had. If you are using another drug like this one. If you are not sure, ask your doctor or pharmacist. If you take any drugs (prescription or OTC, natural products, vitamins) that must not be taken with this drug, like certain drugs that are used for HIV, infections, or depression. There are many drugs that must not be taken with this drug. Your doctor or pharmacist can tell you if you are taking a drug that must not be taken with this drug. This is not a list of all drugs or health problems that interact with this drug. Tell your doctor and pharmacist about all of your drugs (prescription or OTC, natural products, vitamins) and health problems. You must check to make sure that it is safe for you to take this drug with all of your drugs and health problems. Do not start, stop, or change the dose of any drug without checking with your doctor.

Tell all of your health care providers that you take this drug. This includes your doctors, nurses, pharmacists, and dentists. It may take 1 week to see the full effect. If you have high blood sugar (diabetes), talk with your doctor. This drug may raise blood sugar. Call your doctor right away if your breathing problems get worse, if your rescue inhaler does not work as well, or if you need to use your rescue inhaler more often. Do not take more of this drug or use it more often than you have been told. Deaths have happened when too much of this type of drug has been taken. Talk with your doctor. When changing from an oral steroid to another form of a steroid, there may be very bad and sometimes deadly side effects. Signs like weakness, feeling tired, dizziness, upset stomach, throwing up, not thinking clearly, or low blood sugar may happen. Call your doctor right away if you have any of these signs. If you have a bad injury, have surgery, or any type of infection, you may need extra doses of oral steroids. These extra steroids will help your body deal with these stresses. Carry a warning card saying that there may be times when you may need extra steroids. Long-term use may raise the chance of cataracts or glaucoma. Talk with the doctor. Have an eye exam as you have been told by your doctor. This drug may cause weak bones (osteoporosis) with long-term use. Talk with your doctor to see if you have a higher chance of weak bones or if you have any questions. Have a bone density test as you have been told by your doctor. Talk with your doctor. You may have more chance of getting an infection. Wash hands often. Stay away from people with infections, colds, or flu. Chickenpox and measles can be very bad or even deadly in some people taking steroid drugs like this drug. Avoid being near anyone with chickenpox or measles if you have not had these health problems before. If you have been exposed to chickenpox or measles, talk with your doctor. If you are 65 or older, use this drug with care. You could have more side effects. Use with care in children. Talk with the doctor. This drug may affect growth in children and teens in some cases. They may need regular growth checks. Talk with the doctor. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant, plan on getting pregnant, or are breast-feeding. You will need to talk about the benefits and risks to you and the baby.

WARNING/CAUTION: Even though it may be rare, some people may have very bad and sometimes deadly side effects when taking a drug. Tell your doctor or get medical help right away if you have any of the following signs or symptoms that may be related to a very bad side effect: Signs of an allergic reaction, like rash; hives; itching; red, swollen, blistered, or peeling skin with or without fever; wheezing; tightness in the chest or throat; trouble breathing, swallowing, or talking; unusual hoarseness; or swelling of the mouth, face, lips, tongue, or throat. Signs of infection like fever, chills, very bad sore throat, ear or sinus pain, cough, more sputum or change in color of sputum, pain with passing urine, mouth sores, or wound that will not heal. Signs of high blood sugar like confusion, feeling sleepy, more thirst, more hungry, passing urine more often, flushing, fast breathing, or breath that smells like fruit. Signs of low potassium levels like muscle pain or weakness, muscle cramps, or a heartbeat that does not feel normal. Signs of a weak adrenal gland like a very bad upset stomach or throwing up, very bad dizziness or passing out, muscle weakness, feeling very tired, mood changes, not hungry, or weight loss. Signs of high or low blood pressure like very bad headache or dizziness, passing out, or change in eyesight. Chest pain or pressure. Fast or abnormal heartbeat. Shakiness. Feeling nervous and excitable. Change in how you act. Change in eyesight, eye pain, or very bad eye irritation. A burning, numbness, or tingling feeling that is not normal. Choking. Change in voice. Seizures. Bone pain. Trouble sleeping. Feeling very tired or weak. Vaginal itching or discharge. Weight gain. Mouth irritation or mouth sores. Redness or white patches in mouth or throat. This drug can cause very bad breathing problems right after you take a dose. Sometimes, this may be life-threatening. If you have trouble breathing, breathing that is worse, wheezing, or coughing after using this drug, use a rescue inhaler and get medical help right away.

All drugs may cause side effects. However, many people have no side effects or only have minor side effects. Call your doctor or get medical help if any of these side effects or any other side effects bother you or do not go away: Headache. Upset stomach or throwing up. Throat irritation. Signs of a common cold. These are not all of the side effects that may occur. If you have questions about side effects, call your doctor. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-332-1088. You may also report side effects at https://www.fda.gov/medwatch.

Use this drug as ordered by your doctor. Read all information given to you. Follow all instructions closely. For breathing in only. Keep using this drug as you have been told by your doctor or other health care provider, even if you feel well. Use this drug at the same time of day. Rinse out mouth after each use. Do not swallow the rinse water. Spit it out. If you are using more than 1 inhaled drug, ask the doctor which drug to use first. Shake well before use. Prepare the inhaler before first use, by spraying 4 test sprays into the air away from the face. If the inhaler has not been used for more than 4 weeks or if it is dropped, spray 2 sprays into the air away from the face. Shake well before each test spray. Put the cap back on after you are done using your dose. This drug may catch on fire. Do not use near an open flame or while smoking. Some inhalers have a dose counter to keep track of how many doses are left. If your inhaler has a dose counter, throw the inhaler away when the dose counter reaches "0."

Skip the missed dose and go back to your normal time. Do not take 2 doses at the same time or extra doses.

Store at room temperature. Store with the mouthpiece down. Protect from heat or open flame. Do not puncture or burn even if it seems empty. Store in a dry place. Do not store in a bathroom. Keep all drugs in a safe place. Keep all drugs out of the reach of children and pets. Throw away unused or expired drugs. Do not flush down a toilet or pour down a drain unless you are told to do so. Check with your pharmacist if you have questions about the best way to throw out drugs. There may be drug take-back programs in your area.

If your symptoms or health problems do not get better or if they become worse, call your doctor. Do not share your drugs with others and do not take anyone else's drugs. This drug comes with an extra patient fact sheet called a Medication Guide. Read it with care. Read it again each time this drug is refilled. If you have any questions about this drug, please talk with the doctor, pharmacist, or other health care provider. If you think there has been an overdose, call your poison control center or get medical care right away. Be ready to tell or show what was taken, how much, and when it happened.

This information should not be used to decide whether or not to take this medicine or any other medicine. Only the healthcare provider has the knowledge and training to decide which medicines are right for a specific patient. This information does not endorse any medicine as safe, effective, or approved for treating any patient or health condition. This is only a brief summary of general information about this medicine. It does NOT include all information about the possible uses, directions, warnings, precautions, interactions, adverse effects, or risks that may apply to this medicine. This information is not specific medical advice and does not replace information you receive from the healthcare provider. You must talk with the healthcare provider for complete information about the risks and benefits of using this medicine.