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Flovent - Fluticasone Propionate

by Kathleen MacNaughton, R.N.
for About.com

Updated: March 27, 2008

About.com Health's Disease and Condition content is reviewed by the Medical Review Board

What It Is: Flovent, generic name fluticasone propionate, is an inhaled steroid that is used to treat asthma. Inhaled steroids are the most effective type of controller asthma medicines. Flovent can be used alone or in combination with long-acting beta agonists to prevent asthma symptoms and asthma attacks from occurring in both children (age 4 years and older) and adults.
How It Works: Flovent is inhaled as an aerosol into the airways, where it acts directly to reduce inflammation. It interferes with a number of different immune cell types, including:

Flovent also blocks the action of chemical messengers that are part of the immune process connected with allergic asthma. Finally, this medicine reduces the irritability of your airways, so they are less likely to overreact when exposed to your asthma triggers.

The end result is a lessening of airway swelling and mucus production. This in turn prevents asthma symptoms such as wheezing, coughing, chest tightness, and shortness of breath. However, Flovent does not start working right away; it takes 1 to 2 weeks to reach the peak effect, so it should not be used to relieve acute symptoms.
Forms & Doses: Flovent is available in the United States as an aerosol in a metered dose inhaler. Each puff contains 44 to 220 micrograms of medicine. One canister dispenses 120 puffs. The usual dosage is 2 puffs twice a day. Flovent should be taken everyday as prescribed, even if you are not having any symptoms.

For allergic skin conditions, fluticasone propionate also comes in ointment and cream forms. For nasal allergies, it comes in a nasal spray. Both of these forms are packaged under different brand names than Flovent, including Cutivate, Veramyst and others.

Risks & Side Effects: Inhaled steroids as a group are quite safe to take in moderate to low doses. But, like most medicines, they do carry some risk of side effects. The following side effects are possible with Flovent:
  • coughing, hoarseness, throat irritation
  • dry mouth
  • flushing
  • loss of taste, or unpleasant taste

Most of those side effects will lessen over time, but if they do not or if they become bothersome, be sure to let your doctor know how you are feeling. There is a slight risk of more serious side effects. If you have any of the following, you should call your doctor right away:

  • abdominal pain
  • chest pain
  • dizziness or lightheadedness
  • fever or chills
  • skin rash and itching (hives)
  • sore mouth, with white curd-like patches in the mouth or throat
  • unusual tiredness or weakness
What You Need to Know: Inhaled steroids like Flovent only work if you take them. And, as mentioned above, they take a while to start working to their full potential. So saving them for when your asthma symptoms appear or worsen isn't an effective way to control your asthma. If you need quick relief for asthma symptoms, then you'll want to use your quick-relief, or rescue, inhaler.

It's important to use the correct technique with metered dose inhalers such as the one Flovent comes in. Be sure to read the package instructions and ask your doctor or staff for help if needed. You can also check out our tutorial on how to use an MDI here.

When you take more than one kind of medicine, they may interact with each other in unexpected ways. Check out our medical encyclopedia to see if there are any interactions among the drugs you are taking.
When to Call Your Doctor: Call your doctor right away if any of the following things occur:
  • Your breathing problems get worse while you are taking Flovent.
  • You need to start using your rescue inhaler more often than usual.
  • Your rescue inhaler stops relieving your asthma symptoms.
  • You need to use 4 or more puffs of your rescue inhaler for 2 or more days in a row.
  • You use 1 whole canister of your rescue inhaler medicine in less than 8 weeks time.
  • Your peak flow meter results worsen.
  • Your asthma symptoms do not improve after you've been using Flovent regularly for 1 to 2 weeks.

Sources:

GlaxoSmithKline. "Flovent Prescribing Information." 22 Mar 2008.

"Expert Panel Report 3: Guidelines for the Diagnosis and Management of Asthma." NHLBI Guidelines for the Diagnosis and Treatment of Asthma. 28 Aug 2007. National Heart Lung and Blood Institute. 18 Dec. 2007. <http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/guidelines/asthma/asthgdln.pdf>

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