My pulmonologist prescribed two medications — Advair and Spiriva — that seem to do the same thing. Why would I need both medications and are there other options? The medications you mention include three drugs because Advair contains two different medications. Spiriva is approved for treating chronic obstructive pulmonary disease COPD.
Advair is approved for both asthma and COPD. For people with moderate to severe COPD, research has shown a number of benefits with triple therapy like yours. COPD is a lung disease that blocks airflow and makes breathing difficult. In most cases, the lung damage that leads to COPD is caused by cigarette smoking.
But other irritants can cause COPD, too, including cigar or pipe smoke, air pollution and certain occupational exposures. In some cases, COPD results from a genetic disorder that causes low levels of a protective protein called alphaantitrypsin.
Asthma occurs when the airways in the lungs bronchial tubes become inflamed and constricted. This may be triggered by allergies or viral infections. During an asthma attack, the airways thicken due to inflammation, the muscles of the bronchial walls tighten, and the airways produce extra mucus that increases obstruction. A number of medications help control symptoms of COPD and asthma. Bronchodilators relax the muscles around your airways to make breathing easier and relieve coughing and shortness of breath.
It may seem odd to take two drugs that do almost the same thing. But, there are two classes of bronchodilators: beta-agonists and anti-muscarinics. They work using different mechanisms to open up airways. Examples of short-acting bronchodilators are albuterol and ipratropium. Long-acting bronchodilators include tiotropium Spiriva, an anti-muscarinic and salmeterol and formoterol Serevent and Foradil, both beta-agonists.
Salmeterol is the long-acting bronchodilator in Advair. Several studies have found that using the two types of bronchodilators that you're taking, along with an inhaled corticosteroid, results in better control of COPD symptoms, better exercise tolerance and better pulmonary function. This list contains examples of serious side effects that can occur with both Advair and Wixela Inhub when taken individually. This means that Wixela Inhub contains exact copies of the original drugs in Advair Diskus.
FDA-approved generics are expected to have the same effects in your body as the original drugs. Advair Diskus is a brand-name drug. Wixela Inhub is the generic form of Advair Diskus. Brand-name medications usually cost more than generics. According to estimates on GoodRx. Advair and Symbicort are prescribed for similar uses.
Below are details of how these medications are alike and different. Advair and Symbicort can help people with asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease COPD breathe more effectively. Both contain a corticosteroid, which reduces inflammation swelling in your lungs. Both drugs also contain a long-acting beta2-agonist, which relaxes airway muscles. Advair Diskus is also approved as a maintenance ongoing treatment for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease COPD.
It helps reduce the number of COPD exacerbations flare-ups people have. Symbicort is FDA-approved to treat asthma in adults and children ages 6 years and older. Advair Diskus is a powder inhaler. Advair HFA is an aerosol inhaler. They are each used twice a day. Advair and Symbicort contain different drugs.
Therefore, some of the side effects these medications can cause are similar and some are different. These lists contain examples of more common side effects that can occur with Advair, with Symbicort, or with both drugs when taken individually. This list contains examples of serious side effects that can occur with Advair or Symbicort when taken individually. A real-world effectiveness analysis tests how well the drug works in the real world not in a controlled setting, which is where a clinical study does testing.
This study looked at health insurance claims for more than 7, people with COPD who were new to treatment with either Advair or Symbicort. The use of Advair and Symbicort for the treatment of asthma has also been compared in a database analysis.
This analysis included more than 3, people with asthma, ages 12 years and older. Many studies have indirectly and directly compared the use of Advair and Symbicort, with conflicting results. However, Symbicort and both forms of Advair have been found to be effective for treating asthma. Advair and Symbicort are both brand-name drugs. There are generic forms of Advair Diskus, including one called Wixela Inhub. Wixela Inhub, the generic form of Advair Diskus, may cost less than either Advair either type or Symbicort.
The manufacturer of both drugs provides instructions on how to use the Advair Diskus inhaler and how to use the Advair HFA inhaler. Always rinse your mouth with water after taking a dose of Advair. Rinsing your mouth after an Advair dose will reduce your risk for thrush a fungal infection in your mouth and throat. You should take your dose of Advair every 12 hours. They are not used to treat flare-ups of either condition. Your doctor will likely prescribe a rescue inhaler for you, which you should keep with you at all times.
A rescue inhaler works rapidly to improve your breathing. However, studies have found that chronic alcohol drinking can damage the cilia in your airways. Cilia are small, hair-like structures that help trap and remove germs from the air you breathe. Damaged cilia make it easier for germs to cause infections in your lungs.
These effects can lead to a higher risk for serious infections, such as pneumonia. They can also make your symptoms of asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease COPD worse.
Advair can interact with several other medications. It can also interact with certain supplements as well as certain foods.
Different interactions can cause different effects. For instance, some interactions can interfere with how well a drug works. Other interactions can increase side effects or make them more severe.
Below is a list of medications that can interact with Advair. This list does not contain all drugs that may interact with Advair. Before taking Advair, talk with your doctor and pharmacist. Tell them about all prescription, over-the-counter, and other drugs you take. Also tell them about any vitamins, herbs, and supplements you use. Sharing this information can help you avoid potential interactions. If you have questions about drug interactions that may affect you, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
Taking Advair with certain drugs used to treat viral infections, such as HIV , can increase levels of fluticasone propionate and salmeterol in your body.
This is because certain antiviral drugs prevent the breakdown of fluticasone propionate and salmeterol in your body. Higher levels of fluticasone propionate and salmeterol can increase your risk for serious side effects. Taking Advair with these antiviral drugs is not recommended. Taking Advair with certain antibiotic or antifungal drugs can increase your risk for serious side effects. This is because these antibiotics or antifungal drugs prevent the breakdown of fluticasone propionate and salmeterol in your body.
This causes higher than usual levels of fluticasone propionate and salmeterol. An example of an antibiotic drug that can increase fluticasone propionate and salmeterol levels in your body is clarithromycin Biaxin XL. Examples of antifungal drugs that can increase fluticasone propionate and salmeterol levels in your body include:. Taking Advair with these medications is not recommended. If you need treatment with one of these drugs while taking Advair, your doctor will monitor you closely for increased side effects.
Taking certain antidepressants with Advair or within 2 weeks of taking Advair can raise your risk of serious side effects, such as heart problems. Examples of antidepressants that can increase your risk for heart problems if taken with Advair include:. If you need to take an antidepressant with Advair, talk with your doctor.
They may suggest a different option than the ones listed above. Taking Advair with certain blood pressure or heart rate medications can increase your risk for serious breathing problems. Examples of blood pressure or heart rate medications that can increase your risk for breathing problems if taken with Advair include:. Advair should only be taken with one of these medications in an emergency situation such as a heart attack or if there are no other preferred options. If you need to take Advair with one of these drugs, your doctor will monitor you closely for serious breathing problems.
Taking Advair with certain diuretics water pills can increase your risk for hypokalemia low potassium levels. It can also raise your risk for serious heart problems, including abnormal heart rhythms. Examples of diuretics that can increase your risk for these serious effects if taken with Advair include:. Some diuretics also come as part of a combination medication which contains more than one active drug. Be sure to check all of your medications to see if any contain one of the diuretics listed above.
If you need to take one of these diuretics with Advair, your doctor will monitor you closely for hypokalemia and abnormal heart rhythms. As with all medications, the cost of Advair can vary. To find current prices for Advair Diskus and other forms in your area, check out GoodRx. The cost you find on GoodRx. If you need financial support to pay for Advair, or if you need help understanding your insurance coverage, assistance is available. In animal studies , harm to the fetus was seen when the pregnant mother received Advair.
Untreated or poorly treated asthma during pregnancy may cause serious problems for the mother and baby. These include preeclampsia high blood pressure during pregnancy , premature birth, and low birth weight. If your asthma is well controlled, you may have a lower risk of these problems. Treatment guidelines state that the combination of an inhaled corticosteroid and long-acting beta2-agonist is safe for pregnant women with asthma. Advair contains this combination with the active drugs fluticasone propionate and salmeterol.
If you have asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease COPD and are pregnant or considering becoming pregnant, talk with your doctor about your treatment options. In animal studies , fluticasone propionate, one of the active drugs in Advair, did pass into breast milk. You and your doctor should weigh the benefits of breastfeeding while taking Advair against the risks of untreated asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease COPD. Together you can determine if breastfeeding is a safe option for you and your child.
You can also call the American Association of Poison Control Centers at or use their online tool. But if your symptoms are severe, call or go to the nearest emergency room right away. COPD is a group of conditions that cause damage in your lungs that gets worse over time.
COPD includes conditions such as chronic bronchitis and emphysema. Chronic bronchitis causes inflammation swelling and mucus buildup in your airways. This makes it hard for air to flow through your lungs, reducing the amount of oxygen that you can take in. Emphysema damages your alveoli, which are small air sacs in your lungs.
This damage makes it hard for you to breathe carbon dioxide out of your lungs. Trapped carbon dioxide in your lungs prevents you from breathing in fresh oxygen. Advair contains two drugs: fluticasone propionate, a corticosteroid, and salmeterol, a long-acting beta2-agonist. Corticosteroids like fluticasone propionate reduce the amount of inflammation in your lungs.
This helps clear some of the swelling and mucus that can block airflow through your lungs. Long-acting beta2-agonists relax the muscles that line your airways.
By doing this, they widen the airways and allow more air to flow through. Both of these drugs help improve airflow in people with asthma and COPD.
This helps you breathe easier and get the oxygen you need. After starting Advair, it might take about a week before you see the maximum amount of improvement in your symptoms. You might taste some of the medication after you take a dose of Advair. Always rinse your mouth with water and spit it out after taking an Advair dose, whether you tasted anything or not. This will help reduce your risk for yeast infections in your mouth and throat. There are currently no cures for either condition.
Advair is meant for long-term use. You should always carry a rescue inhaler to give you immediate relief. Also, talk with your doctor about what to do if your asthma or COPD symptoms suddenly get worse. No, Advair is not used to treat allergies. If you have asthma or COPD and also have allergies, talk with your doctor about ways to relieve your allergy symptoms.
If your child needs to take Advair, their doctor will monitor their growth closely. This can help lower the risk of slowing their growth. Before taking Advair, talk with your doctor about your health history. Advair may not be right for you if you have certain medical conditions or other factors affecting your health. These include:. When you get Advair from the pharmacy, the pharmacist will add an expiration date to the label on the bottle.
This date is typically 1 year from the date they dispensed the medication. The expiration date helps guarantee the effectiveness of the medication during this time.
If you have unused medication that has gone past the expiration date, talk with your pharmacist about whether you might still be able to use it. How long a medication remains good can depend on many factors, including how and where you store the medication.
They should be stored in their packaging and away from light. Advair HFA should not be stored near high temperatures because it can burst if it gets too hot. This helps prevent others, including children and pets, from taking the drug by accident. It also helps keep the drug from harming the environment. The FDA website provides several useful tips on medication disposal. You can also ask your pharmacist for information on how to dispose of your medication. Fluticasone propionate is a corticosteroid that improves asthma and COPD symptoms by reducing inflammation.
It does this by binding to glucocorticoid receptors and reducing the activation and activity of immune system cells and mediators. It also inhibits mediator release from mast cells, reducing inflammation. Salmeterol works by binding to beta2-adrenoreceptors and increasing cyclic AMP levels, prompting smooth muscle relaxation in the lungs.
Following inhalation, absolute bioavailability of fluticasone propionate is about 5. Very low levels of salmeterol reach systemic circulation. Peak concentration achieved within 0. Fluticasone propionate and salmeterol are both metabolized via the CYP3A4 pathway. Fluticasone propionate is primarily excreted via fecal route. Terminal half-life for both drugs is about 5. Advair Diskus is contraindicated as primary treatment of status asthmaticus or acute episodes of asthma or COPD that require intense treatment.
Advair HFA is contraindicated as primary treatment of status asthmaticus or acute episodes of asthma that require intense treatment. Advair Diskus and Advair HFA are both contraindicated in people with a history of hypersensitivity to their respective active and inactive ingredients including milk proteins in Advair Diskus. Protect Advair HFA from extreme heat, as the device can burst.
Disclaimer: Medical News Today has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects.
The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.
Homeopathy is a popular, traditional remedy for asthma.
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