Fluticasone and vilanterol

Fluticasone and vilanterol is a medicine that combines a steroid and a bronchodilator. It is used in adults with asthma or COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) to help with symptoms and to prevent bronchospasm or asthma attacks.

For people with COPD, fluticasone and vilanterol is meant for long-term treatment. For those with asthma, fluticasone and vilanterol is used for short-term treatment until symptoms are well-controlled with other medicines.

Using vilanterol alone may increase the risk of death in people with asthma. However, this risk is not higher when fluticasone and vilanterol are used together as a combination product.

Fluticasone and vilanterol may also be used for reasons not mentioned in this medication guide.

You should not use fluticasone and vilanterol if you are allergic to fluticasone, vilanterol, or milk proteins.

Fluticasone and vilanterol is not a rescue medicine. It will not work quickly enough to treat an asthma or bronchospasm attack.

You should not use this medicine if you are allergic to fluticasone, vilanterol, or milk proteins.

Fluticasone can weaken your immune system, which makes it easier for you to get an infection or make an existing infection worse. Inform your doctor about any illness or infection you have had in the past several weeks.

Tell your doctor if you have ever had:

• glaucoma or cataracts;
• a weak immune system;
• heart disease, high blood pressure;
• liver disease;
• a thyroid disorder;
• a seizure;
• diabetes;
• any type of infection (bacterial, fungal, viral, or parasitic); or
• osteoporosis.

Long-term use of steroids may lead to bone loss (osteoporosis), especially if you smoke, do not exercise, do not get enough vitamin D or calcium in your diet, or have a family history of osteoporosis. Discuss your risk with your doctor.

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant. It is not known if this medicine will harm an unborn baby. However, untreated or uncontrolled asthma during pregnancy may cause complications such as low birth weight, premature birth, or eclampsia (dangerously high blood pressure that can lead to medical problems for both mother and baby). The benefits of treating asthma may outweigh any risks to the baby.

It may not be safe to breast-feed while using this medicine. Ask your doctor about any risks.

Fluticasone and vilanterol is not approved for use by anyone younger than 18 years old.

Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Fluticasone and vilanterol may cause serious side effects. Call your doctor right away if you have:

• wheezing, choking, or other breathing problems after using this medicine;
• chest pain, fast or pounding heartbeats, pounding in your neck or ears;
• sores or white patches in your mouth and throat, pain when swallowing;
• fever, chills, cough with yellow or green mucus;
• blurred vision, tunnel vision, eye pain, or seeing halos around lights;
• high blood sugar--increased thirst, increased urination, dry mouth, fruity breath odor;
• low potassium level--leg cramps, constipation, irregular heartbeats, fluttering in your chest, increased thirst or urination, numbness or tingling, muscle weakness or feeling weak; or
• signs of a hormonal disorder--worsening tiredness or muscle weakness, feeling light-headed, nausea, vomiting.

Common side effects of fluticasone and vilanterol may include:

• headache, back pain, joint pain;
• fever, flu symptoms;
• increased blood pressure;
• runny or stuffy nose, sore throat, cough; or
• a hoarse voice.

This is not a complete list of side effects, and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You can report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Follow all directions on your prescription label and read all medication guides or instruction sheets. Your doctor may occasionally change your dose. Use the medicine exactly as directed.

Fluticasone and vilanterol is not a rescue medicine for asthma or bronchospasm attacks. Use only fast-acting inhalation medicine for an attack. Seek medical attention if your breathing problems get worse quickly, or if you think your asthma medications are not working as well.

Fluticasone and vilanterol is a powder that comes with a special inhaler device preloaded with blister packs containing measured doses of the medicine. The device opens and loads a blister of fluticasone and vilanterol each time you use the inhaler. Follow the patient instructions provided with the inhaler device.

Use the medicine at the same time each day, and not more than once in a 24-hour period.

Your dose needs may change due to surgery, illness, stress, or a recent asthma attack. Do not change your medication dose or schedule without your doctor's advice.

Always rinse out your mouth with water after using the inhaler device, to help prevent thrush (a fungal infection in the mouth or throat).

Your doctor will need to check your lung function on a regular basis. Your vision and your bone mineral density may also need to be checked.

Once your asthma is under control, your doctor may want you to stop using fluticasone and vilanterol. Keep all follow-up appointments and do not stop using the medicine unless your doctor tells you to.

Store at room temperature away from moisture, heat, and light. Keep the inhaler device in the sealed foil tray until ready to start using it.

Throw the inhaler device away 6 weeks after you have taken it out of the foil pouch, or if the dose indicator shows a zero, whichever comes first.

Use the missed dose as soon as you remember. Skip the missed dose if it is close to the time for your next scheduled dose. Do not use extra medicine to make up for the missed dose.

Seek emergency medical help or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222.

Overdose symptoms may include chest pain, a fast heart rate, and feeling shaky or short of breath.

Long-term use of an inhaled steroid can lead to glaucoma, cataracts, thinning skin, changes in body fat (especially in your face, neck, back, and waist), increased acne or facial hair, menstrual problems, impotence, or loss of interest in sex.

Avoid being around people who are sick or have infections. Call your doctor for preventive treatment if you are exposed to chicken pox or measles. These conditions can be serious or even fatal for people using a steroid such as fluticasone.

Do not use a second inhaled bronchodilator unless your doctor tells you to. This includes formoterol (Perforomist, Symbicort, Bevespi, Dulera), arformoterol (Brovana), indacaterol (Arcapta), olodaterol (Striverdi, Stiolto Respimat), salmeterol (Serevent), or vilanterol (Anoro Ellipta).

Sometimes it is not safe to use certain medications together. Some drugs can change how much of other drugs is in your blood, which may increase side effects or make the medications work less effectively.

Many drugs can affect fluticasone and vilanterol. This includes prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Not all possible interactions are listed here. Tell your doctor about all the medicines you are currently taking and any medicine you start or stop using.