What is it? First, you must know that it is a drug that contains fluticasone as an active ingredient.
It is a type of medicine known as a corticosteroid.
What is this active ingredient used for?
Asthma cases: Fluticasone taken by inhalation is a “preventive.” This is because it is taken regularly every day to reduce inflammation in the lungs and prevent asthma attacks.
Symptoms usually begin to improve between four and seven days after starting treatment. However, you must continue to use this medication regularly, even after your asthma symptoms have improved, to prevent them from coming back.
How does the Flixotide work?
Corticosteroids are hormones produced naturally by the adrenal glands. They have many vital functions, including the control of inflammatory responses. Fluticasone present in Flixotide is a synthetic corticosteroid used to decrease inflammation in the lungs.
Corticosteroids are often called simply steroids, but it should be noted that they are very different from another group of steroids, called anabolic steroids, for example, which have gained notoriety due to their abuse by some athletes and bodybuilders.
When fluticasone is inhaled into the lungs, it is absorbed into the cells of the lungs and airways. Here it works by preventing the release of certain chemicals from the cells.
These chemicals are essential in the immune system and usually produce immune and allergic responses that lead to inflammation. By decreasing the release of these chemicals in the lungs and airways, inflammation is reduced.
In asthma, the airways contract due to inflammation and can be blocked by mucus. This hinders the entry and exit of air from the lungs. By preventing inflammation and excess mucus formation, fluticasone helps prevent asthma attacks. It is not used to treat an asthma attack.
How is it taken?
The Flixotide is taken with an inhalation device. Inhaling the medicine allows you to act directly on the lungs where it is most needed.
It also reduces the potential for side effects in other parts of the body since the amount absorbed into the blood through the lungs is less than if the medications were taken orally.
The Flixotide inhalers are usually used twice a day. However, you should follow the instructions given by your doctor regarding when to use your inhaler and how many inhalations you should use each day. Do not exceed the prescribed dose.
It is essential to learn to use your inhaler correctly. Otherwise, you will not breathe the correct dose of medication in your lungs.
The instructions will be provided with your inhaler. However, your doctor, nurse, or pharmacist can also show you how to use your inhaler and verify that you are using it correctly.
Flixotide is available with two different inhalation devices; the evohaler and the accuhaler.
Flixotide evohaler
It is a metered-dose inhaler (sometimes called a metered-dose inhaler or aerosol inhaler), which supplies the medication as a fine spray or mist.
With this inhaler, you have to coordinate by pressing down the container and breathing the spray. Also, the Flixotide evohaler can be used with a spacer device such as Volumático.
El Flixotide accuhaler
It is also a dry powder inhaler. It comes pre-loaded with ampoules that contain individual doses of the medicine as a powder. To take an amount, you have to slide the lever of the inhaler. This opens a blister inside the inhaler, preparing a dose ready to inhale.
Next, exhale completely, put the mouthpiece to your lips, and breathe constantly and deeply through your mouth. More detailed instructions are provided with the accuhaler.
Inhaled corticosteroids can sometimes cause a fungal infection in the mouth called oral thrush. To minimize the chances of this, you should rinse your mouth with water or clean your teeth after inhaling each dose. The use of a separator device can also help to avoid this problem.
Consult your doctor if you develop white patches in your mouth or throat, as these are symptoms of canker sores and may need to be treated.
If you forget to take a dose, take the following amount when it is due. Do not take a double dose to make up for the forgotten dose. Do not stop using your inhaler regularly, even if you do not have any symptoms, unless your doctor recommends it.
Flixotide nebules
The latter option is used with a nebulizer machine that converts liquid medication into nebulae into particles that can be inhaled.
It is used to administer higher doses of the medicine than other inhalers. In the case of Flixotide, it is better to use a mouthpiece instead of a face mask to inhale the nebulizer medication since the prolonged use of a facial mask can cause thinning of the facial skin exposed to the nebulized steroid.
If it is necessary to use a face mask, the exposed skin should be protected with a protective cream, or the face should be washed thoroughly after treatment.
Warning! Keep this in mind regarding this medication.
This medicine is a preventative and should be taken regularly to prevent asthma attacks. It should not be used to relieve an asthma attack or breathing difficulties, as it will not work.
An asthma attack needs to be treated with a medication that quickly opens the airways, such as salbutamol or terbutaline. These are known as relievers, and you should take your reliever inhaler with you to relieve an asthma attack if it happens.
Consult your doctor if you need to use your treatment more often than usual or if it becomes less effective in treating attacks, as this may indicate that your asthma is getting worse. Your doctor may need to prescribe another medication.
