Fluticasone is an effective synthetic corticosteroid used to treat diseases of the respiratory system. Its positive effect on the body led to the fact that the remedy was included in the list of essential medicines. Its use is limited by certain rules that should not be forgotten.
Indications for admission
The medicine comes in different forms and can be used to treat the symptoms of many diseases. As a medicine for inhalation, it is prescribed for bronchial asthma and COPD. In the first case, Fluticasone is the basis of anti-inflammatory therapy and can even be prescribed to a child over 1 year old. For COPD, the remedy complements the main treatment and is used only by adults.
To relieve the symptoms of allergic rhinitis and hay fever, adults and preschool children are prescribed intranasal use. The tool allows you to quickly cope with nasal congestion and flow, sneezing, watery eyes, itching. The drug shows high efficiency in relation to various dermatoses, dermatitis, psoriasis, lichen and other skin reactions. For treatment in this case, the drug is prescribed topically. The release form, course duration, dosage depend on the specific diagnosis and the patient’s condition.
Contraindications
The drug Fluticasone is based on steroid hormones, so the drug has a number of serious contraindications that you need to know about before you start taking it. In addition to high sensitivity to the components in the composition of the drug, dangerous contraindications are:
- Acute bronchospasm.
- Status asthmaticus (except when Fluticasone is an adjunctive therapy).
- Children’s age (for different forms of release ranges from 6 months to preschool age).
- Nose injury or recent surgery.
- Bacterial, viral or fungal skin lesions (when treating topical skin).
- Perioral dermatitis.
- Perianal and genital itching.
The listed diseases are absolute contraindications, but there are also other restrictions that the attending physician should be aware of before prescribing treatment with Fluticasone. Among them: cirrhosis of the liver, glaucoma, cataracts, hypothyroidism, various infections (including HIV), osteoporosis, pregnancy and further period of breastfeeding, old age. The doctor decides on the possibility of prescribing Fluticasone in the presence of such diagnoses on an individual basis.
Composition of the preparation
The main active ingredient in the preparation is fluticasone propionate. It belongs to the group of corticosteroids that affect carbohydrate metabolism. The substance has a strong anti-inflammatory effect and practically does not suppress the work of the brain, which is typical for similar medicines. A tangible effect from taking the drug occurs a couple of hours after the first dose and lasts throughout the day.
As additional components, a medical product in the form of a spray contains:
- Benzalkonium chloride is an antiseptic and can occasionally cause an allergic reaction.
- Polysorbate – added as a solvent.
- Phenylethanol – Added as a preservative.
- Dextrose is a sweetener.
Fluticasone cream and ointment contain:
- Liquid paraffin.
- Propylene glycol.
- Cetostearyl alcohol.
- Microcrystalline wax and some other chemicals in minor amounts.
Almost none of the substances that make up Fluticasone are capable of having a negative effect on the body, but if a reaction to one of them has been noticed in the past, you should consult your doctor about further use.
Mechanism of action
The principle of action of Fluticasone is based on its active contact with glucocorticosteroid receptors. The medicine reduces the proliferation of mast cells, eosinophils, lymphocytes, neutrophils, and other cells. In addition, Fluticasone reduces the amount of histamine, prostaglandins, cytokines, which reduces a pronounced allergic reaction.
The inflammatory process is noticeably reduced within two hours after the start of use. Symptoms disappear completely or become less noticeable, which can improve the quality of life of the person suffering from the disease. The resulting effect lasts for a day. Suppression of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal system does not occur even with intranasal use of the drug.
Release forms
In modern pharmacology, Fluticasone is produced in 4 forms, each of which is best suited for the treatment of specific groups of diseases. The doctor may prescribe medication in the form of:
- cream for external use;
- ointments for external use;
- nasal spray in vials;
- powder for inhalation;
- aerosol for inhalation.
The first two forms are used to eliminate symptoms of skin diseases, allergic reactions, relieve itching after an insect bite. The rest – with bronchial asthma, COPD and other problems of the respiratory system.
How to take it right
The peculiarities of taking a medicinal product depend on its form and the type of disease it is used for. Fluticasone in the form of an aerosol and powder for inhalation is prescribed when it is necessary to treat chronic bronchial obstruction. The product should be used regularly, even if there are no symptoms of the disease at the moment.
Inhalation must be done twice a day. The aerosol is used on its own, so you can take it with you. For inhalation with powder, an inhaler is required, and if the treatment is prescribed for a child, a spacer is also required. The therapeutic effect occurs a few days after the regular intake of the drug has begun. The dosage depends on the age of the patient, the degree of the disease. She is selected by the attending physician individually, taking into account the anamnesis.
For the relief of an acute attack of bronchial asthma, the drug Fluticasone is not suitable. In the event of a sharp deterioration in the condition, the patient requires other medical assistance.
A nasal spray is prescribed for symptoms of allergic rhinitis of various etiologies. The drug is recommended to be used regularly. For prophylactic purposes, it is enough to use the agent once a day; in case of an acute allergic reaction, the dosage can be increased up to two times.
Fluticasone in the form of an ointment and cream is allowed to be applied not only to treat the acute phase of the disease, but also to reduce the number and frequency of relapses. The medicine is applied directly to the affected area of the skin with a thin layer once or twice a day. The course of treatment for the acute stage lasts two weeks. Then the number of applications is reduced to 1 time per week on those areas of the skin that were previously damaged.
To learn more about how to use Fluticasone in more detail, you need to seek help from the specialist who prescribed the treatment and read the detailed instructions for use. This will avoid the development of unwanted side effects.
Analogs
The official medical name of the drug is fluticasone propionate. This medicine is hiding under several brand names, produced in different forms and dosages. Among the most famous analogs are:
- Nazarel, Fliksonase, Avamis – available in the form of a nasal spray for the treatment of rhinitis.
- Kutiveyt, Fluderm – available in the form of a cream and ointment.
- Flixotide – is available in the form of an aerosol for inhalation.
- Fluticson is available as a powder for inhalation.
In addition to synonymous medications, Fluticasone has substitutes among drugs based on other active corticosteroids, including Betamethasone, Budesonide, Halomethasone. It is not recommended to replace one medicine with another without first consulting your doctor, since they differ in different effects on the body, which means they have other contraindications and side reactions.
Adverse reactions
The use of Fluticasone is associated with the development of a large number of dangerous side effects. Among the most common are:
- Candidal stomatitis.
- Pneumonia (common in patients with COPD)
- Headache.
- Taste disturbances and odor changes.
- Bruising.
- Itching (when using an ointment or cream).
If one or more adverse reactions are found, it is recommended to seek help from a medical facility, where they will help eliminate unpleasant symptoms and revise the course of treatment.
If the use of Fluticasone continues for a long time, it is necessary to carry out additional examinations to understand whether the dysfunction of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal system has begun, especially if the treatment concerns a child. One of the dire consequences for children to watch out for is growth retardation.
Do not exceed the dosage and frequency of use in order not to lead to the return of symptoms of the disease or to an overdose. It is also not recommended to abruptly stop using Fluticasone. The specialist will tell you when to finish the course of treatment. When used correctly, Fluticasone is completely safe and can be used over a long period of time without any complications.