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|Flunisolide HFA Inhaler

Flunisolide HFA Inhaler

Flunisolide HFA Inhaler is used for:

Preventing asthma symptoms. It may also be used for other conditions as determined by your doctor.

Flunisolide HFA Inhaler is an inhaled corticosteroid. It works by decreasing irritation and swelling in the airways, which helps to control or prevent asthma symptoms.

Do NOT use Flunisolide HFA Inhaler if:

• you are allergic to any ingredient in Flunisolide HFA Inhaler
• you are having a severe asthma attack requiring quick relief

Contact your doctor or health care provider right away if any of these apply to you.

Before using Flunisolide HFA Inhaler:

Some medical conditions may interact with Flunisolide HFA Inhaler. Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you have any medical conditions, especially if any of the following apply to you:

• if you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding
• if you are taking any prescription or nonprescription medicine, herbal preparation, or dietary supplement
• if you have allergies to medicines, foods, or other substances
• if you have increased pressure in the eye; glaucoma; cataracts; herpes infection of the eye; a bacterial, fungal, or parasitic infection; a viral infection (eg, chickenpox, shingles); diarrhea; measles; active or inactive tuberculosis; or osteoporosis
• if you have had a positive tuberculosis skin test or have recently been vaccinated

Some MEDICINES MAY INTERACT with Flunisolide HFA Inhaler. However, no specific interactions with Flunisolide HFA Inhaler are known at this time.

Ask your health care provider if Flunisolide HFA Inhaler may interact with other medicines that you take. Check with your health care provider before you start, stop, or change the dose of any medicine.

How to use Flunisolide HFA Inhaler:

Use Flunisolide HFA Inhaler as directed by your doctor. Check the label on the medicine for exact dosing instructions.

• An extra patient leaflet is available with Flunisolide HFA Inhaler. Talk to your pharmacist if you have questions about this information.
• An adult should supervise the use of Flunisolide HFA Inhaler if the patient is a CHILD.
• Be sure the canister is properly inserted into the inhaler unit. Inspect the spacer and mouthpiece for foreign objects before each use.
• Prime the inhaler before using it for the first time or anytime it has not been used for 2 weeks or longer.
• To prime, open and position the inhaler. Turn the mouthpiece away from the face and press down to release 2 test sprays into the air. Keep the spray away from your eyes. The inhaler is now ready for use.
• Shake well before each use.
• To use a dose of Flunisolide HFA Inhaler, breathe out slowly and completely through your mouth. Place the mouthpiece between your lips and try to rest your tongue flat, unless your doctor has told you otherwise. Begin to breathe in slowly and deeply. As you start to take the slow deep breath, press down on the canister to release a dose of Flunisolide HFA Inhaler. Continue breathing slowing and deeply. Hold your breath, and remove the inhaler from your mouth. Close your lips and continue to hold your breath for 10 seconds or as long as comfortable, then breathe out slowly through your mouth or nose. If more than 1 inhalation is to be used, wait 20 seconds and repeat the above steps. Keep the spray away from your eyes.
• Rinse the mouth with water after each use. Do NOT swallow the rinse water. Spit it out.
• You do not need to clean this inhaler. Do not try to take the inhaler apart.
• Keep track of the number of sprays you use and subtract this number from the number of doses in the container. This will help you know when the container is becoming empty.
• Discard the whole unit after the labeled number of sprays has been used.
• Use Flunisolide HFA Inhaler on a regular schedule to get the most benefit from it.
• Continue to use Flunisolide HFA Inhaler even if you do not have asthma symptoms. Do not miss any doses.
• If you miss a dose of Flunisolide HFA Inhaler, use it as soon as possible. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not use 2 doses at once.

Ask your health care provider any questions you may have about how to use Flunisolide HFA Inhaler.

Important safety information:

• Flunisolide HFA Inhaler may cause dizziness or blurred vision. These effects may be worse if you take it with alcohol or certain medicines. Use Flunisolide HFA Inhaler with caution. Do not drive or perform other possibly unsafe tasks until you know how you react to it.
• It may take as long as 2 to 4 weeks to receive the maximum benefit from Flunisolide HFA Inhaler. If symptoms do not improve within 4 weeks, or if they become worse, contact your health care provider.
• Do NOT take more than the recommended dose without checking with your doctor.
• Do not change your dose or stop using Flunisolide HFA Inhaler without checking with your doctor first.
• Use caution if you switch from an oral steroid (eg, prednisone) to Flunisolide HFA Inhaler. It may take several months for your body to make enough natural steroids to handle events that cause physical stress. Such events may include injury, surgery, infection, loss of blood electrolytes, or a sudden asthma attack. These may be severe and sometimes fatal. Contact your doctor right away if any of these events occur. You may need to take an oral steroid (eg, prednisone) again. Carry a card at all times that says you may need an oral steroid (eg, prednisone) if any of these events occur.
• Tell your doctor at once if you switch from an oral corticosteroid to Flunisolide HFA Inhaler and you notice symptoms such as muscle and joint pain, exhaustion, depression, unusual weakness, or severe or persistent nausea or vomiting.
• Flunisolide HFA Inhaler may lower the ability of your body to fight infection. Avoid contact with people who have colds or infections. Tell your doctor if you notice signs of infection like fever, sore throat, rash, or chills.
• If you have not had chickenpox, shingles, or measles, avoid contact with anyone who does. Tell your doctor right away if you are exposed to anyone who has these infections.
• Do not receive a live vaccine (eg, measles, mumps) while you are taking Flunisolide HFA Inhaler. Talk with your doctor before you receive any vaccine.
• Tell your doctor or dentist that you take Flunisolide HFA Inhaler before you receive any medical or dental care, emergency care, or surgery.
• Flunisolide HFA Inhaler is for oral inhalation only. Avoid spraying in the eyes.
• The contents of this canister are under pressure. Do not store or use Flunisolide HFA Inhaler near an open flame or while smoking.
• Flunisolide HFA Inhaler will not stop an asthma attack once it has already started. Be sure to carry a short-acting bronchodilator with you at all times to treat any breathing problems that may occur between doses of Flunisolide HFA Inhaler (eg, severe or sudden onset of wheezing or shortness of breath). If you have any questions about which medicines stop asthma attacks, check with your doctor or pharmacist.
• Tell your doctor at once if you notice that your short-acting bronchodilator inhaler does not work as well, if you need to use it often, or if you have a decrease in your peak flow meter results.
• Flunisolide HFA Inhaler may sometimes cause severe breathing problems right after you use a dose. When this problem occurs, it is often after the first use of a new canister or vial. If this happens, use your short-acting bronchodilator and seek medical care at once. Do not use any more doses of Flunisolide HFA Inhaler unless instructed by your doctor.
• Lab tests, including lung function, adrenal function, and bone density and eye exams, may be performed while you use Flunisolide HFA Inhaler. These tests may be used to monitor your condition or check for side effects. Be sure to keep all doctor and lab appointments.
• Corticosteroids may affect growth rate in CHILDREN and teenagers in some cases. They may need regular growth checks while they use Flunisolide HFA Inhaler.
• Flunisolide HFA Inhaler should be used with extreme caution in CHILDREN younger than 6 years old; safety and effectiveness in these children have not been confirmed.
• PREGNANCY and BREAST-FEEDING: If you become pregnant, contact your doctor. You will need to discuss the benefits and risks of using Flunisolide HFA Inhaler while you are pregnant. It is not known if Flunisolide HFA Inhaler is found in breast milk. If you are or will be breast-feeding while you use Flunisolide HFA Inhaler, check with your doctor. Discuss any possible risks to your baby.

Possible side effects of Flunisolide HFA Inhaler:

All medicines may cause side effects, but many people have no, or minor, side effects. Check with your doctor if any of these most COMMON side effects persist or become bothersome:

Cough; runny nose; sinus inflammation; stomach pain or upset; throat irritation.

Severe allergic reactions (rash; hives; itching; difficulty breathing; tightness in the chest; swelling of the mouth, face, lips, or tongue); chest pain; depression; ear or eye pain or discharge; mental or mood changes; new or worsening breathing problems (eg, shortness of breath, increased wheezing); nosebleeds; severe stomach pain; signs of infection (eg, fever, chills, persistent sore throat); sore mouth; unusual weakness or fatigue; vision changes; white patches in the mouth or throat.

This is not a complete list of all side effects that may occur. If you have questions or need medical advice about side effects, contact your doctor or health care provider. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 (1-800-332-1088) or at http://www.fda.gov/medwatch.

If OVERDOSE is suspected:

Contact 1-800-222-1222 (the American Association of Poison Control Centers), your local poison control center (http://www.aapcc.org/findyour.htm), or emergency room immediately.

Store Flunisolide HFA Inhaler at 77 degrees F (25 degrees C). Brief storage at temperatures between 59 and 86 degrees F (15 and 30 degrees C) is permitted. Do not freeze. Avoid temperatures above 120 degrees F (49 degrees C). Store away from heat and direct sunlight. Do not puncture, break, or burn the canister even if it appears to be empty. Keep Flunisolide HFA Inhaler out of the reach of children and away from pets.

General information:

• If you have any questions about Flunisolide HFA Inhaler, please talk with your doctor, pharmacist, or other health care provider.
• Flunisolide HFA Inhaler is to be used only by the patient for whom it is prescribed. Do not share it with other people.
• If your symptoms do not improve or if they become worse, check with your doctor.

This information is a summary only. It does not contain all information about Flunisolide HFA Inhaler. If you have questions about the medicine you are taking or would like more information, check with your doctor, pharmacist, or other health care provider.