What is Fluticasone and vilanterol?
Fluticasone is a combination medicine that contains vilanterol and steroids to treat asthma and COPD in adults. It helps improve symptoms and reduce bronchospasms or asthma attacks. Fluticasone vilanterol should be used for long-term treatment in people with COPD. Fluticasone is used to treat asthmatics until other medications are effective in controlling symptoms. Vilanterol alone can increase the risk of death for asthmatics. This risk is reduced when fluticasone, vilanterol, and other combination products are used. This medication guide does not list all possible uses for fluticasone or vilanterol.
Side effects of Fluticasone and vilanterol
In case of an allergic reaction, seek medical help immediately if any of the following symptoms present themselves: hives, difficulty breathing and/or facial or throat swelling.
Side effects from fluticasone or vilanterol can be serious. If you experience:
- If you experience wheezing or other breathing problems, discontinue use of this medication.
- Heartbeats that are fast or pounding, or in your neck or ears.
- Pain when swallowing; sores in the mouth or throat;
- Fever, chills, and coughs with yellow or green mucus
- Blurred vision, tunnel vision and eye pain as well as seeing halos around lights may indicate issues related to vision impairment or disease.
- High blood sugar: increased thirst and urine output along with fruity breath odor;
- constipation (leg cramps); low sodium level (fluttering or tingling in the chest); numbness (tingling or numbness), increased thirst, or muscle weakness.
- Signs of hormonal disorders: worsening fatigue or muscle weakness; feeling lightheaded; nausea and vomiting.
Fluticasone side effects may include:
- headache, back pain, joint pain;
- Flu symptoms include fever.
- Increased blood pressure
- Coughing, a sore throat, or a runny nose
- a hoarse voice.
There may be other side effects. For medical advice regarding side effects, always contact your physician first. For reporting side effects to the FDA directly, call them at 1-800-FDA-1088.
Similar/related drugs
Prednisone, Symbicort, Ventolin, Breo Ellipta, Ventolin HFA, Dupixent, and Spiriva
Warnings
If you have an allergy to fluticasone or vilanterol (or milk proteins), then you should avoid using these medications. It is not a medicine to be used in an emergency. This medicine will not treat asthma or bronchospasm attacks quickly enough.
Before you take this drug
This medicine should not be used if you have an allergy to milk proteins, fluticasone, or vilanterol.
Fluticasone weakens your immune system and can make it easier to contract an infection or worsen an infection that you have already had. Tell your doctor if you've had an illness or infection in the last few weeks.
Inform your physician of any of the following issues:
- Glaucoma and cataracts are both eye diseases.
- A weak immune system
- heart disease, high blood pressure
- liver disease
- A thyroid disorder
- a seizure;
- diabetes;
- Any type of infection (bacterial or viral)
- osteoporosis.
Long-term use can lead to osteoporosis, especially if your family has a history of the disease, you smoke, you don't exercise, you eat too little calcium or vitamin D, or you are unable to get enough calcium or vitamin D in your diet. Speak to your doctor about the risk. Inform your doctor if you are pregnant. This medicine is not known to harm an unborn child. Untreated or uncontrolled asthma during pregnancy can cause complications, such as low or premature birth or eclampsia, which is dangerously high blood pressure and can lead to serious medical problems for both mother and baby. Treatment of asthma can be beneficial to both mother and baby. Breast-feeding may not be possible while taking this medication. You should consult your doctor if you are concerned about any risks. Anyone younger than 18 is not allowed to use fluticasone or vilanterol.
How to take Fluticasone and vilanterol?
Read all the instructions or guides that come with your medication and follow the directions. Sometimes, your doctor will change the dose. Your medication must be taken exactly as directed. Do not use fluticasone or vilanterol to treat asthma attacks. Only use fast-acting inhalation medicines for an attack. If your breathing problem gets worse or you suspect that your asthma medication is not working, seek medical attention. The powder Fluticasone vilanterol comes in a pre-loaded blister pack containing the measured doses. Each time you use your inhaler, the device will open and load a blister containing fluticasone or vilanterol. Please follow the instructions that come with your inhaler. Do not take the medication more than once every 24 hours. Your dosage needs may change due to surgery, illness, stress or an asthma flare-up. You should not alter your medication schedule or dose without consulting your doctor. Rinse your mouth out with water after using an inhaler to prevent thrush.
Regularly, your doctor will check the lung function. You may also be asked to have your vision and bone mineral density checked. Your doctor may ask you to stop taking fluticasone or vilanterol once your asthma has been controlled. Do not miss any follow-up appointments. Also, do not stop taking the medication unless you are told to by your doctor. Store away from heat, moisture, and light. Store the inhaler device inside the foil tray until you are ready to use it. Inhaler devices should be thrown away six weeks after they are removed from the foil pouch or when the dose indicator is zero.
What happens if I miss the dose?
As soon as you remember a missed dose, take it immediately. If your next scheduled dosage is approaching quickly, skip this missed one instead. You should not take extra medicine to compensate for a missed dose.
What happens if I overdose?
Call 1-800-222-1222 for poison help or seek immediate medical attention. The symptoms of an overdose include chest pains, a fast heartbeat, and feeling short of breath or shaky. Inhaled steroids can cause glaucoma and cataracts. They may also lead to changes in body weight (especially around the face, neck, waist, and back), acne, facial hair growth, menstrual issues, impotence, or a loss of sexual interest.
What should be avoided?
Avoid being around people who are sick. If you have been exposed to measles or chicken pox, call your doctor immediately for treatment. Fluticasone users are at risk of serious complications or even death. You should not use another inhaled bronchodilator without your doctor's permission. Formoterol, arformoterol, indacaterol, olodaterol, Striverdi (Stiolto Respimat), and salmeterol are all examples.
Interaction with other drug
Certain medications should never be taken together as some may alter blood levels of other drugs and increase side effects or make them less effective. Fluticasone, vilanterol and other medications may interact with each other; this includes prescription and nonprescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Please inform your healthcare provider of all the medications you're currently taking as well as any new ones that might interact. This list does not encompass every possible interaction.
