DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION
ADVAIR DISKUS should be administered twice daily every day by the orally inhaled route only. After inhalation, the patient should rinse the mouth with water without swallowing [see Patient Counseling Information].
More frequent administration or a higher number of inhalations (more than 1 inhalation twice daily) of the prescribed strength of ADVAIR DISKUS is not recommended as some patients are more likely to experience adverse effects with higher doses of salmeterol. Patients using ADVAIR DISKUS should not use additional long-acting beta2-agonists for any reason. [See Warnings and Precautions (5.3, 5.12).]
Asthma
If asthma symptoms arise in the period between doses, an inhaled, short-acting beta2-agonist should be taken for immediate relief.
Adult and Adolescent Patients Aged 12 Years and Older
For patients aged 12 years and older, the dosage is 1 inhalation twice daily (morning and evening, approximately 12 hours apart).
The recommended starting dosages for ADVAIR DISKUS for patients aged 12 years and older are based upon patients’ asthma severity. For patients not currently on inhaled corticosteroids whose disease severity clearly warrants initiation of treatment with 2 maintenance therapies, or patients inadequately controlled on an inhaled corticosteroid, the recommended starting dosage is ADVAIR DISKUS 100/50 or 250/50 twice daily.
The maximum recommended dosage is ADVAIR DISKUS 500/50 twice daily.
For all patients it is desirable to titrate to the lowest effective strength after adequate asthma stability is achieved.
Improvement in asthma control following inhaled administration of ADVAIR DISKUS can occur within 30 minutes of beginning treatment, although maximum benefit may not be achieved for 1 week or longer after starting treatment. Individual patients will experience a variable time to onset and degree of symptom relief.
For patients who do not respond adequately to the starting dosage after 2 weeks of therapy, replacing the current strength of ADVAIR DISKUS with a higher strength may provide additional improvement in asthma control.
If a previously effective dosage regimen of ADVAIR DISKUS fails to provide adequate improvement in asthma control, the therapeutic regimen should be reevaluated and additional therapeutic options (e.g., replacing the current strength of ADVAIR DISKUS with a higher strength, adding additional inhaled corticosteroid, initiating oral corticosteroids) should be considered.
Pediatric Patients Aged 4 to 11 Years
For patients with asthma aged 4 to 11 years who are symptomatic on an inhaled corticosteroid, the dosage is 1 inhalation of ADVAIR DISKUS 100/50 twice daily (morning and evening, approximately 12 hours apart)
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
The recommended dosage for patients with COPD is 1 inhalation of ADVAIR DISKUS 250/50 twice daily (morning and evening, approximately 12 hours apart).
If shortness of breath occurs in the period between doses, an inhaled, short-acting beta2-agonist should be taken for immediate relief.
DOSAGE FORMS AND STRENGTHS
Disposable purple device with 60 blisters containing a combination of fluticasone propionate (100, 250, or 500 mcg) and salmeterol (50 mcg) as an oral inhalation powder formulation. An institutional pack containing 14 blisters is also available.
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