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SERETIDE is not for relief of acute symptoms for which a fast- and short-acting bronchodilator (e.g. salbutamol) is required. Patients should be advised to have their relief medication available at all times. SERETIDE Diskus is not intended for the initial management of asthma until the need for and approximate dosage of corticosteroids has been established.
Increasing use of short-acting bronchodilators to relieve symptoms indicates deterioration of control and patients should be reviewed by a physician.
Sudden and progressive deterioration in control of asthma is potentially life-threatening and the patient should be reviewed by a physician. Consideration should be given to increasing corticosteroid therapy. Also, where the current dosage of SERETIDE has failed to give adequate control of asthma, the patient should be reviewed by a physician.
Treatment with SERETIDE should not be stopped abruptly in patients with asthma due to risk of exacerbation, therapy should be titrated-down under physician supervision. For patients with COPD, cessation of therapy may be associated with symptomatic decompensation and should be supervised by a physician.
There was an increased reporting of pneumonia in studies of patients with COPD receiving SERETIDE (see Adverse Reactions). Physicians should remain vigilant for the possible development of pneumonia in patients with COPD as the clinical features of pneumonia and exacerbation frequently overlap.
As with all inhaled medication containing corticosteroids, SERETIDE should be administered with caution in patients with active or quiescent pulmonary tuberculosis.
SERETIDE should be administered with caution in patients with severe cardiovascular disorders, including heart rhythm abnormalities, diabetes mellitus, untreated hypokalemia or thyrotoxicosis.
Cardiovascular effects such as increases in systolic blood pressure and heart rate may occasionally be seen with all sympathomimetic drugs, especially at higher than therapeutic doses. For this reason, SERETIDE should be used with caution in patients with pre-existing cardiovascular disease.
A transient decrease in serum potassium may occur with all sympathomimetic drugs at higher therapeutic doses. Therefore, SERETIDE should be used with caution in patients predisposed to low levels of serum potassium.
Systemic effects may occur with any inhaled corticosteroid, particularly at high doses prescribed for long periods; these effects are much less likely to occur than with oral corticosteroids (see Overdosage). Possible systemic effects include Cushing's syndrome, Cushingoid features, adrenal suppression, growth retardation in children and adolescents, decrease in bone mineral density, cataract, glaucoma and central serous chorioretinopathy.
It is important, therefore for asthma patients, that the dose of inhaled corticosteroid is titrated to the lowest dose at which effective control is maintained.
The possibility of impaired adrenal response should always be borne in mind in emergency and elective situations likely to produce stress and appropriate corticosteroid treatment considered (see Overdosage).
It is recommended that the height of children receiving prolonged treatment with inhaled corticosteroid is regularly monitored.
Because of the possibility of impaired adrenal response, patients transferring from oral steroid therapy to inhaled fluticasone propionate therapy should be treated with special care and adrenocortical function regularly monitored.
Following introduction of inhaled fluticasone propionate, withdrawal of systemic therapy should be gradual and patients are encouraged to carry a steroid warning card indicating the possible need for additional therapy in times of stress.
There have been very rare reports of increases in blood glucose levels (see Adverse Reactions) and this should be considered when prescribing to patients with a history of diabetes mellitus.
During post-marketing use, there have been reports of clinically significant drug interactions in patients receiving fluticasone propionate and ritonavir, resulting in systemic corticosteroid effects including Cushing's syndrome and adrenal suppression. Therefore, concomitant use of fluticasone propionate and ritonavir should be avoided, unless the potential benefit to the patient outweighs the risk of systemic corticosteroid side effects (see Interactions).
It was observed in a drug interaction study that concomitant use of systemic ketoconazole increases exposure to salmeterol. This may lead to prolongation in the QTc interval. Caution should be exercised when strong CYP3A4 inhibitors (e.g. ketoconazole) are co-administered with salmeterol (see Interactions, and Pharmacokinetics under Actions).
As with other inhalation therapy paradoxical bronchospasm may occur with an immediate increase in wheezing after dosing. This should be treated immediately with a fast and short-acting inhaled bronchodilator. Salmeterol-FP Diskus or Inhaler should be discontinued immediately, the patient assessed, and alternative therapy instituted if necessary (see Adverse Reactions).
The pharmacological side effects of beta2-agonist treatment, such as tremor, subjective palpitations and headache have been reported, but tend to be transient and to reduce with regular therapy (see Adverse Reactions).
Effects on Ability to Drive and Use Machines: There have been no specific studies of the effect of SERETIDE on the ability to drive and use machines, but the pharmacology of both drugs does not indicate any effect.
