ADVAIR DISKUS ADVAIR - GlaxoSmithKline
ADVAIR DISKUS ADVAIR - GlaxoSmithKline
ADVAIR DISKUS ADVAIR - GlaxoSmithKline
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DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION<br />
Dosing Considerations<br />
Long-acting beta 2 -adrenergic agonists (LABA), such as salmeterol, one of the active<br />
ingredients in <strong>ADVAIR</strong> ® and <strong>ADVAIR</strong> ® <strong>DISKUS</strong> ® , increase the risk of asthma-related<br />
death. Therefore, when treating patients with asthma, physicians should only prescribe<br />
<strong>ADVAIR</strong> ® or <strong>ADVAIR</strong> ® <strong>DISKUS</strong> ® for patients not adequately controlled on a long-term<br />
asthma control medication, such as an inhaled corticosteroid or whose disease severity<br />
clearly warrants initiation of treatment with both an inhaled corticosteroid and LABA.<br />
Once asthma control is achieved and maintained, assess the patient at regular intervals<br />
and do not use <strong>ADVAIR</strong> ® or <strong>ADVAIR</strong> ® <strong>DISKUS</strong> ® for patients whose asthma can be<br />
adequately controlled on low or medium dose inhaled corticosteroids (see WARNINGS<br />
AND PRECAUTIONS).<br />
<strong>ADVAIR</strong> ® (salmeterol xinafoate/fluticasone propionate) should not be used to treat acute<br />
symptoms of asthma or COPD. It is crucial to inform patients of this.<br />
For asthma, a rapid onset, short duration beta 2 -agonist should be prescribed for this<br />
purpose. Medical attention should be sought if patients find that rapid onset, short<br />
duration relief bronchodilator treatment becomes less effective or if they need more<br />
inhalations than usual. Sudden worsening of symptoms may require increased<br />
corticosteroid dosage, which should be administered under medical supervision.<br />
As twice-daily regular treatment, <strong>ADVAIR</strong> ® provides twenty-four hour bronchodilation<br />
and can replace regular use of a rapid onset, short duration (4 hour) inhaled or oral<br />
bronchodilator (e.g. salbutamol). Rapid onset, short duration beta 2 -agonists should be<br />
used only to relieve acute symptoms of asthma (see WARNINGS AND<br />
PRECAUTIONS).<br />
Patients should be regularly reassessed so that the strength of <strong>ADVAIR</strong> ® they are<br />
receiving remains optimal and is only changed on medical advice. The dose should be<br />
titrated to the lowest dose of fluticasone propionate at which effective control of<br />
symptoms is maintained.<br />
There is no need to adjust the dose in the otherwise healthy elderly or in patients with<br />
impaired renal function. Because salmeterol is predominantly cleared by hepatic<br />
metabolism, patients with hepatic disease should be closely monitored.<br />
July 29, 2014<br />
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