Question

Drug card for

Combination Inhalation Drugs

fluticasone & salmeterol (Advair)

Answer 1

Fluticasone/salbutamol combination is available under the brand names Advair Diskus, and AirDuo RespiClick. This is available in the powder form that is administered through the inhalation route and is not available as a generic drug.

The fluticasone/salbutamol combination is available to treat the symptoms of asthma and COPD.

Fluticasone is a steroidal anti-inflammatory drug, which reduces the symptoms of bronchial smooth muscle inflammation, and other signs of inflammation, and also reduce the hyperreactivity. Salbutamol is a beta-2 adrenoceptor agonist, which causes bronchial smooth muscle relaxation.

The combination of fluticasone/salbutamol is not meant to relieve the sudden symptoms of asthma and COPD, which should be relieved by a rescue inhaler. This drug increases the risk of fungal infections. The other side effects associated with the drug include infections of the upper respiratory tract, cough, headache, irritation in the throat, dizziness, pneumonia, voice changes, and difficulty in breathing. In people with pneumonia and COPD, the symptoms include chills, fever, increased mucus production, cough, and breathing problems.