Advair

Advair is an oral medication prescribed for individuals suffering from asthma and COPD, and is used to treat the two main components of asthma—airway constriction and inflammation. Advair combines fluticasone and salmeterol to prevent wheezing, shortness of breath and breathing difficulties.  Fluticasone is in a class of medications called steroids and is supposed to reduce swelling in the airways, while salmeterol is in a class of medications called long-acting beta-agonists and is supposed to relax and open air passages in the lungs, making it easier to breathe.

Why Prescribed

Advair contains both a medicine for inflammation, an inhaled corticosteroid, as well as a medicine for airway constriction, an inhaled bronchodilator. Unlike just taking a medicine for inflammation, patients often notice the effects from the bronchodilator early - usually in the first hour or so.

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FDA Approved Uses

Advair is approved by the FDA for the maintenance treatment of asthma as prophylactic therapy and for patients requiring oral corticosteroid therapy for asthma.

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Side Effects

Whilst the use of inhaled steroids and long acting beta-adrenoceptor agonist (LABA) are recommended in asthma guidelines for the resulting improved symptom control, concerns have been raised that salmeterol may increase the risk of asthma deaths. This seems to occur because although LABAs relieve asthma symptoms, they also promote bronchial inflammation and sensitivity without warning. Other side effects of Advair include increased blood pressure, change in heart rate, and/or an irregular heartbeat.

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Warnings and Alerts

The FDA issued a black-box safety warning that was added to Advair labels in 2003 for asthma "long-acting beta-agonist" or LABA treatments Serevent Diskus (salmeterol xinafoate) and Advair Diskus (fluticasone propionate; salmeterol xinafoate), based upon preliminary results of the Salmeterol Multicenter Asthma Research Trial. A Serevent study concluded that a small number of patients experienced severe exacerbations of their asthma after taking the drug.  In a clinical trial, thirteen people died out of a group of 13,176 people taking salmeterol.

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Drug Contraindications

'Cutivate Cream' is contraindicated in those patients with a history of hypersensitivity to any of the components of fluticasone.

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FAQ's

Are there health risks involved with taking Advair? What should women know about taking Accutane?

Yes. Risks can include:

• Immune system effect and a higher chance for infections
• Lower bone mineral density. This may be a problem for people who already have a higher chance for low bone density (osteoporosis).
• Eye problems including glaucoma and cataracts
• Slowed growth in children
• Increased blood pressure
• Fast and irregular heartbeat
• Allergic reactions including, rash, hives, and swelling of the face, mouth, and tongue
• Headache
• Tremor
• Nervousness
• Throat irritation

What is a LABA?

The long-acting beta-agonists (LABAs) are long-term (10-16 hour) bronchodilator medicines that help to relax the muscles around the airways in your lungs.  LABAs have been proven effective in reducing the frequency of asthma episodes, but according to the new safety data may make asthma episodes more severe when they do occur.  A LABA will not relieve sudden breathing problems and is not a substitute for a short-acting rescue inhaler.  Serevent Diskus (salmeterol xinafoate) and Foradil Aerolizer (formoterol fumarate inhalation powder) are two LABA medicines. Advair Diskus (fluticasone propionate; salmeterol xinafoate) is a combination inhaled corticosteroid and LABA medicine.

Am I at immediate risk by taking LABA medications?

No, you are not at immediate risk.  It is recommended you discuss with your physician the severity of your asthma symptoms and optimum level of management.  Accepted asthma clinical guidelines recommend inhaled corticosteroids, which reduce airway swelling, as the preferred first step in controller therapy for mild to moderate persistent asthma. However, if you have experienced health problems after using LABA medicines, such as Advair, discuss these symptoms immediately with your physician.

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