Advair is a prescription medication composed of two drugs: fluticasone and salmeterol. Fluticasone is a corticosteroid that will decrease inflammation in the lining of the airways. Salmeterol is a long-acting beta-2 agonist. Salmeterol will bind to receptors (molecules) in the lungs, causing them to relax and allowing air to flow through easily. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Advair for the treatment of asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (COPD). There are also off-label uses for this medication.
Asthma
Asthma is a respiratory disease in which the lungs are chronically inflamed. It presents as attacks of wheezing, shortness of breath and chest tightness that occur periodically. A cough that produces mucus may also be present. Advair is prescribed for individuals who do not have adequate control of their asthma and require another controller, or for individuals who need two controllers. According to Advair's official website, "it treats both main causes of asthma symptoms--airway constriction and inflammation--to help prevent them from occurring in the first place." For asthma, the dose is 100 mcg of fluticasone and 50 mcg of salmeterol.
COPD
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (COPD) refers to two diseases, chronic bronchitis and emphysema. One of these diseases or both may be present in individuals, and both diseases affect the lungs in the same way. They cause the airway of the lungs to become narrow, limiting the flow of air to and from the lungs. The difference between COPD and asthma is that COPD will get worse over time. Advair improves lung function, allowing more air to get into the lung and allowing people to breathe better. For COPD, Advair is given as a second-line treatment, and the dose is 250 mcg of fluticasone and 100 mcg of salmeterol.
Off-Label Uses
The off-label uses not approved by the FDA are for cough, acute bronchitis and symptomatic treatment of upper respiratory tract infection. However, there is limited data evaluating the use of Advair for any of these conditions. Idaho State University states in its Drug Utilization Review that clinical trials have shown that treating cough with another inhaled steroid called beclomethsaone showed no benefit compared to placebo. Currently, there are no clinical trials to show that beta-2 agonists can be used for cough. Cough-suppressing agents including dextromethorphan and codeine should be used instead. No studies have been done evaluating the use of inhaled corticosteroids or long-acting beta-2 agonists in acute bronchitis. Acute bronchitis should be treated with acetaminophen or nasal decongestants. Furthermore, like any medication, Advair has side effects. Individuals should not be exposed to side effects unnecessarily if the scientific data does not support its use.
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