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Fluticasone Inhaler
The fluticasone inhaler is an inhaler that belongs to a class of asthma medications known as inhaled corticosteroids. The medication contained in a fluticasone inhaler can help prevent asthma attacks. Do not use the inhaler to treat an asthma attack -- the medication does not act fast enough to be effective in such situations. Side effects of fluticasone inhaler can include upper respiratory tract infections, headaches, and sinus infections.
Fluticasone inhaler (Flovent®) is a prescription medication used to prevent asthma attacks. It comes in two forms, an "HFA" inhaler and a "Diskus®" inhaler.
"HFA" stands for hydrofluoroalkane, which is the propellant used in fluticasone inhalers. Because the fluticasone HFA inhaler uses hydrofluoroalkane, it is an environmentally-friendly inhaler. The fluticasone HFA inhaler has replaced the old fluticasone inhaler, which contained substances that may deplete the ozone layer. The fluticasone Diskus is a dry powder inhaler device.
(Click What Are Fluticasone Inhalers Used For? for more information on uses of fluticasone inhaler, including possible off-label uses of the medication.)
Fluticasone inhalers are made by GlaxoSmithKline and are sold under the brand name "Flovent."
Normally, air moves easily into and out of the lungs through a network of airways. But, if you have asthma, the inside walls of your airways are inflamed (swollen). The inflammation makes the airways very sensitive, and they tend to react strongly to things that you are allergic to or find irritating (see Asthma Triggers). When the airways react, a few things happen: the muscles around these airways tighten, inflammation inside the airways increases, and cells inside the airways produce more mucus. This narrows the airways and makes it harder to breathe.
The fluticasone inhaler is an asthma medication that belongs to a group of drugs called inhaled corticosteroids, or steroids for short. Inhaled steroids go directly into the lungs and help to decrease the inflammation of airways that makes asthma attacks more likely. Because fluticasone inhalers do not work quickly, they should not be used for treating an asthma attack. Rather, the medicine is used twice a day in order to prevent asthma attacks.
Because fluticasone inhaler delivers the medication directly into the lungs, the rest of the body is exposed to lower steroid levels than is the case when taking steroids by mouth. This helps reduce or eliminate many of the side effects associated with long-term steroid use.
(Click Asthma Treatment for information about other medicines used for treating asthma.)
Written by/reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD; Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD