Advair Diskus

Alternative Medicine The following information is specific for alternative and complementary medicine. For additional evidence-based information on diseases, conditions, symptoms, diagnosis, treatment and wellness issues, continue searching the Healthwise Knowledgebase.

Also indexed as:

Fluticasone with Salmeterol, Salmeterol with Fluticasone

This drug combines two primary active ingredients: salmeterol and fluticasone.

Salmeterol is a member of the drug family known as long-acting, beta-adrenergic bronchodilators (also called beta-agonists). It is inhaled by mouth, into the lungs, to treat asthma and prevent bronchospasm. Salmeterol is also used to prevent exercise-induced bronchospasm.

Fluticasone is a type of corticosteroid that is inhaled by mouth to treat and prevent asthma, as well as other inflammatory conditions of the lungs that restrict breathing. Oral corticosteroids are inhaled into the nose to treat and prevent symptoms of hay fever and other allergies. In addition, some agents may be used to prevent recurrence of nasal polyps following surgical removal.

The information in this article pertains to inhaled corticosteroids in general, not fluticasone specifically. The interactions reported here may not apply to all the Also Indexed As terms. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking any of these drugs.

Herbs

Summary of Interactions for Advair Diskus

Depletion or interference	Calcium DHEA*
Adverse interaction	None known
Side effect reduction/prevention	None known
Supportive interaction	Coleus*
Reduced drug absorption/bioavailability	None known
The interactions listed in this table may apply to one or more ingredient of this medication.

An asterisk (*) next to an item in the summary indicates that the interaction is supported only by weak, fragmentary, and/or contradictory scientific evidence.

Interactions with Supplements

Calcium

Most of an inhaled dose of beclomethasone (a drug similar to fluticasone) is actually swallowed, which may lead to reduced absorption of calcium.¹ Health practitioners may recommend calcium supplementation to individuals using beclomethasone inhalers.

DHEA

A group of women with asthma who had been taking inhaled beclomethasone were shown to have low levels of DHEA (dehydroepiandrosterone) compared to women with asthma who were not taking beclomethasone (a drug similar to fluticasone).² The authors speculated that this effect may partially explain how corticosteroids can cause osteoporosis. However, more research is needed to confirm these suspicions and to evaluate whether supplemental DHEA is beneficial to patients taking inhaled corticosteroids.

Interactions with Herbs

Coleus (Coleus forskohlii)

A test tube study demonstrated that the bronchodilating effects of salbutamol, another beta-adrenergic bronchodilator drug, were significantly increased by the addition of forskolin, the active component of the herb Coleus forskohlii.³ The results of this preliminary research suggest that the combination of forskolin and beta-agonists might provide an alternative to raising the doses of the beta-agonist drugs as they lose effectiveness. Until more is known, coleus should not be combined with fluticasone without the supervision of a doctor.

References

1. Smith BJ, Phillips PJ, Pannall PR. Effect of orally administered beclomethasone dipropionate on calcium absorption from the gut in normal subjects. Thorax 1993;48:890-3.
2. Smith BJ, Buxton JR, Dickeson J, Heller RF. Does beclomethasone dipropionate suppress dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate in postmenopausal women? Austral NZ J Med 1994;24:396-401.
3. Yousif MH, Thulesius O. Forskolin reverses tachyphylaxis to the bronchodilator effects of salbutamol: an in-vitro study on isolated guinea-pig trachea. J Pharm Pharmacol 1999;51:181-6.

---

Last Review: 01-21-2009

Copyright © 2009 Aisle7  All rights reserved.  www.Aisle7.net

Please read the disclaimer about the limitations of the information provided here. Do NOT rely solely on the information in this article.

Learn more about Aisle7.

Learn more about the authors of Using Medicines with Vitamins and Herbs

The information presented in Aisle7 is for informational purposes only. It is based on scientific studies (human, animal, or in vitro), clinical experience, or traditional usage as cited in each article. The results reported may not necessarily occur in all individuals. For many of the conditions discussed, treatment with prescription or over the counter medication is also available. Consult your doctor, practitioner, and/or pharmacist for any health problem and before using any supplements or before making any changes in prescribed medications. Information expires February 2010.

	Go to top of page
This information does not replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of this information. Your use of this information means that you agree to the Terms of Use. How this information was developed to help you make better health decisions.