Asthma Controller Medicine (Combined Medicines)
The name of your controller medicine is ____________________________.
Combined medicines are used to control and prevent asthma symptoms. They need to be taken every day whether you have symptoms or not. These controller inhalers contain a corticosteroid (Flovent® or Pulmicort®) to decrease airway swelling and a long acting bronchodilator (Serevent® or Foradil®) to open and relax the airways.
When combined, they help to:
• Make airways less “twitchy”.
• Decrease phlem.
• Decrease asthma symptoms.
Names of these medcines are:
• Advair® Diskus: 3 strengths: 100/50, 250/50, & 500/50
o Combines Flovent® (fluticasone) & Serevent® (salmeterol)
• Advair HFA® Inhaler: 3 strengths: 45/21, 115/21, & 230/21
o Combines Flovent® (fluticasone) & Serevent® (salmeterol)
• Symbicort HFA ® Inhaler: 2 strengths: 80/4.5 and 160/4.5
o Combines Pulmicort® (budesonide) & Foradil® (formoterol)
• Dulera HFA® Inhaler: 2 strengths: 100/5 and 200/5
o Combines Asmanex® (mometasone) & Foradil® (formoterol)
Side effects (at low strengths) may include:
• Hoarse voice.
• Cough.
• Yeast infection in the mouth (“thrush”).
• Faster heart beat.
• Feeling shaky.
To lessen side effects:
• Always rinse your mouth with water or brush your teeth after using. Do not swallow the water.
• Use a spacer device.
• Wash your face after using a mask with the spacer.
Other side effects may occur. People with severe asthma who have taken high doses of inhaled corticosteroids for a long time are at greatest risk. Your doctor or nurse will review these side effects with you.
For Metered Dose Inhalers (Advair HFA® and Symbicort HFA®):
• Spacers are usually replaced once a year.
• Shake for 5 seconds before each use
• Keep track of when your inhaler expired, especially if it is used “as needed”
• If you do not use it for 2 weeks, re-prime (spray) for 4 sprays prior to using.
• Each inhaler has a certain amount of puffs or “actuations”. If your inhaler does not have a counter on it you will need to figure out how many puffs you use a day. Then, mark it on a calendar so you know when to start a new inhaler.
How do I prepare my inhaler for use?
Your inhaler should be primed before first use, if you have not used it regularly for 2 weeks, or if it is dropped. Prime the inhaler by shaking the inhaler for 5 seconds and spraying 4 puffs into the air away from your face.
How do I clean the inhaler and spacer?
Once a week, use a clean, dry cotton swab to clean the opening where the puff sprays out of the inhaler. Do not put the inhaler in water. Wash the spacer with dish soap and warm water weekly. Rinse with warm water and air dry on a clean towel.
The information provided should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed physician should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Call 911 for all medical emergencies. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited.
Last Updated: 08/07/2012
Copyright © 08/07/2012 University of Wisconsin Hospitals and Clinics Authority. All rights reserved. Produced by the Department of Nursing. HF#6844
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