Fluticasone

If you develop wheezing and an asthma attack after inhaling any form of Flovent, use an emergency medicine such as an inhaled bronchodilator and call your doctor immediately. Also alert your doctor immediately if emergency medications fail to work as well once you've started Flovent therapy.

In rare cases, inhaled steroids such as Flovent have caused cataracts or increased pressure in the eye (glaucoma). Alert your doctor if you suffer from either problem.

If you have recently had a nasal injury or ulcer, or had surgery on your nose, you should wait until you are fully healed before using Flonase.

Possible food and drug interactions when taking Fluticasone

The risk of developing Cushing's syndrome and other side effects increases when you take other steroid medications while using fluticasone. Prednisone and dexamethasone are examples of oral steroid medications. Certain other asthma inhalers, skin creams, eyedrops, and eardrops also may contain steroids.

Also be sure to check with your doctor before combining fluticasone with ketoconazole (Nizoral) or HIV drugs known as protease inhibitors, including Agenerase, Crixivan, Fortovase, Norvir, and Viracept.

Special information if you are pregnant or breastfeeding

The effects of this drug during pregnancy have not been adequately studied. If you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant, inform your doctor immediately. It is not known whether fluticasone appears in breast milk. If the drug is essential to your health, your doctor may advise you to stop nursing until your treatment is finished.

Recommended dosage

FLONASE

Adults

The usual starting dose is 2 sprays in each nostril once daily. (Some doctors may prescribe 1 spray in each nostril every 12 hours.) Once your symptoms are under control, your doctor may reduce the dose to 1 spray in each nostril once daily.

Some people (12 and over) with seasonal allergies find that it's sufficient to use Flonase only on days when their symptoms flare up. If you use Flonase this way, take no more than 2 sprays per nostril on any given day.