Alvesco

Alvesco is a prescription medication used for the control and prevention of asthma in adults and children 12 years of age and older. Alvesco belongs to a group of drugs called synthetic corticosteroids, which reduce inflammation. Inflammation is a common factor in asthma symptoms.

This medication also comes in an aerosol inhalation form and is taken twice a day.

Common side effects of Alvesco include headache, swelling of nose and throat, and swelling of the sinuses. 

Alvesco is a prescription medication used for the control and prevention of asthma in adults and children 12 years of age and older.

This medication may be prescribed for other uses. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

• Sunovion Pharmaceuticals Inc.

Common side effects with Alvesco inhalation include:

• headache
• swelling of nose and throat 
• swelling of the sinuses 
• throat pain
• upper respiratory infection
• joint pain (arthralgia)
• nasal congestion
• pain in arms, legs, and back

See "Drug Precautions" section for other risks of using Alvesco.

These are not all the possible side effects of Alvesco. Tell your healthcare provider about any side effects that bother you or do not go away.

Call your healthcare provider for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Tell your doctor about all the medicines you take including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Especially tell your doctor if you take ketoconazole (Nizoral).

Some serious side effects have occurred with Alvesco inhalation include:

• Decreased bone mass (bone mineral density). People who use inhaled steroid medicines for a long time may have an increased risk of decreased bone mass which can affect bone strength. Talk to your healthcare provider about any concerns you may have about bone health.

Medicines can interact with certain foods. In some cases, this may be harmful and your doctor may advise you to avoid certain foods. In the case of Alvesco there are no specific foods that you must exclude from your diet when receiving this medication.

Before using Alvesco, tell your doctor about all of your medical conditions. Especially tell your doctor if you:

• are allergic to Alvesco or any other medication
• have or have ever had:
  • tuberculosis
  • cataracts
  • glaucoma
  • untreated infection
  • herpes infection
• are pregnant or plan to become pregnant
• are breastfeeding

Tell your doctor about all the medicines you take including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant.

The FDA categorizes medications based on safety for use during pregnancy. Five categories - A, B, C, D, and X, are used to classify the possible risks to an unborn baby when a medication is taken during pregnancy.

This medication falls into category C. No well-controlled studies have been done in humans. Therefore, this medication may be used if the potential benefits to the mother outweigh the potential risks to the unborn child.

Tell your doctor if you are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. It is not known if Alvesco is excreted in human breast milk or if it will harm your nursing baby. 

Use Alvesco exactly as prescribed by your healthcare provider.

Priming Alvesco inhalation for use

• Remove your Alvesco inhalation from its package.
• Before you use Alvesco inhalation for the first time or if you have not used your medicine for 10 days in a row, you will need to prime your unit.
• Remove the plastic cap.
• Hold the actuator upright. Spray 3 times into the air away from the face, by pressing down fully onto the center of the dose indicator button.
• Make sure the canister is firmly placed in the mouthpiece each time you use your Alvesco inhalation.
• You do not need to shake your Alvesco inhalation unit before you use it.

Using your Alvesco inhalation

1. Remove the cap from the mouthpiece.
2. Hold the actuator upright, between your thumb, forefinger, and middle finger with the mouthpiece pointing towards you.
3. Breathe out as fully as you comfortably can. Close your lips around the mouthpiece, keeping your tongue below it.
4. While breathing in deeply and slowly, press down on the center of the dose indicator with your finger. Press down fully on the canister until it stops moving in the actuator while delivering your dose.
   • When you have finished breathing in, hold your breath for about 10 seconds, or for as long as is comfortable.
   • Note: It is normal to hear a soft click from the indicator as it counts down during use.
5. Take your finger completely off the center of the dose indicator and remove the inhaler from your mouth. Breathe out gently.
6. Replace the cap to keep the mouthpiece clean.
7. Rinse your mouth with water and spit it out. Do not swallow.

Alvesco inhalation:

• Use inhaler twice daily, one or two inhalations at a time depending on the dose prescribed.

If you use too much Alvesco call your healthcare provider or local Poison Control Center, or seek emergency medical attention right away.

Alvesco inhalation:

• Store at room temperature between 59°F to 86°F (15°C to 30°C)
• Do not puncture the inhalation aerosol canister
• Do not store the near heat or a flame. Temperatures above 120°F (49°C) may cause the canister to burst.
• Do not throw the canister into a fire or an incinerator.
• Safely throw away medicine that is out of date or no longer needed.
• Keep clean and dry at all times.
• Keep this medication and all medicines out of the reach of children.