Flovent hfa (other name Flovent)

Common use

Flovent is used to prevent asthma attacks. This medicine will not treat an asthma attack that has already begun. Flovent is a corticosteroid. It prevents the release of substances in the body that cause inflammation.

Dosage and direction

Use Flovent exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Do not use this medicine in larger or smaller amounts or for longer than recommended. Flovent is an aerosol form of fluticasone that is supplied as an inhaler. This device creates a spray that you inhale through your mouth and into your lungs. Your doctor or pharmacist can show you how to use an inhaler.

Precautions

To make sure this medicine is safe for you, tell your doctor if you have ever had: any type of infection (bacterial, viral, or fungal); glaucoma or cataracts; an infection caused by parasites (such as giardia, malaria, leishmaniasis, hookworm, pinworm, toxoplasmosis, and many others); tuberculosis; herpes infection of the eyes; liver disease; low bone mineral density; or a weak immune system.
Tell your doctor if you are pregnant. It is not known whether fluticasone will harm an unborn baby. It may not be safe to breast-feed while using fluticasone inhalation. Ask your doctor about any risk.

Contraindications

You should not use Flovent if you are allergic to fluticasone.
Do not use this medicine to treat an asthma attack that has already begun.
Flovent is not approved for use by anyone younger than 4 years old.

Possible side effect

Call your doctor at once if you have: weakness, tired feeling, nausea, vomiting, feeling like you might pass out; wheezing, choking, or other breathing problems after using this medicine; blurred vision, tunnel vision, eye pain, or seeing halos around lights; worsening of your asthma symptoms; blood vessel inflammation - fever, cough, stomach pain, weight loss, skin rash, severe tingling, numbness, chest pain; or liver problems - upper stomach pain, loss of appetite, dark urine, clay-colored stools, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes).
Common Flovent side effects may include: cold symptoms such as stuffy nose, sneezing, sore throat, sinus pain; low fever, cough, wheezing, chest tightness; hoarseness or deepened voice; white patches or sores inside your mouth or on your lips; headache; or nausea, vomiting, upset stomach.

Drug interaction

Tell your doctor about all your current medicines and any you start or stop using, especially: an antibiotic; antifungal medicine; antiviral medicine to treat HIV or AIDS; or steroid medicine.

Missed dose

Skip the missed dose and use the medicine at your next regularly scheduled time. Do not use extra medicine to make up the missed dose.

Overdose

Seek emergency medical attention. An overdose of fluticasone is not expected to produce life threatening symptoms.

Storage

Store the Flovent canister with the mouthpiece down. Keep the canister away from open flame or high heat, such as in a car on a hot day. The canister may explode if it gets too hot. Do not puncture or burn an empty inhaler canister.