An Introduction to Fluticasone Inhaler Dosing
The dose of
fluticasone inhaler (
Flovent®) your healthcare provider recommends will vary depending on a number of factors, including:
- Your age
- The severity of your asthma
- Other medications you may be taking.
As always, do not adjust your fluticasone dose unless your healthcare provider specifically instructs you to do so.
This
asthma medication comes in two different forms, the HFA inhaler and the Diskus inhaler. Generally, only children use the Diskus inhaler (since it is available only in a low strength).
Fluticasone Dosing for Young Children
For the treatment of
asthma in children ages 4 to 11, the recommended fluticasone HFA dose is two inhalations of fluticasone HFA 44 mcg twice daily. For the Flovent Diskus, the recommended starting dose for this age range is 50 mcg (one inhalation) twice daily, and the maximum recommended dose is 100 mcg (two inhalations) twice daily.
Fluticasone Dosing for Adolescents and Adults
For
asthma treatment in adults and adolescents at least 12 years old, the recommended fluticasone HFA dose varies, depending upon what type of asthma medications were previously taken.
For people who are taking an inhaled steroid (with or without a bronchodilator), the starting dose is two inhalations of fluticasone HFA 44 mcg or 110 mcg twice daily. The maximum dose is two inhalations of fluticasone HFA 220 mcg twice daily.
For people taking an oral steroid (with or without a bronchodilator), the starting dose is two inhalations of fluticasone HFA 220 mcg twice daily, and the maximum dose is four inhalations of fluticasone HFA 220 mcg twice daily. After you have been using fluticasone HFA for a week, your healthcare provider should attempt to slowly decrease the dose of your oral steroid.
