Serevent Diskus

Serevent Diskus is a medicine called a long-acting beta-agonist (LABA) and is a long-acting bronchodilator medicine. Bronchodilator medicines help to relax the muscles around the airways in the lungs. Wheezing happens when the muscles around the airways tighten. This makes it hard to breathe. In severe cases, the passage of air is completely blocked and death can result if not treated right away.

Serevent Diskus does not relieve sudden breathing problems. Always have a short-acting bronchodilator medicine with you to treat sudden breathing problems.

Other Names

Uses

Asthma

Serevent Diskus is used long-term, twice-a-day, to control symptoms of asthma and prevent wheezing in adults and children ages 4 and older.

• Because LABA medicines such as Serevent Diskus may increase the chance of death from asthma problems, it is not for adults and children with asthma who:
  • are well controlled with other asthma-controller medicines such as a low-to-medium dose of an inhaled corticosteroid
  • only need short-acting bronchodilators once in awhile

Exercise-Induced Bronchospasm (EIB)

Serevent Diskus is used for the prevention of wheezing (bronchospasm) caused by exercise in adults and children 4 years of age and older.

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)

Serevent Diskus is used long-term, twice-a-day in controlling wheezing (bronchospasms) in adults with COPD.

How Serevent Diskus Is Taken

Read the step-by-step "Instructions for Using Serevent Diskus" that are in the Medication Guide and come packaged with the medicine. It is important to understand how to use the inhaler properly. Do not use the Serevent Diskus more often than prescribed.

• Place the canister near the mouth and exhale.
• Press the spray while inhaling deeply.
• Hold breath for a few seconds to allow the drug to be absorbed. If more than one inhalation is prescribed, wait at least one full minute between inhalations.
• Rinse the mouth with water after using to help prevent dryness and relieve throat irritation.
• The diskus should not be used more than every 12 hours.
• Do not use a spacer device with Serevent Diskus. Do not breathe into the Diskus inhaler.
• Do not use other medicines that contain a long-acting beta 2 agonist or LABA for any reason.
• Do not change or stop any medicines to control or treat breathing problems. The healthcare professional will adjust the medicines as needed.
• Make sure to always have a short-acting bronchodilator medicine on and. Use the short-acting bronchodilator if there are any breathing problems between doses of Serevent Diskus.

Call a healthcare professional right away if:

• breathing problems worsen while taking Serevent Diskus
• there is a need to use the short-acting bronchodilator more often than usual
• the short-acting bronchodilator does not relieving symptoms as well as it did before
• there is a need to use 4 or more inhalations of the short-acting bronchodilator for 2 or more days in a row
• 1 whole canister of the short-acting bronchodilator medicine is used in less than 8 weeks time
• peak flow meter results decrease
• asthma symptoms do not improve after using Serevent Diskus regularly for 1 week.

How It Works

Serevent Diskus contains the active ingredient [[salmeterol]], which is a beta 2-agonist. A beta 2-agonist works by relaxing the smooth muscle of the aiways. This relaxation, called bronchodilation improves the symptoms. In disease like asthma, the airways contrict (tighten) making it more difficult to move air into the lungs.

Side Effects

The following side effects have been associated with Servent Diskus. If any severe side effects occur, contact a medical professional immediately.

• Headache
• Dizziness
• Dry mouth and throat
• Chest pain or tightness
• Nausea
• [[Arrhythmia|Irregular heart beat
• Tremors, especially in the hands
• Low blood potassium level
• Insomnia
• Muscle cramps
• Swelling of the face, tongue or lips
• Difficulty breathing due to airway spasms
• Nervousness

Risks

The following are the major potential risks and side effects of Serevent Diskus therapy. However, this list is not complete.

Serevent Diskus may worsen breathing problems. Long-acting beta-adrenergic agonists, such as salmeterol, the active ingredient in Serevent Diskus, may increase the chance of death from asthma problems in some people. Discuss with a doctor the risks prior to using.

Other possible side effects with Serevent Diskus include:

• allergic reactions including, rash, hives, and swelling of the face, mouth, and tongue
• increased blood pressure
• fast and irregular heartbeat
• chest pain
• headache
• tremor
• nervousness
• throat irritation

Interactions

Serevent Diskus and certain other medicines may interact with each other. Tell all healthcare professionals about all the medicines being taken including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Know the medicines that are being taken. Keep a list of them handy to show any healthcare professionals.

Precautions

• have heart problems
• have high blood pressure
• have seizures
• have thyroid problems
• have diabetes
• have liver problems
• are pregnant or planning to become pregnant. It is not known if Serevent Diskus may harm an unborn baby.
• are breastfeeding. It is not known if Serevent passes into the milk and if it can harm the baby.

Clinical Trials

• Tiotropium/Salmeterol Inhalation Powder in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
• How Different Beta-2 Receptor Genotypes Affect an Asthmatic's Response to Regular Salmeterol Treatment (SECS)

Other Resources

• HealthSentinel.com