Learn more about usage, cautions, and possible side effects of Advair Hfa.
Chemical Name: FLUTICASONE (flew-TICK-uh-sone) and SALMETEROL (sal-MET-er-all)
Advair Hfa 115-21mcg/act Aerosol is a long-acting corticosteroid and bronchodilator combination used to treat chronic asthma in certain patients. It may also be used to treat other breathing conditions as determined by your doctor.
WARNING: Long-acting beta-agonists, such as one of the active ingredients in Advair Hfa 115-21mcg/act Aerosol (salmeterol), have been rarely associated with an increased risk of asthma-related death. They may also increase the risk of asthma-related hospitalizations in CHILDREN and TEENAGERS. Advair Hfa 115-21mcg/act Aerosol should only be used to treat asthma in patients who are not controlled by using other long-term asthma-control medicine. Advair Hfa 115-21mcg/act Aerosol should not be used in patients whose asthma is well controlled by inhaled corticosteroids. SOME MEDICINES MAY INTERACT with Advair Hfa 115-21mcg/act Aerosol. DO NOT TAKE ADVAIR HFA 115-21mcg/act AEROSOL if you are using another type of long-acting inhaled bronchodilator (eg, formoterol, salmeterol) or you are taking an azole antifungal (eg, itraconazole, ketoconazole), certain HIV protease inhibitors (eg, atazanavir, indinavir, ritonavir), a macrolide antibiotic (eg, clarithromycin), nefazodone, or telithromycin. TELL YOUR HEALTH CARE PROVIDER if you are taking any other medicines, especially any of the following: diuretics (eg, hydrochlorothiazide, furosemide), beta-blockers (eg, propranolol), catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) inhibitors (eg, entacapone), delavirdine, HIV protease inhibitors (eg, atazanavir, indinavir, ritonavir), macrolide antibiotics (eg, clarithromycin), or short-acting beta-agonist bronchodilators (eg, albuterol). Tell your doctor if you are taking a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI) (eg, phenelzine) or a tricyclic antidepressant (eg, amitriptyline), or if you have taken one within the past 14 days. This may not be a complete list of all interactions that may occur. Ask your health care provider if Advair Hfa 115-21mcg/act Aerosol may interact with other medicines you take. DO NOT START OR STOP any medicine without doctor or pharmacist approval. Inform your doctor of any other medical conditions, including a history of diabetes; eye problems (eg, cataracts, glaucoma, increased pressure in the eye); heart problems (eg, fast or irregular heartbeat, heart blood vessel problems); high blood pressure; nervous system problems; liver problems; low blood potassium levels; high blood acid levels (eg, ketoacidosis); seizures; thyroid problems; an adrenal gland tumor; or an unusual reaction to a sympathomimetic medicine (eg, albuterol, pseudoephedrine), such as fast or irregular heartbeat, overexcitement, or severe trouble sleeping. Tell your doctor if you have a fungal, bacterial, or parasitic infection; a viral infection (eg, measles, chickenpox, shingles); herpes virus infection of the eye; tuberculosis (TB); a history of a positive TB skin test; an immune system problem; a recent vaccination; allergies; pregnancy; or breast-feeding. Tell your doctor if you have weak bones (osteoporosis) or risk factors of osteoporosis (eg, a family history of osteoporosis, tobacco use, long-term use of corticosteroids or certain seizure medicines, limited physical exercise, poor nutrition). Tell your doctor if you have recently been to an emergency room for asthma, have a history of frequent hospitalizations for asthma, or have ever had a life-threatening asthma attack. USE OF ADVAIR HFA 115-21mcg/act AEROSOL IS NOT RECOMMENDED if you are having an asthma attack (eg, sudden, severe onset or worsening of asthma symptoms, such as chest tightness, cough, shortness of breath, wheezing) or if you have asthma that is already well controlled with the use of a long-term asthma-control medicine (eg, inhaled corticosteroid). Advair Hfa 115-21mcg/act Aerosol should not be used in CHILDREN younger than 12 years old; safety and effectiveness in these children have not been confirmed. Contact your doctor or pharmacist if you have any questions or concerns about using Advair Hfa 115-21mcg/act Aerosol.
Follow the directions for using Advair Hfa 115-21mcg/act Aerosol provided by your doctor. Advair Hfa 115-21mcg/act Aerosol comes with a MEDICATION GUIDE approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Read it carefully each time you refill Advair Hfa 115-21mcg/act Aerosol. Ask your doctor, nurse, or pharmacist any questions that you may have about Advair Hfa 115-21mcg/act Aerosol. YOU MUST PRIME THE INHALER BEFORE YOU USE IT FOR THE FIRST TIME. To prime the inhaler, shake it well for 5 seconds then pump 1 test spray into the air away from your face. Repeat this 3 more times to be sure the inhaler is fully primed. YOU WILL NEED TO RE-PRIME THE INHALER if you drop it or if you have not used it in more than 4 weeks. To re-prime the inhaler, shake it well for 5 seconds then pump 1 test spray into the air away from the face. Repeat this step 1 more time to be sure the inhaler is fully primed. BEFORE USING ADVAIR HFA 115-21mcg/act AEROSOL, be sure that the canister is properly inserted into the inhaler unit. SHAKE WELL for 5 seconds before each use. Be sure the medicine is at room temperature and that there are no foreign objects inside the inhaler unit. Breathe out slowly and completely. UNLESS YOUR DOCTOR HAS TOLD YOU OTHERWISE, position the mouthpiece between your lips and try to rest your tongue flat. AS YOU START to take a slow deep breath, press the canister and mouthpiece together at exactly the same time to administer a dose of Advair Hfa 115-21mcg/act Aerosol. Continue breathing in slowly and deeply and hold for as long as comfortable, then exhale slowly through pursed lips or through your nose. If more than 1 inhalation is to be used, wait 30 seconds and repeat the above process. KEEP THE SPRAY AWAY from your eyes. Place the cap over the mouthpiece of the inhaler after use. RINSE YOUR MOUTH WITH WATER AFTER USING ADVAIR HFA 115-21mcg/act AEROSOL. Do NOT swallow the rinse solution. Spit the rinse water out. Clean the inhaler once a week according to the directions in the additional patient leaflet. Do NOT put Advair Hfa 115-21mcg/act Aerosol in water to estimate how much medicine is left in the canister. Advair Hfa 115-21mcg/act Aerosol is made to deliver 120 sprays. Keep track of how many times you use Advair Hfa 115-21mcg/act Aerosol. Throw Advair Hfa 115-21mcg/act Aerosol away after you have used 120 sprays, even if the canister is not empty. You may not get the right amount of medicine in each spray after you have used 120 sprays. YOU MAY BREATHE MORE EASILY AFTER YOU USE THE FIRST DOSE OF ADVAIR HFA 115-21mcg/act AEROSOL. However, it may take 1 week or longer before you get the most benefit. STORE ADVAIR HFA 115-21mcg/act AEROSOL at room temperature 77 degrees F (25 degrees C) with the mouthpiece down, away from heat, moisture, and light. Brief storage between 59 and 86 degrees F (15 and 30 degrees C) is permitted. Store away from heat or open flame. Do not puncture, break, or burn the canister even if it appears to be empty. KEEP ADVAIR HFA 115-21mcg/act AEROSOL out of the reach of children and away from pets. USE ADVAIR HFA 115-21mcg/act AEROSOL REGULARLY to receive the most benefit from it. Using Advair Hfa 115-21mcg/act Aerosol at the same times each day will help you to remember. CONTINUE TO USE ADVAIR HFA 115-21mcg/act AEROSOL even if you feel well. Do not miss any doses. IF YOU MISS A DOSE OF ADVAIR HFA 115-21mcg/act AEROSOL, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. DO NOT use 2 doses at once.
DO NOT USE ADVAIR HFA 115-21mcg/act AEROSOL if you are allergic to any ingredient in it or to milk proteins. BEFORE YOU BEGIN TAKING ANY NEW MEDICINE, either prescription or over-the-counter, check with your doctor or pharmacist. BE SURE TO KEEP all doctor and lab appointments. ADVAIR HFA 115-21mcg/act AEROSOL MAY CAUSE DIZZINESS. This effect may be worse if you take it with alcohol or certain medicines. Do not drive or perform other possibly unsafe tasks until you know how you react to it. ADVAIR HFA 115-21mcg/act AEROSOL WILL NOT STOP AN ASTHMA ATTACK ONCE ONE HAS STARTED. Be sure to carry a short-acting bronchodilator inhaler (eg, albuterol) with you at all times to treat any breathing problems that may occur between doses of Advair Hfa 115-21mcg/act Aerosol. If you have any questions about which medicines stop asthma attacks, check with your doctor or pharmacist. TALK WITH YOUR DOCTOR OR PHARMACIST about all of your asthma medicines and how to use them. Do not start, stop, or change the dose of any asthma medicine unless your doctor tells you to. ADVAIR HFA 115-21mcg/act AEROSOL SHOULD BE USED TO TREAT ASTHMA only if your asthma is not well controlled while you are using a certain long-term asthma-control medicine (eg, inhaled corticosteroid) or if you have severe asthma. TELL YOUR DOCTOR OR DENTIST that you take Advair Hfa 115-21mcg/act Aerosol before you receive any medical or dental care, emergency care, or surgery. TELL YOUR DOCTOR AT ONCE if you notice your short-acting bronchodilator inhaler does not work as well, if you need to use it more often, or if you have a decrease in your peak meter flow results. USE CAUTION IF YOU SWITCH FROM AN ORAL STEROID (eg, prednisone) to Advair Hfa 115-21mcg/act Aerosol. It may take several months for your body to make enough natural steroids to handle events that cause physical stress, such as injury, surgery, infection, a sudden asthma attack, or severe fluid or electrolyte loss. These may be severe and sometimes fatal. Contact your doctor right away if any of these events occur. Carry a card at all times that says you may need an oral steroid if any of these events occur. IF YOU HAVE NOT HAD CHICKENPOX, SHINGLES, OR MEASLES, avoid contact with anyone who does. Contact your doctor at once if you have contact with anyone who has these infections. CHECK WITH YOUR DOCTOR before you receive any vaccine while you are using Advair Hfa 115-21mcg/act Aerosol. Use Advair Hfa 115-21mcg/act Aerosol with caution in the ELDERLY; they may be more sensitive to its effects. Corticosteroids may affect growth rate in CHILDREN and teenagers in some cases. They may need regular growth checks while they use Advair Hfa 115-21mcg/act Aerosol. PREGNANCY and BREAST-FEEDING: If you think you may be pregnant, contact your doctor to discuss the benefits and risks of using Advair Hfa 115-21mcg/act Aerosol while you are pregnant. It is not known if Advair Hfa 115-21mcg/act Aerosol is found in breast milk. IF YOU ARE OR WILL BE BREAST-FEEDING while you are using Advair Hfa 115-21mcg/act Aerosol, check with your doctor or pharmacist to discuss the risks to your baby. DIABETES PATIENTS - Advair Hfa 115-21mcg/act Aerosol may affect your blood sugar. Check blood sugar levels closely. Ask your doctor before you change the dose of your diabetes medicine.
SIDE EFFECTS that may occur while taking Advair Hfa 115-21mcg/act Aerosol include: dizziness; headache; mild muscle or bone pain; nausea; nervousness; throat irritation; tremor; vomiting. If they continue or are bothersome, check with your doctor. ADVAIR HFA 115-21mcg/act AEROSOL MAY SOMETIMES CAUSE severe breathing problems right after you use a dose. If this happens, use your short-acting bronchodilator inhaler. Seek medical care at once if your breathing does not improve after you use the short-acting bronchodilator. Tell your doctor about this reaction. THE RISK OF SERIOUS HEART PROBLEMS (eg, irregular heartbeat) may be greater if you use Advair Hfa 115-21mcg/act Aerosol in high doses. Do NOT use more than the recommended dose or use for longer than prescribed without checking with your doctor. SEEK MEDICAL ATTENTION RIGHT AWAY if any of these SEVERE side effects occur: behavior changes; blurred vision or other vision changes; chest pain; choking; fast or irregular heartbeat; hoarseness; numbness or tingling in hands or feet; seizures; severe muscle weakness, cramps, or spasms; severe or persistent bone pain; severe or persistent dizziness, headache, nervousness, or tremor; signs of infection (eg, fever, chills, cough, persistent sore throat, ear pain, increased mucus production or change in mucus color); swelling or tightness in the throat; symptoms of high blood sugar (eg, confusion; increased thirst, urination, or hunger; unusual weakness or drowsiness); trouble sleeping; unusual tiredness or weakness; vaginal odor or discharge; weight gain; white patches or sores on the tongue or mouth; worsening of asthma symptoms (eg, chest tightness, coughing, increased wheezing, shortness of breath). AN ALLERGIC REACTION to Advair Hfa 115-21mcg/act Aerosol is unlikely, but seek immediate medical attention if it occurs. Symptoms of an allergic reaction include rash; hives; itching; difficulty breathing; tightness in the chest; swelling of the mouth, face, lips, or tongue; unusual hoarseness. This is not a complete list of all side effects that may occur. If you have questions about side effects, contact your health care provider. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
Drug interactions can result in unwanted side effects or prevent a medicine from doing its job. Use our drug interaction checker to find out if your medicines interact with each other. Check drug interactions for Advair Hfa
IF OVERDOSE IS SUSPECTED, contact your local poison control center or emergency room immediately. Symptoms may include chest pain; fainting; fast or irregular heartbeat; muscle cramping; seizures; severe muscle weakness; severe or persistent dizziness, dry mouth, fatigue, headache, nausea, nervousness, tremor, or trouble sleeping.
IF YOUR SYMPTOMS DO NOT GET BETTER WITHIN 1 WEEK or if they get worse after you start using Advair Hfa 115-21mcg/act Aerosol, check with your doctor. Carry an identification card at all times that states you are taking Advair Hfa 115-21mcg/act Aerosol. Consult your doctor for more information. TALK TO YOUR DOCTOR about how to use a peak flow meter to monitor your lung function. Use it daily and promptly report worsening asthma (such as readings in the yellow or red range or increased use of quick-relief inhalers). Try to avoid irritants that may trigger an asthma attack such as smoke, pollen, pet dander, dust, or molds. DO NOT SHARE ADVAIR HFA 115-21mcg/act AEROSOL with others for whom it was not prescribed. IF USING ADVAIR HFA 115-21mcg/act AEROSOL FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME, obtain refills before your supply runs out.
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