Fluticasone belongs to a group of medicines known as corticosteroids. Corticosteroids are hormones produced naturally by the adrenal glands that have many important functions, including control of inflammatory responses.
Fluticasone is a synthetic corticosteroid and is used to decrease inflammation in the lungs. When inhaled into the lungs it is absorbed into the cells of the lungs and airways. Here it works by preventing the release of certain chemicals from the cells. These chemicals are important in the immune system and are normally involved in producing immune and allergic responses, which result in inflammation. By decreasing the release of these chemicals in the lungs and airways, inflammation is reduced.
How to use this product
After starting treatment with Seretide, do not stop suddenly.
Side effects
Medicines and their possible side effects can affect individual people in different ways. The following are some of the side effects that are known to be associated with this medicine. Because a side effect is stated here, it does not mean that all people using this medicine will experience that or any side effect.
Headache
Shaking, usually of the hands (tremor)
Muscle cramps
Abnormal heart beats (arrhythmias)
Unexpected narrowing of the airways (paradoxical bronchospasm)
Awareness of your heartbeat (palpitations)
Hoarse voice
Throat irritation
Yeast infection of the mouth and throat (candidiasis)
Pain in the muscles and joints
Precautions
Use with caution in
Diabetes mellitus
Irregular heart beats (arrhythmias)
Severe cardiovascular disease
Thyrotoxicosis
Tuberculosis infections of the lung
Untreated low potassium blood levels (hypokalaemia)
Not to be used in
Known sensitivity or allergy to any ingredient.
This medicine should not be used if you are allergic to one or any of its ingredients. Please inform your doctor or pharmacist if you have previously experienced such an allergy.
If you feel you have experienced an allergic reaction, stop using this medicine and inform your doctor or pharmacist immediately.
Drug Interactions
Beta-blockers such as atenolol, propranolol or timolol should not generally be taken with this medicine. This is because beta-blockers have an opposite action to salmeterol and can cause the airways to narrow, which can result in breathing difficulties for people with asthma. Eye drops containing beta-blockers should also be avoided.
This medicine can potentially cause a serious decrease in the levels of potassium in the blood (hypokalaemia), which may result in adverse effects. This effect can be increased by the following medicines:
- xanthine derivates, eg theophylline and aminophylline
- corticosteroids, eg beclometasone and prednisolone
- diuretics, eg bendroflumethiazide and furosemide
- beta agonist bronchodilators, eg salbutamol and terbutaline.
Under normal circumstances only low amounts of fluticasone are found in the blood after inhalation. However, the following medicines may increase the amount of fluticasone in the blood and may therefore increase the risk of fluticasone side effects:
- ritonavir
- ketoconazole
- itraconazole.
