Advair Diskus

Price

Advair Diskus is an oral inhaler used to treat asthma and chronic bronchitis. It combines 2 active substances: salmeterol and fluticasone.

Indications

The drug is used for regular treatment of bronchial asthma if combination therapy with a long-acting beta2-adrenergic agonist and inhaled corticosteroid is indicated: for patients with insufficient disease control against the background of constant monotherapy with inhaled corticosteroids with periodic use of short-acting beta-2-adrenergic agonist; patients with adequate disease control during therapy with an inhaled corticosteroid and long-acting beta2-adrenergic agonist; as a starting maintenance therapy in patients with persistent bronchial asthma if there are indications for the use of corticosteroids to achieve disease control. The drug is intended for maintenance therapy in patients with COPD with an FEV1 value <60% of the proper values ​​(before inhalation of the bronchodilator) and repeated exacerbations in the anamnesis, in which severe symptoms of the disease persist despite regular therapy with bronchodilators.

Mechanism of action

Advair Diskus is a combined preparation that contains salmeterol and fluticasone propionate, which have different mechanisms of action. Salmeterol prevents the onset of symptoms of bronchospasm, while fluticasone propionate improves pulmonary function and prevents exacerbation of the disease.

Contraindications

Do not use this inhaler if you have any of the following conditions/diseases:

• hypersensitivity to the components of the drug;
• children under the age of 4.

Use with caution: pulmonary tuberculosis, fungal, viral or bacterial infections of the respiratory system, thyrotoxicosis, pheochromocytoma, diabetes mellitus, uncontrolled hypokalemia, idiopathic hypertrophic subaortic stenosis, uncontrolled arterial hypertension, arrhythmias, prolongation of the QT interval on ECG, coronary heart disease, glaucoma, hypothyroidism, osteoporosis, pregnancy, lactation.

Instructions or use

The inhaler is used twice a day, regardless of age. Below you can see the average dosages:

• Children aged 4 and older: 50 mg of salmeterol/100 mg of fluticasone;
• Patients aged 12 and older: it is permissible to take salmeterol at a dosage of 50 mcg, while it is permissible to change the proportion of fluticasone, respectively, by 100, 250 and 500 mcg.

It is acceptable to double the dosage of the drug in case of vital need.

In the treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, it is permissible to immediately start therapy with a maximum dosage of 50/500 (salmeterol/fluticasone).

The duration of the treatment and the identification of the minimum effective dosage for each individual patient is determined by the attending physician.

Pregnancy and breastfeeding

There are no recorded data on the safety of use for pregnant and breastfeeding women and the fetus.

Overdose

Symptoms of an overdose are tachycardia, inhibition of the functions of the adrenal glands, which self-restores when the drug is canceled within 3-5 days. With excessive use in children, an adrenal crisis can also occur, which is manifested by a drop in blood sugar.

The use of cardioselective β-blockers is recommended as antidotes.

Side effects

Advair Discus can cause the following adverse reactions:

• candidiasis of the oral cavity, pneumonia, bronchitis;
• allergic reactions – angioedema, rash, shortness of breath, anaphylactic shock;
• oppression of the adrenal glands, decreased bone mineralization, growth retardation in children;
• hypokalemia, hyperglycemia;
• nausea, dyspeptic symptoms;
• nervousness, insomnia;
• headache, trembling limbs;
• cataracts, glaucoma;
• tachycardia, arrhythmias;
• nasopharyngitis, sinusitis, pharyngitis;
• shell shock;
• muscle cramps, arthralgia, myalgia, fractures of the limbs.