Flovent Diskus

The active ingredient in Flovent Diskus is fluticasone propionate, an inhaled corticosteroid. With long-term use, fluticasone reduces inflammation in the lungs, to improve asthma symptoms and the frequency of asthma flares.

Flovent Diskus is not meant to replace a short-acting rescue inhaler. It is not a bronchodilator and is not indicated for the rapid relief of bronchospasms (asthma attacks).

Follow all directions given to you by your doctor and read all documents provided, including the full Prescribing Information, FDA-Approved Product Labeling, Instructions for Use, and Medication Guide before using Flovent Diskus. However, the following is a synopsis of the general guidelines for the use of Flovent Diskus:

-Before the first use, take the Flovent Diskus out of the foil pouch.

-Hold the device in the left hand in a horizontal position and place the thumb of your right hand on the thumb grip.

-To open your Diskus inhaler, push the thumb grip away from you until the mouthpiece snaps into place.

-To load a dose, with the mouthpiece facing you and the Diskus horizontal, slide the lever away from the mouthpiece until it clicks. Do not close, tilt, or move the lever on the Diskus after this point. If you do, you will need to load a new dose.

-With your mouth away from the mouthpiece, breathe out as long as you can. Do not breathe out into the mouthpiece.

-To inhale the medication, make a seal with your lips around the mouthpiece and breathe in quickly and deeply through your mouth.

-Remove the device from your mouth and hold your breath for 10 seconds or as long as feels comfortable. Breathe out as slowly as you can.

-To close the Diskus, place your thumb on the thumb grip and slide it back towards you until it clicks. You should no longer see the mouthpiece.

-Rinse your mouth with water after using this medication. Swish and Spit out the water, do not swallow.

If you must take more than 1 inhalation, you will need to load and inhale 1 dose at a time.

Note that a spacer should not be used with a dry powder inhaler.

The most common side effects of Flovent Diskus seen in clinical trials as compared to placebo include:

-Oral thrush: corticosteroids can weaken the immune system and increase the risk of fungal infections like oral thrush, which may require treatment with antifungals. Rinsing your mouth after using Flovent Diskus can help prevent this side effect.

-Voice hoarseness

-Sinus, nose, or throat irritation

-Headache

-An upper respiratory tract infection

-Upset stomach

Some individuals may experience serious side effects while using Flovent Diskus. These side effects may require immediate medical attention. If you experience any of the following, contact your healthcare provider or seek emergency medical help:

-Develop hives, difficulty breathing, swelling of the lips or mouth, or other signs of anaphylaxis.

-Changes in vision. This may be a sign of glaucoma.

-Unexplained weakness and fatigue, nausea and vomiting, and feeling faint or having low blood pressure. These may be symptoms of adrenal insufficiency, a condition where your adrenal glands do not produce enough cortisol.

These are not all of the possible side effects of Flovent Diskus. You should always seek medical advice from your healthcare provider for any questions or concerns about your medical condition or treatment. Read all patient information, medication guides, or drug information sheets that come with this medication. You can also report adverse effects to the Food and Drug Administration at www.fda.gov/medwatch or 1-800-FDA-1088.

Before starting Flovent Diskus, it is crucial to discuss any existing health conditions with your healthcare provider. You should be sure that your healthcare provider is aware of all your medical conditions, including if you have:

-Diabetes

-Hypothyroidism (poor thyroid function)

-Cataracts or glaucoma

-Active bacterial, respiratory, or fungal infections

-Osteoporosis

Flovent Diskus should not be used in people who:

-Experienced a serious allergic reaction to fluticasone or any inactive ingredient in the formulation.

-Untreated fungal, bacterial, or tuberculous infections.

-Eosinophilic mediated allergic reactions to lactose or milk proteins.

-Need rapid relief of bronchospasms or an asthma attack.

Flovent Diskus is not a fast-acting inhaler. It may take 1-2 weeks for you to notice improvements in your asthma control.

When Flovent Diskus is taken with other prescription drugs, over-the-counter medications, vitamins, and supplements, it may change how they work or increase the frequency or severity of side effects. Make sure that you tell your healthcare professional about anything that you are taking to avoid any negative drug interactions, including:

-Ritonavir, ketoconazole, or other drugs that may inhibit the CYP3A4 enzyme. These can increase the systemic side effects of fluticasone.

-Prednisone or other oral corticosteroids. People taking oral corticosteroids to control asthma symptoms should be weaned off slowly when transferring to Flovent Diskus.

Flovent Diskus is available in 50, 125, and 250 mcg metered dose formulations.

Flovent Diskus should be stored at room temperature, in a dry place. Do not store Flovent Diskus in your bathroom as humidity levels may vary and affect the inhalation powder.

Flovent Diskus is manufactured by GlaxoSmithKline, GSK Inc.

There is no generic version of Flovent Diskus at this time. However, Fluticasone is available in other dosage forms, for example Flovent HFA, which comes in an aerosol canister and is available as a generic.

You should not abruptly stop taking Flovent Diskus. It is recommended to slowly wean off of fluticasone and other steroids used chronically to prevent worsening breathing problems.

There is insufficient data on the use of Flovent Diskus in pregnancy. Talk to your doctor if you are already pregnant or if you have any plans to become pregnant. They will know or recommend what is best for you.

Corticosteroids are excreted in breast milk, but the effects of inhaled fluticasone excretion in breast milk have not been studied. Talk to your doctor if you are already breastfeeding or if you have any plans to breastfeed. They will know or recommend what is best for you.