Fluticasone

What is fluticasone?

Fluticasone is a medicine that helps prevent asthma symptoms and attacks. It is NOT used to relieve an attack that has already started. This medicine keeps the airways of your child's lungs healthy when they use it regularly.

You may hear fluticasone called by its brand name, Flovent. Fluticasone comes as an aerosol inhaler (puffer) and a dry powder that is inhaled (Diskus).

Before giving fluticasone to your child

• Tell your doctor if your child is allergic to fluticasone.

Talk with your doctor or pharmacist if your child has any of the following conditions. Precautions may need to be taken with this medicine if your child has:

• tuberculosis (TB) or has had TB in the past

How should you give your child fluticasone?

Follow these instructions when you give your child fluticasone:

• Give your child fluticasone exactly as your doctor or your pharmacist tells you, even if your child seems better.
• Give your child fluticasone for as long your doctor or pharmacist tells you. Talk to your child's doctor before you stop giving this medicine for any reason. Your child may become ill if they stop taking this medicine suddenly.
• Give your child fluticasone at the same time every day. Pick a time that is easy for you to remember so that you do not miss doses.
• Have your child breathe fluticasone in through the mouth. If you are not sure how to give your child fluticasone, ask the pharmacist to show you.
• Your doctor or asthma nurse may give you a spacer device (commonly called an Aerochamber) to use with your child's inhaler. A spacer is a device designed to make the puffer easier to use helping deliver more medicine directly into the lungs where it is needed. This makes the medicine more effective and reduces the side effects that may occur from inhaling the medicine into the mouth or throat.
• You can also ask the nurse in the Asthma Clinic or the pharmacist to show you how to give your child fluticasone.
• If your child uses a "reliever" medicine, make sure your child uses their reliever medicine BEFORE taking the fluticasone. A reliever medicine, also called a bronchodilator, opens the airways so that the fluticasone can get into the lungs.
• Wait 5 minutes after giving your child the reliever medicine before giving them fluticasone. Waiting 5 minutes helps to make sure that the airways are open enough so that your child will get the most good from the fluticasone.
• After your child has used their fluticasone inhaler, they should rinse their mouth with water or juice to help reduce its side effects. If your child is too young to rinse their mouth out, give your child water or juice to drink after every dose of fluticasone.

What should you do if your child misses a dose of fluticasone?

• Give the missed dose as soon as you remember.
• If it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed dose. Give the next dose at the regular time.
• Do not give your child 2 doses to make up for 1 missed dose.

How long does fluticasone take to work?

It may take several weeks after your child starts taking fluticasone before you see that your child's asthma is getting better.

What are the possible side effects of fluticasone?

Your child may have some of these side effects while they take fluticasone. Check with your child's doctor if your child continues to have any of these side effects, and they do not go away, or they bother your child:

• dry/sore mouth or throat
• headache
• bad taste in the mouth
• nasal congestion or irritation

Call your child's doctor during office hours if your child has any of these side effects:

• White patches in the mouth: these can be symptoms of a mouth infection. To prevent this, ensure that your child always rinses their mouth after using their inhaler.
• Pain while eating or swallowing

Most of the following side effects are not common, but they may be a sign of a serious problem. Call your child's doctor right away or take your child to Emergency if your child has any of these side effects that does not go away after using the reliever medicine:

• rash or any other symptoms of an allergic reaction
• swelling of the face, lips, tongue, mouth, or throat

What safety measures should you take when your child is using fluticasone?

• Avoid using fluticasone with the medicine ritonavir.
• Fluticasone does not stop an asthma attack. Your child should use the reliever medicine.

What other important information should you know about fluticasone?

• Keep a list of all medications your child is on and show the list to the doctor or pharmacist.
• Do not share your child's medicine with others. Do not give anyone else's medicine to your child.
• Make sure you always have enough fluticasone to last through weekends, holidays, and vacations. Call your pharmacy at least 2 days before your child runs out of medicine to order refills.
• Keep fluticasone at room temperature in a cool, dry place away from sunlight. Do NOT store it in the bathroom or kitchen.
• Do not keep any medicines that are out of date. Check with your pharmacist about the best way to throw away outdated or leftover medicines.
  

Keep fluticasone out of your child’s sight and reach and locked up in a safe place. If your child takes too much fluticasone, call your local Poison Information Centre at one of these numbers. These calls are free. 

• Call 1-844 POISON-X, or 1-844-764-7669, from anywhere in Canada except Quebec.
• Call 1-800-463-5060 if you live in Quebec.