Advair

Brand Names

Advair, Advair Diskus, Advair HFA

What is Advair

Advair (fluticasone and salmeterol) is a prescription medicine that effective in the treatment of airway spasms (called bronchospasms) caused by chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and in the prevention of these spasms from occurring in people with asthma.

The medication is available in 2 forms: the Advair Diskus that is used for both asthma and COPD and the Advair HFA inhaler that is used only for asthma.

Side effects of Advair

Advair can cause the following serious side effects:

• allergic reaction to Advair- hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue or throat bronchospasm (wheezing, chest tightness, trouble breathing)
• fast or uneven heart beats, restless feeling, tremor
• fever, chills, stabbing chest pain, cough with yellow or green mucus
• blurred vision, eye pain or seeing halos around lights
• white patches or sores inside your mouth or on your lips
• worsening asthma symptoms

Other less serious Advair side effects may nclude:

• headache, dizziness
• nausea, vomiting, diarrhea
• dry mouth, nose or throat
• stuffy nose, sinus pain, cough, sore throat
• hoarseness or deepened voice

Indication

Advair is commonly used to prevent airway spasms (called bronchospasms) caused by asthma and to treat these spasms in people who have chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Precautions

You should inform your doctor before using Advair if you have:

• High blood pressure (hypertension)
• A fast heart rate (tachycardia)
• An irregular heart rhythm (arrhythmia)
• Osteoporosis
• Other types of heart disease, including congestive heart failure
• An overactive thyroid (hyperthyroidism)
• Seizures or epilepsy
• Diabetes
• Not had chickenpox or the measles (or have not been vaccinated against them)
• Any allergies, including allergies to food (especially milk), dyes or preservatives
• Are pregnant, breastfeeding or thinking of becoming pregnant
• Are taking any other medicines, including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins and herbal supplements

Dosage forms

Dose for the Advair Diskus

For asthma treatment, the recommended Advair Diskus dose depends on your age and other asthma medications you have taken. For children ages 4 to 11, the recommended dose is one inhalation of Advair Diskus 100/50 twice daily, about 12 hours apart. For older children and adults, Advair dosing will depend on the dose of other asthma medications taken in the past, varying from Advair Diskus 100/50 twice daily to Advair Diskus 500/50 twice daily.

The recommended Advair Diskus dose for COPD treatment is Advair Diskus 250/50 twice daily.

Dose for the Advair HFA Inhaler

The recommended Advair HFA inhaler dose for asthma depends on the dose of other asthma medications taken in the past, varying from two inhalations of Advair HFA 45/21 twice daily to two inhalations of Advair HFA 230/21 twice daily.