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Arnuity® Ellipta®

This product is manufactured by GlaxoSmithKline using the ingredient fluticasone furoate.

This product is inhaled into the lungs using the Ellipta®.


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Ellipta®


Why is it prescribed?

Arnuity® Ellipta® is indicated for maintenance treatment of steroid-responsive bronchial asthma in people 12 years of age and older.

  • For best effects, this medication should be used on a regular basis.
  • It may take 2 or 3 weeks before maximum effects are noticed.
  • Do not use to treat sudden asthma symptoms.  You should use your rescue inhaler in these cases.
  • You may not be able to taste or feel the medicine, even when you are using the inhaler correctly.
  • Do not stop using this medication unless your doctor advises you to.
  • Rinse out your mouth with water after each use.
  • Only open the inhaler when you are ready to take a dose. If you open and close the cover without inhaling the medicine, you will lose the dose. It is not possible to accidently take extra medicine or a double dose in one inhalation.
  • When fewer than 10 doses are left, half of the dose counter shows red, to remind you to refill your prescription. After you have used the last dose, half of the dose counter shows red and the number 0 is displayed. Your inhaler is now empty. If you open the cover after this, the dose counter will change from half red to completely red.
  • Discard the inhaler 6 weeks after opening the moisture- protective foil tray or when the counter reads “0”, whichever comes first
  • Store in a cool (not above 25 degrees C), dry place away from direct heat or sunlight.

Alternatives

Other products that have the same ingredient as Arnuity® Ellipta® are •Avamys® nasal spray •Breo® Ellipta® •Trelegy® Ellipta® •

See other products used in the treatment of •allergic rhinitis •allergies •asthma •hay fever •perennial rhinitis •seasonal allergies •seasonal rhinitis •chronic bronchitis (COPD) •

The recommended dosage for ages 12 years and up is one inhalation of 100 mcg or 200 mcg once daily.


Fluticasone furoate is more potent and longer-lasting than fluticasone propionate. 

It is a corticosteroid that works by reducing swelling (inflammation) of the airways in the lungs to make breathing easier. This medication must be used regularly to be effective. It does not work right away and should not be used to relieve sudden asthma attacks


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.