Flutide

This inhaler (a pressurised inhalation, suspension) which contains two active ingredients:

• Fluticasone propionate which belongs to a group of medicines called steroids. Steroids help to reduce swelling and inflammation in the lungs.
• Formoterol fumarate dihydrate which belongs to a group of medicines called long-acting beta 2 agonists. Long-acting beta 2 agonists are long-acting bronchodilators which help the airways in your lungs to stay open, making it easier for you to breathe.

Together these two active ingredients help to improve your breathing. It is advised that you should use this medicine every day as directed by your doctor or asthma nurse.

This medicine helps to prevent breathing problems such as asthma and helps to stop you becoming breathless and wheezy. However, it does not work if you are already having an asthma attack i.e. you are already breathless and wheezing. You will need to use a fast acting ‘reliever’ medicine such as salbutamol if this happens.

No formal drug interaction studies have been performed with this inhaler. Fluticasone Propionate, an individual component of this inhaler, is a substrate of CYP 3A4. The effects of short-term co-administration of strong CYP 3A4 inhibitors (e.g. Ritonavir, Atazanavir, Clarithromycin, Indinavir, Itraconazole, Nelfinavir, Saquinavir, Ketoconazole, Telithromycin) together with this inhaler is of minor clinical relevance, but caution needs to be taken in long-term treatment and co-administration with such drugs should be avoided if possible.

Undesirable effects which have been associated with this inhaler during clinical development are given in the table below, listed by system organ class. The following frequency categories form the basis for classification of the undesirable effects as: very common (≥1/10), common (≥1/100 and <1/10), uncommon (≥1/1,000 and <1/100), rare (≥1/10,000 < 1/1,000), very rare (<1/10,000) and not known (cannot be estimated from the available data). Within each frequency grouping, undesirable effects are presented in order of decreasing seriousness.

Pregnancy: There are limited data on the use of Fluticasone Propionate and FormoterolFumarate, either administered alone or together but administered from separate inhalers, or on the use of this fixed-dose combination, this inhaler in pregnant women. Studies in animals have shown reproductive toxicity. Administration of this inhaler is not recommended during pregnancy, and should only be considered if expected benefit to the mother is greater than any possible risk to the fetus. If this is the case, then the lowest effective dose needed to maintain adequate asthma control should be used.

Breastfeeding: It is not known whether Fluticasone Propionate or FormoterolFumarateare excreted in human breast milk. Therefore, a decision must be made whether to discontinue breastfeeding or to discontinue/abstain from this inhaler therapy taking into account the benefit of breastfeeding for the child and the benefit of therapy for the woman.

Fertility: There are no data available on effects on fertility following administration of this inhaler. In animal studies, no effects on fertility have been seen following administration of the individual active substances at clinically relevant doses.

Special patient groups: There is no need to adjust the dose in elderly patients.

Hepatic or renal: There are no data available for use of this inhaler in patients with hepatic or renal impairment.

Paediatric population: It is recommended that the height of children receiving prolonged treatment with inhaled corticosteroids is regularly monitored. If growth is slowed, therapy should be reviewed with the aim of reducing the dose of inhaled corticosteroid, if possible, to the lowest dose at which effective control of asthma is maintained. In addition, consideration should be given to referring the patient to a paediatric respiratory specialist.

Only limited data are available in respect of the use of this inhaler in children under 12 years of age. This inhaler is not recommended for use in children under 12 years of age until further data become available.

Respiratory corticosteroids

There are no data available from clinical trials on overdose with this inhaler, however, data on overdose with both single drugs are given below:

FormoterolFumarate: An overdose of Formoterol would likely lead to an exaggeration of effects that are typical for ß2 agonists; in which case the following adverse experiences may occur: angina, hypertension or hypotension, palpitations, tachycardia, arrhythmia, prolonged QTc interval, headache, tremor, nervousness, muscle cramps, dry mouth, insomnia, fatigue, malaise, seizures, metabolic acidosis, hypokalaemia, hyperglycaemia, nausea and vomiting.

Fluticasone Propionate: Acute overdose with Fluticasone Propionate usually does not constitute a clinical problem. The only harmful effect after inhalation of a large amount of the drug over a short period is suppression of hypothalamic pituitary adrenocortical (HPA) axis function. HPA axis function usually recovers in a few days, as verified by plasma cortisol measurements. Treatment with the inhaled corticosteroid should be continued at the recommended dose to control asthma.

Store in a cool and dry place, protected from light.