The dose depends on the severity of the asthma and the patient's individual response. Flovent® Diskus® is not intended for use in children young than 4 years of age.

Ages 4 to 16 years of age: The usual starting dose is 100 mcg twice daily.

Adults and adolescents 16 years of age and older: Usual dosage is 100 to 500 mcg twice daily.

Fluticasone is a highly potent corticosteroid that possesses strong anti- inflammatory activity. Whether inhaled through the nose or into the lungs, the effect of the drug is local (acting directly on the tissue it comes in contact with). The amount absorbed by the body is minimal and therefore the incidence of unwanted effects is low.

Along with its needed effects, fluticasone may cause some unwanted or undesirable effects. Often, fluticasone users who use their medication properly, never experience any unwanted effects. The severity and duration of these effects are dependant on many factors including duration of therapy, dose, route of administration and individual response. Possible unwanted effects include:

• sneezing immediately after use (nasal spray only)
• irritation and burning in the nose (nasal spray only)
• localized infection of Candida Albicans (yeast) of the mouth and throat

Less common:

• sore throat (oral inhalation only)
• hoarseness (oral inhalation only)
• cough
• headache
• nausea

Rare:

• immediate or delayed allergic reaction (e.g. rash, hives, and bronchospasm)
• flushing, itchiness, and swelling of the eyes, face, lips and throat

Use as directed. Never use a higher dose than what you have been prescribed. Using higher than recommended doses will cause greater absorption by the body and possibly lead to greater occurrence of unwanted effects. Optimal relief of symptoms may require a few days of continuous therapy.
If symptoms do not improve or the condition worsens, the doctor should be contacted.
Treatment with fluticasone should never be stopped without first consulting your doctor.
Discontinuation of fluticasone requires gradual tapering or you may experience a flare-up of your condition.
Inadequate response can often be a result of improper use of the delivery device. Your doctor or pharmacist should instruct you on the correct use of these preparations. Each product comes with a package insert that should be read and then kept as a reference.
Children using any of these preparations should do so under the direct supervision of an adult who is familiar with it's proper use.
It is important to inform subsequent physicians that you are using or have used fluticasone or any other corticosteroids as this may vary the treatment plan.
When you have been treated with oral corticosteroids (e.g. prednisone) for prolonged periods and are being transferred to intranasally or orally inhaled fluticasone, you may experience withdrawal symptoms (e.g. joint and/or muscular pain and depression). These symptoms should be reported to your doctor, especially if you have associated asthma or another condition in which too rapid a decrease in systemic steroids may cause a severe flare-up of symptoms. Fluticasone may mask some signs of infection and new infections may appear. The body tends to have a decreased resistance to localized infections while on this therapy so anything of this nature should be reported to the doctor. Drug Interactions: Due to very low absorption at therapeutic doses, it is unlikely that there would be any important interactions. However, it is important to tell your doctor and pharmacist of any prescription or over-the-counter medications you are taking. However in people with hypoprothrombinemia (deficiency of a clotting factor in the blood resulting in an increased tendency to bleed) ASA (e.g. Aspirin®) should be used cautiously used in combination with corticosteroids. Ritonavir (e.g. Norvir®) has been known to interact with fluticasone propionate.
Use is not recommended in the following situations:

• allergy to fluticasone propionate or any component of the preparation.
• tuberculosis
• untreated fungal, bacterial and viral infections

Caution recommended in the following situations:

• people previously treated for prolonged periods with oral corticosteroids (e.g. prednisone)

Use in pregnancy: If you suspect that you might be pregnant, consult your doctor. Use while breastfeeding: It is not known whether fluticasone propionate is passed into breast milk, but it is suspected. Consult your doctor or pharmacist before use.