Flaxxone Forspiro
Package leaflet: Information for the user
Flaxxone Forspiro, 50 microgram/500 microgram/dose, inhalation
powder, predispensed
salmeterol/fluticasone propionate
Read all of this leaflet carefully before you start using this medicine because it contains important information for you.
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Keep this leaflet. You may need to read it again.
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If you have any further questions, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
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This medicine has been prescribed for you only. Do not pass it on to others. It may harm them, even if their signs of illness are the same as yours.
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If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor or pharmacist. This includes any possible side effects not listed in this leaflet. See section 4.
What is in this leaflet
1. What Flaxxone Forspiro is and what it is used for
2. What you need to know before you use Flaxxone Forspiro
3. How to use Flaxxone Forspiro
4. Possible side effects
5. How to store Flaxxone Forspiro
6. Contents of the pack and other information
1What Flaxxone Forspiro is and what it is used for
Flaxxone Forspiro is used to treat:
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asthma
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chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
This disease is characterized by continuous breathing difficulties caused by narrowed airways, often accompanied with coughing and phlegm. This medicine reduces the number of flare ups of COPD symptoms.
This medicine contains two active substances.
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Salmeterol: a long-acting substance that widens the airways
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Fluticasone: a corticosteroid which reduces swelling and inflammation in the lungs
2What you need to know before you use Flaxxone Forspiro
Do not use Flaxxone Forspiro
if you are allergic to salmeterol, fluticasone or to the other ingredient of this medicine (listed in section 6).
Warnings and precautions
Talk to your doctor or pharmacist before using Flaxxone Forspiro if you have:
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heart disease, including an irregular or fast heartbeat
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overactive thyroid gland
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high blood pressure
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diabetes mellitus
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low potassium in your blood
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tuberculosis now or in the past, or other lung infections
Flaxxone Forspiro prevents the onset of breathlessness and wheezing. Please note that it does not work when you are already breathless or wheezy.
If such a breathlessness attackoccurs, you need to use a medicine which quickly widens the airways, such as salbutamol.
Inform your doctor immediately if your asthma or breathing gets worse. You may find that:
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you feel more wheezy
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your chest feels tight more often
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you need to use more of your fast acting airway widening inhaler
Continue to use Flaxxone Forspiro if any of these happen, but do not increase the number of inhalations. Your chest condition may be getting worse and you could become seriously ill. Talk to your doctor as you may need additional treatment.
Children and adolescents
Asthma:
Flaxxone Forspiro should not be used in children under the age of 12 years.
COPD:
Flaxxone Forspiro should not be used in children and adolescents.
Other medicines and Flaxxone Forspiro
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking, have recently taken or might take any other medicines.
The following medicines can influence or be influenced by Flaxxone Forspiro:
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medicines to treat high blood pressure, heart or other illnesses, with active substance names ending with “olol” (beta-blockers), such as atenolol, propranolol and sotalol
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medicines to treat viruses, such as ritonavir
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medicines to treat infections, such as ketoconazole, itraconazole and erythromycin
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corticosteroids taken by the mouth or injected: medicines to treat inflammation or prevent organ transplant rejection
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diuretics, also known as ‘water tablets’ used to treat high blood pressure
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other bronchodilators (such as salbutamol)
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xanthine medicines. These are often used to treat asthma.
Pregnancy, breast-feeding and fertility
If you are pregnant or breast-feeding, think you may be pregnant or are planning to have a baby, ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice before taking this medicine. Your doctor will assess whether you can take Flaxxone Forspiroduring this time.
Driving and using machines
Flaxxone Forspiro is unlikely to impair your ability to drive or operate machinery.
Flaxxone Forspiro contains lactose
If you have been told by your doctor that you have an intolerance to some sugars, contact your doctor before taking this medicine.
The amount of lactose in this medicine does not normally cause problems in people who are lactose intolerant.
3How to use Flaxxone Forspiro
Always use this medicine exactly as your doctor or pharmacist has told you. Check with your doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure.
Asthma
The recommended dose for adults and children from 12 years is:
One inhalation twice daily
Your doctor will want to regularly check your asthma symptoms.
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
The recommended dose for adultsis:
One inhalation twice daily
If your symptoms become controlled using Flaxxone Forspiro twice daily, your doctor may reduce your dose to once daily:
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once at night if you have night-time symptoms
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once in the morning if you have daytime symptoms
Method of use
Use Flaxxone Forspiroevery day as prescribed by your doctor, preferably right before mealtime in the morning and/or in the evening.
After use, rinse your mouth with water.
Not using Flaxxone Forspiro properly or as prescribed may worsen your breathing difficulties.For optimal therapy, you must use Flaxxone Forspiro daily, even if you don’t have any symptoms.
Instructions for use
Your doctor, nurse or pharmacist should demonstrate how to use the inhaler and should check your use regularly.
The inhaler contains 60 doses of powder medication in a coiled strip of foil. It has a dose counter which shows you how many doses you have remaining counting down from 60 to 0. When you have reached the last 10 doses the numbers will be on a red background.
The inhaler is not refillable – please dispose of the inhaler when it is empty and replace it with a new one.
Before using the inhaler
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Open the transparent side chamber door.
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Remove the foil strip from the side chamber by carefully tearing away the full length of strip against the ‘teeth’ of the side chamber as shown below. Do not pull or tug on the strip.