What is this medicine?
SALMETEROL (sal ME te role) is a slow-acting bronchodilator. It helps to open up the airways in your lungs to make it easier to breathe. This medicine is used long term to treat asthma and to prevent bronchospasm. Do not use in an acute asthma attack. This medicine is not a replacement for inhaled or oral corticosteroids.
This medicine may be used for other purposes; ask your health care provider or pharmacist if you have questions.
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What is the price of this medication and similar alternatives?
This pricing information is subject to change at the sole discretion of DS Pharmacy. This pricing information was updated 09/2009. For the most current and up-to-date pricing information, please visit www.drugstore.com. Actual costs to patients will vary depending on the use of specific retail or mail-order locations and health insurance copays.
| Serevent Diskus 50MCG/DOSE Aerosol | GLAXO SMITH KLINE | 60/$161.3 or 120/$311.3 |
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What side effects may I notice from receiving this medicine?
Side effects that you should report to your doctor or health care professional as soon as possible:
- allergic reactions such as skin rash or itching, hives, swelling of the face, lips or tongue
- chest pain
- difficulty breathing or wheezing that increases or does not go away
- dizziness or fainting
- fever
- irregular heartbeat
- need for more doses of short acting bronchodilators
Side effects that usually do not require medical attention (report to your doctor or health care professional if they continue or are bothersome):
- cough
- headache
- fast heart rate
- nervousness, trembling
- sore throat
- stuffy nose
- upset stomach
This list may not describe all possible side effects. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
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How should I use this medicine?
This medicine is inhaled through the mouth. Follow the directions on the prescription label. Take your medicine at regular intervals. Do not take your medicine more often than directed. Do not stop taking except on your doctor's advice. Make sure that you are using your inhaler correctly. Ask you doctor or health care provider if you have any questions.
A patient information sheet for the product will be given with each prescription and refill. Read this sheet carefully each time. The sheet may change frequently.
A special MedGuide will be given to you by the pharmacist with each prescription and refill. Be sure to read this information carefully each time.
Talk to your pediatrician regarding the use of this medicine in children. While this drug may be prescribed for children as young as 4 years of age for selected conditions, precautions do apply.
Overdosage: If you think you have taken too much of this medicine contact a poison control center or emergency room at once.
NOTE: This medicine is only for you. Do not share this medicine with others.
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What if I miss a dose?
If you miss a dose, use it as soon as you can. If it is almost time for your next dose, use only that dose. Do not use double or extra doses.
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What may interact with this medicine?
Do not take this medicine with any of the following medications:
- MAOIs like Carbex, Eldepryl, Marplan, Nardil, and Parnate
- procarbazine
This medicine may also interact with the following medications:
- anti-infectives like chloroquine, and pentamidine
- antiviral medicines for HIV or AIDS
- caffeine
- cisapride
- diuretics
- medicines for colds
- medicines for depression, anxiety, or psychotic disturbances
- medicines for fungal infections like ketoconazole and itraconazole
- medicines for weight loss including some herbal products
- methadone
- some antibiotics like clarithromycin, erythromycin, levofloxacin, linezolid, and telithromycin
- some heart medicines
- steroid hormones like dexamethasone, cortisone, hydrocortisone
- theophylline
- thyroid hormones
This list may not describe all possible interactions. Give your health care provider a list of all the medicines, herbs, non-prescription drugs, or dietary supplements you use. Also tell them if you smoke, drink alcohol, or use illegal drugs. Some items may interact with your medicine.
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Who should NOT use this medication?
- Known hypersensitivity to salmeterol xinafoate or any ingredients in the formulations.
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What should I watch for while using this medicine?
Tell your doctor or health care professional if your symptoms do not improve. This medicine may increase the possibility of dying from asthma. If your symptoms get worse or if you need your short acting inhalers more often, call your doctor right away. Do not use more than every 12 hours. NEVER use this medicine for an acute asthma attack.
Your diskus device has a dose counter and will tell you when only a few doses are left.
If you are going to have surgery tell your doctor or health care professional that you are using this medicine.
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What should I tell my health care provider before I take this medicine?
They need to know if you have any of the following conditions:
- diabetes
- heart disease or irregular heartbeat
- high blood pressure
- pheochromocytoma
- seizures
- thyroid disease
- worsening asthma
- an unusual or allergic reaction to salmeterol, other medicines, foods, dyes, or preservatives
- pregnant or trying to get pregnant
- breast-feeding
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Can I stop taking the medication if I feel better?
As a general rule, you should always take your medications exactly as prescribed and do not change the dosage or stop taking the medication without first discussing it with your healthcare provider.
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I am on so many medications; do I have to take them all?
This is called polypharmacy—many different medications being used at the same time by one person. Sometimes, being on multiple medications is acceptable and appropriate but at other times it may be problematic. If you are receiving your medications from multiple physicians you need to ensure that they all know what medications you are taking. The best way to do this is to make a list of all the medications you are currently using, including all nutritional supplements, homeopathic remedies, vitamins and over-the-counter drugs (if possible, also include all the diseases you have been diagnosed with). Give a copy to every doctor who takes care of you so they have it on file, this way they can avoid duplicating medications and perhaps even try to consolidate some. After every doctor's visit remember to update the list accordingly. Also, as much as you possibly can, try to use the same pharmacy to fill all your prescriptions, this way any potential drug interactions can be caught and averted.
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Where can I get more information?
More Information
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FDA Alerts
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