Fluticasone is a powerful corticosteroid that is used to treat Asthma. It comes as an oral inhalant and is marketed under the brand name Flixotide.
Fluticasone is available in a variety of forms, as a powder, as a liquid and as a nebula.
It can be delivered via four different types of inhaler: the first is a chlorofluorocarbon-free inhaler (Flixotide Evohaler) which delivers a metered dose, the second, a breath-activated accuhaler (Flixotide Accuhaler), the third, as a nebuliser (Flixotide Nebules) and lastly Fluticasone is available as a diskhaler (Flixotide Diskhaler).
Fluticasone is also available under the brand names Flonase, Flovent and Flixonase.
Fluticasone works by reducing the inflammation in the patient’s airways and lungs, which causes asthma. Specifically, it blocks the inflammatory substances that the body’s immune system releases, which cause an asthma attack.
Fluticasone is inhaled, which means that it is absorbed directly into the lining of the airways and lungs. This helps to alleviate the symptoms of asthma, the excess mucus and the shortness of breath, and in so doing prevents the asthma attack.
Fluticasone also comes as a cream topical cream, an ointment and a lotion and is used to treat skin conditions where the skin has become inflamed such as psoriasis, eczema and rash.
Flixotide’s most common side effects are sore throat and oral thrush though these can be prevented by rinsing your mouth out after you have inhaled the medication. Less common side effects include joint pain, hoarseness and indigestion.
Fluticasone should be used with caution in people who suffer or have suffered or suffer with tuberculosis or diabetes. Nor should it be used by anyone who is allergic to any of its ingredients.