Fluticasone Oral Inhalation (patient information)

Why this medication is prescribed

Fluticasone oral inhalation is used to prevent difficulty breathing, chest tightness, wheezing and coughing caused by asthma. Fluticasone is in a class of medications called corticosteroids. It works by decreasing swelling and irritation in the airways to allow for easier breathing.

How this medication should be used

Fluticasone comes as an aerosol to inhale by mouth. Fluticasone is usually inhaled twice a day. Try to use fluticasone at around the same times every day. Follow the directions on your prescription label carefully, and ask your doctor or pharmacist to explain any part you do not understand. Use fluticasone exactly as directed. Do not use more or less of it or use it more often than prescribed by your doctor.

Talk to your doctor about how you should use your other oral and inhaled medications for asthma during your treatment with fluticasone inhalation. If you were taking an oral steroid such as dexamethasone (Decadron, Dexone), methylprednisolone (Medrol), or prednisone (Deltasone), your doctor may want to gradually decrease your steroid dose starting at least 1 week after you begin to use fluticasone. Special care will be needed in certain situations for several months as your body adjusts to the change in medication. Ask your doctor for more information.

Fluticasone helps to prevent asthma attacks (sudden episodes of shortness of breath, wheezing, and coughing) but will not stop an asthma attack that has already started. Do not use fluticasone during an asthma attack. Your doctor will prescribe a short-acting inhaler to use during asthma attacks.

Your doctor will probably start you on an average dose of fluticasone. Your doctor may decrease your dose when your symptoms are controlled or increase it if your symptoms have not improved after at least 2 weeks.

Fluticasone controls asthma but does not cure it. Your symptoms may improve 24 hours after you begin using fluticasone, but it may take 2 weeks or longer before you feel the full benefit of the medication. Continue to use fluticasone even if you feel well. Do not stop using fluticasone without talking to your doctor.

Tell your doctor if your asthma worsens during your treatment. Call your doctor if you have an asthma attack that does not stop when you use your fast acting asthma medication, or if you need to use more of your fast acting medication than usual.

The inhaler that comes with fluticasone aerosol is designed for use only with a canister of fluticasone. Never use it to inhale any other medication, and never use any other inhaler to inhale fluticasone.

Each canister of fluticasone aerosol is designed to provide 60 or 120 inhalations, depending on its size. After the labeled number of inhalations has been used, later inhalations may not contain the correct amount of medication. You should keep track of the number of inhalations you have used. You can divide the number of inhalations in your inhaler by the number of inhalations you use each day to find out how many days your inhaler will last. Throw away the canister after you have used the labeled number of inhalations even if it still contains some liquid and continues to release a spray when it is pressed. Do not float the canister in water to see if it still contains medication.

Before you use your fluticasone aerosol inhaler the first time, read the written instructions that come with it. Look at the diagrams carefully and be sure that you recognize all the parts of the inhaler. Ask your doctor, pharmacist, or respiratory therapist to show you how to use it. Practice using the inhaler while he or she watches.

Do not use your fluticasone inhaler while you are near an open flame or a heat source. The inhaler may explode if it is exposed to very high temperatures.

To use the aerosol inhaler, follow these steps:

Before you use the inhaler for the first time, remove it from the overwrap. Throw away the overwrap and the drying packet that is inside the overwrap.
Be sure that the inhaler is at room temperature.
Remove the cap from the mouthpiece. The strap on the side of the cap will stay attached to the actuator to keep the cap from getting lost. Check the mouthpiece for dirt and other objects before each use, especially if the cap was not used to cover the mouthpiece.
Be sure the canister is fully and firmly inserted in the actuator. Shake the inhaler well for 5 seconds.
If you are using the inhaler for the first time, prime it by releasing 4 test sprays into the air, away from your face. Shake the inhaler for 5 seconds before each spray. If you have not used the inhaler in more than 7 days, or if you have dropped the inhaler, shake the inhaler for 5 seconds and release one spray into the air. Be careful not to spray the medication into your eyes.
Breathe out through your mouth.
Hold the inhaler facing you with the mouthpiece on the bottom. Place your thumb under the mouthpiece and your index finger on the top of the canister. Place the mouthpiece in your mouth and close your lips around it.
Breathe in deeply and slowly through your mouth. At the same time, press down firmly on the top of the canister with your index finger. Remove your index finger as soon as the spray is released.
When you have breathed in fully, remove the inhaler from your mouth and close your mouth.
Try to hold your breath for 10 seconds.
If your doctor told you to inhale more than one puff, wait 30 seconds, shake the canister again, and repeat steps 6-10 for each puff.
Put the cap back on the mouthpiece.
Rinse your mouth with water and spit the water out. Do not swallow the water.

Clean your inhaler once a week after an evening dose. To clean your inhaler, follow these steps:

Remove the mouthpiece cap, but leave the canister in the actuator.
Dampen the tip of a cotton swab with water. Use the damp swab to clean the small hole where the medication comes out. Twist the swab in a circular motion to remove any medication that is left in or near the hole.
Repeat step 2 with a second cotton swab.
Dampen a clean tissue with water. Wipe the inside of the mouthpiece with the damp tissue.
Leave the mouthpiece uncovered overnight to allow it to air dry.
Replace the mouthpiece cap when the actuator is dry.

Other uses for this medicine

This medication may be prescribed for other uses; ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

Special precautions

Before using fluticasone oral inhalation:

tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic to fluticasone or any other medications.
tell your doctor and pharmacist what prescription and nonprescription medications, vitamins, nutritional supplements, and herbal products you are taking or have recently taken. Be sure to mention any of the following: amiodarone (Cordarone); antifungals such as fluconazole (Diflucan), itraconazole (Sporanox), and ketoconazole (Nizoral); cimetidine (Tagamet); clarithromycin (Biaxin); cyclosporine (Neoral, Sandimmune); danazol (Danocrine); delavirdine (Rescriptor); diltiazem (Cardizem, Dilacor, Tiazac); fluoxetine (Prozac, Sarafem); fluvoxamine (Luvox); HIV protease inhibitors such as indinavir (Crixivan), nelfinavir (Viracept), ritonavir (Norvir) and saquinavir (Invirase, Fortovase); isoniazid (INH, Nydrazid); metronidazole (Flagyl); nefazodone; hormonal contraceptives (birth control pills, patches, rings, injections, or implants); oral steroids such as dexamethasone (Decadron, Dexone), methylprednisolone (Medrol), and prednisone (Deltasone);paroxetine (Paxil); troleandomycin (TAO); verapamil (Calan, Covera, Isoptin, Verelan); and zafirlukast (Accolate). Your doctor may need to change the doses of your medications or monitor you carefully for side effects.
if you are using any other inhaled medications, ask your doctor if you should inhale these medications a certain amount of time before or after you inhale fluticasone inhalation.
tell your doctor if you have or have ever had tuberculosis (a type of infection) in your lungs, cataracts (clouding of the lens of the eye), glaucoma (an eye disease), or liver disease. Also tell your doctor if you have any type of untreated infection anywhere in your body or a herpes infection (a type of infection that causes a sore on the eyelid or eye surface) in your eye.
tell your doctor if you are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding. If you become pregnant while using fluticasone, call your doctor.
if you are having surgery, including dental surgery, tell the doctor or dentist that you are using fluticasone.
you should know that your body may be less able to cope with stress such as surgery, illness, severe asthma attack, or injury. Call your doctor right away if you get sick and be sure that all health care providers who treat you know that you are using fluticasone.
tell your doctor if you have never had chicken pox or measles and you have not been vaccinated against these infections. Stay away from people who are sick, especially people who have chicken pox or measles. If you are exposed to one of these infections or if you develop symptoms of one of these infections, call your doctor right away. You may need treatment to protect you from these infections.
you should know that fluticasone inhalation sometimes causes wheezing and difficulty breathing immediately after it is inhaled. If this happens, use your fast acting (rescue) asthma medication right away and call your doctor. Do not use fluticasone inhalation again unless your doctor tells you that you should.

Special dietary instructions

Talk to your doctor about drinking grapefruit juice while taking this medication.

What to do if you forget a dose

Skip the missed dose and continue your regular dosing schedule. Do not use a double dose to make up for a missed one.

Side effects

Minor side effects

Fluticasone may cause side effects. Tell your doctor if any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away:

headache
stuffy or runny nose
difficulty speaking
sore or irritated throat
painful white patches in the mouth or throat+

Severe side effects

Some side effects can be serious. If you experience any of the following symptoms, call your doctor immediately:

new or increased acne (pimples)
easy bruising
enlarged face and neck
growth of hair on the face
depression
anxiety
extreme tiredness
muscle weakness
irregular menstruation (periods)
pink or purple stretch marks on the skin
hives
rash
itching
swelling of the face, throat, tongue, lips, eyes, hands, feet, ankles, or lower legs
hoarseness
difficulty breathing or swallowing
chest pain or tightness
cough
shortness of breath
red or fluid filled bumps on skin
burning, tingling, numbness, or weakness in arms or legs

Fluticasone may cause children to grow more slowly. There is not enough information to tell whether using fluticasone decreases the final height that children will reach when they stop growing. Your child's doctor will watch your child's growth carefully while your child is using fluticasone. Talk to your child's doctor about the risks of giving this medication to your child.

In rare cases, people who used fluticasone for a long time developed glaucoma or cataracts. Talk to your doctor about the risks of using fluticasone and how often you should have your eyes examined during your treatment.

Fluticasone may increase your risk of developing osteoporosis (a condition in which the bones become thin and weak and break easily). Talk to your doctor about the risks of using this medication.

Fluticasone may cause other side effects. Call your doctor if you have any unusual problems while using this medication.

If you experience a serious side effect, you or your doctor may send a report to the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting program online [at http://www.fda.gov/MedWatch/report.htm] or by phone [1-800-332-1088].

Storage conditions needed for this medication

Store your fluticasone inhaler with the mouthpiece down. Store it out of reach of children, at room temperature and away from excess heat and moisture (not in the bathroom). Do not store the inhaler near a heat source or an open flame. Protect the inhaler from freezing and direct sunlight. Throw away any medication that is outdated or no longer needed. Talk to your pharmacist about the proper disposal of your medication. Do not puncture the aerosol container and do not throw it away in an incinerator or fire.

In case of emergency/overdose

In case of overdose, call your local poison control center at 1-800-222-1222. If the victim has collapsed or is not breathing, call local emergency services at 911.

Inhaling too much fluticasone on a regular basis over a long period of time may cause the following symptoms:

enlarged face and neck
new or worsening acne
easy bruising
extreme tiredness
muscle weakness
irregular menstrual periods
loss of appetite
weight loss
irritability
depression
fainting or dizziness when standing up from a sitting or lying position
darkening of skin

Other information

Keep all appointments with your doctor.

Do not let anyone else use your medication. Ask your pharmacist any questions you have about refilling your prescription.

Brand names

Flovent® HFA