Flovent^® Diskus (Flixotide Accuhaler)

Why is it prescribed?

Flovent Diskus (Flixotide Accuhalers) contains fluticasone propionate.

Fluticasone propionate is used to control the signs and symptoms of asthma that are responsive to orally inhaled corticosteroids. It is also used as a nasal spray to relieve nasal congestion in the treatment of seasonal and perennial rhinitis (runny nose) where inflammation of the lining of the nose causes it to run.

Side Effects

Flovent Diskus (Flixotide Accuhaler) contains fluticasone propionate.

Every drug is capable of producing unwanted effects. Often, fluticasone propionate users who use their medication properly, never experience any unwanted effects. The severity and duration of these effects are dependant on many factors including duration of therapy, dose, route of administration and individual response. Possible unwanted effects include:

• sneezing attacks immediately after use (nasal spray only)
• irritation and burning in the nose (nasal spray only)
• localized infection of Candida Albicans (yeast) of the mouth and throat

Less common

• sore throat (oral inhalation only)
• hoarseness (oral inhalation only)
• cough
• headache
• nausea

Rare

• immediate or delayed allergic reaction (e.g. rash, hives, and bronchospasm)
• flushing, itchiness, and swelling of the eyes, face, lips and throat

Precautions and Warnings for Flovent Diskus (Flixotide Accuhaler)

Flovent® Diskus (Flixotide Accuhaler) contains fluticasone propionate

Never use a higher dose than what you have been prescribed. Using higher than recommended doses will cause greater absorption by the body and possibly lead to greater occurrence of unwanted effects. Optimal relief of symptoms may require 2 to 7 days of continuous therapy.

If symptoms do not improve or the condition worsens, the doctor should be contacted.

Treatment with fluticasone should never be stopped without first consulting your doctor.

Discontinuation of fluticasone requires gradual tapering or you may experience a flare-up of your condition.

Inadequate response can often be a result of improper use of the delivery device. Your doctor or pharmacist should instruct you on the correct use of these preparations. Each product comes with a package insert that should be read and then kept as a reference.

Children using any of these preparations should do so under the direct supervision of an adult who is familiar with it's proper use.

It is important to inform subsequent physicians that you are using or have used fluticasone propionate or any other corticosteroids as this may vary the treatment plan.

When you have been treated with oral corticosteroids (e.g. prednisone) for prolonged periods and are being transferred to intranasally or orally inhaled fluticasone propionate, you may experience withdrawal symptoms (e.g. joint and/or muscular pain and depression). These symptoms should be reported to your doctor, especially if you have associated asthma or another condition in which too rapid a decrease in systemic steroids may cause a severe flare-up of symptoms. Fluticasone propionate may mask some signs of infection and new infections may appear. The body tends to have a decreased resistance to localized infections while on this therapy so anything of this nature should be reported to the doctor. Drug Interactions: No specific drug interaction studies have been performed. Due to very low absorption at therapeutic doses, it is unlikely that there would be any important interactions. However in people with hypoprothrombinemia (deficiency of a clotting factor in the blood resulting in an increased tendency to bleed), ASA ( e.g. Aspirin ®) should be used cautiously.

Use is not recommended in the following situations:

• allergy to fluticasone propionate or any component of the preparation.
• tuberculosis
• untreated fungal, bacterial and viral infections
• children under 4 years of age
• Caution recommended in the following situations:
• people previously treated for prolonged periods with oral corticosteroids (e.g. prednisone)

Use in pregnancy: If you suspect that you might be pregnant, consult your doctor. Use while breast-feeding: It is not known whether fluticasone propionate is passed into breast milk, but it is suspected. Consult your doctor or pharmacist before you begin breast- feeding.

Directions for Use

The usual adult dose is 100 to 500 mcg twice a day depending on the severity of the asthma and the patient's individual response.

The usual dose for children 4 years of age or over is 50 to 100 mcg twice a day depending on the severity of the asthma and the patient's individual response.

Lung Diseases Treated with this Drug

• allergic rhinitis
• allergies
• asthma
• hay fever
• perennial rhinitis
• rhinitis
• runny nose
• seasonal allergies
• seasonal rhinitis
• sinus infections
• sinusitis

Need More Information?

For more information contact your physician, pharmacist, other health care professional or for general questions call your local lung association.