Advair HFA Side Effects

Generic name: fluticasone / salmeterol

Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on Nov 9, 2023.

Note: This document provides detailed information about Advair HFA Side Effects associated with fluticasone / salmeterol. Some dosage forms listed on this page may not apply specifically to the brand name Advair HFA.

Applies to fluticasone / salmeterol: inhalation aerosol liquid, inhalation disk, inhalation powder.

Serious side effects of Advair HFA

Along with its needed effects, fluticasone/salmeterol may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.

Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur while taking fluticasone / salmeterol:

Get emergency help immediately if any of the following symptoms of overdose occur while taking fluticasone / salmeterol:

Symptoms of overdose

• chest pain or tightness
• confusion
• decreased urine output
• dry mouth
• faintness, or lightheadedness when getting up suddenly from a lying or sitting position
• general feeling of discomfort or illness
• high blood pressure
• loss of appetite
• mood changes
• nervousness
• numbness or tingling in the hands, feet, or lips
• seizures
• sudden sweating
• tremors
• trouble with sleeping

Other side effects of Advair HFA

Some side effects of fluticasone / salmeterol may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects.

Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:

Precautions

If you will be using this medicine for a long time, it is very important that your doctor check the progress of you or your child at regular visits. This will allow your doctor to see if the medicine is working properly and to check for any unwanted effects.

Tell your doctor if you or your child are also using other medicines for your COPD. Your doctor may want you to stop using the medicine and use it only during a severe COPD attack. Follow your doctor's instructions on how you should take your medicine.

This medicine should not be used if you are having a severe COPD attack, or if symptoms of a COPD attack has already started. Your doctor may prescribe another medicine for you to use in case of an acute COPD attack. If the other medicine does not work as well, tell your doctor right away.

This medicine should only be used as an additional treatment for patients who cannot be treated with other asthma medicines (such as inhaled corticosteroids) or for asthma patients that require two medicines, including salmeterol. Ask your doctor if you have any questions.

Although this medicine decreases the number of asthma episodes, it may increase the chance of a severe asthma attack when they do occur. Be sure to read about these risks in the patient information leaflet and talk to your doctor or pharmacist about any questions or concerns that you have.

You should not use this medicine if your asthma attack has already started. Your doctor will prescribe another medicine (eg, a short-acting inhaler) for you to use in case of an acute asthma attack. Make sure you understand how to use the short-acting inhaler. Talk to your doctor if you need instructions.

Talk with your doctor or get medical care right away if:

• Your or your child's symptoms do not improve after using this medicine for 1 week or if they become worse.
• Your short-acting inhaler does not seem to work as well as it used to and you or your child need it more often than normal (eg, you use 1 whole canister of the short-acting inhaler in 8 weeks time, or you need to use 4 or more inhalations of the short-acting inhaler for 2 or more days in a row).
• You or your child have a big decrease in your peak flow when measured as directed by your doctor.

Do not use this medicine to treat wheezing that is getting worse. Call your doctor right away if wheezing worsens while using this medicine.

Do not use any other asthma medicine or medicine for breathing problems without talking to your doctor. This medicine should not be used with other inhalers that contain budesonide and formoterol combination (Symbicort®), formoterol (Foradil® Aerolizer®, Perforomist™), or arformoterol (Brovona™).

This medicine may cause a fungus infection of the mouth or throat (thrush). Tell your doctor right away if you have white patches in the mouth or throat, or pain when eating or swallowing.

Patients with COPD may be more likely to have pneumonia. Call your doctor if you or your child start having increased sputum (spit) production, change in sputum color, fever, chills, increased cough, or an increase in breathing problems.

Do not change your dose or stop using your medicine without first asking your doctor.

Your doctor may want you to carry a medical identification (ID) card stating that you or your child are using this medicine. The card will say that you may need additional medicine during an emergency, a severe asthma attack or other illness, or unusual stress.

Using too much of this medicine or using it for a long time may increase your risk of having adrenal gland problems. Talk to your doctor if you or your child have more than one of these symptoms while you are using this medicine: darkening of the skin, diarrhea, dizziness, fainting, loss of appetite, mental depression, nausea, skin rash, unusual tiredness or weakness, or vomiting.

This medicine may cause paradoxical bronchospasm, which may be life-threatening. Check with your doctor right away if you or your child are having a cough, difficulty with breathing, shortness of breath, or wheezing after using this medicine.

If you or your child develop a skin rash, hives, or any allergic reaction (including anaphylaxis) to this medicine, check with your doctor right away.

Check with your doctor right away if you or your child have chest pain, a fast heartbeat, nervousness, shaking of the hands or feet, noisy breathing, a feeling of choking, or tightness or irritation of the throat while using this medicine.

This medicine may affect blood sugar and potassium levels. If you have heart disease or are diabetic and notice a change in the results of your blood or urine sugar or potassium tests, check with your doctor.

Check with your doctor right away if blurred vision, difficulty in reading, or any other change in vision occurs during or after treatment with this medicine. Your doctor may want you or your child to have your eyes checked by an ophthalmologist (eye doctor).

This medicine may decrease bone mineral density when used for a long time. A low bone mineral density can cause weak bones or osteoporosis. If you have any questions about this, ask your doctor.

This medicine may cause children to grow more slowly than usual. Talk to your child's doctor if you have any concerns.

Do not take other medicines unless they have been discussed with your doctor. This includes prescription or nonprescription (over-the-counter [OTC]) medicines and herbal or vitamin supplements.

For healthcare professionals

Applies to fluticasone / salmeterol: inhalation aerosol, inhalation powder.

General adverse events

The most common events that occurred more frequently were nasopharyngitis, upper respiratory tract infection, nasal congestion, back pain, sinusitis, dizziness, nausea, pneumonia, candidiasis, and dysphonia.^[Ref]

Nervous system

• Very common (10% or more): Headache (up to 21%)
• Common (1% to 10%): Migraine
• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Tremor
• Postmarketing reports: Paraesthesia, restlessness, compressed nerve syndrome, aphonia^[Ref]

Respiratory

• Very common (10% or more): Upper respiratory tract infections (up to 27%), pharyngitis (up to 13%), nasopharyngitis
• Common (1% to 10%): Pneumonia, bronchitis, throat irritation, hoarseness, dysphonia, sinusitis, upper respiratory inflammation, viral respiratory infections, cough, rhinorrhea/postnasal drip, epistaxis, nasal congestion/blockage, laryngitis, unspecified oropharyngeal plaques, dryness of nose, lower respiratory signs and symptoms, lower respiratory infections, lower respiratory hemorrhage, congestion
• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Dyspnea
• Rare (less than 0.1%): Oropharyngeal angioedema, bronchospasm, paradoxical bronchospasm
• Frequency not reported: Nose, and throat infections, laryngitis, nasal sinus disorders, nasal sinus disorders
• Postmarketing reports: Paranasal sinus pain, rhinitis, throat soreness, tonsillitis, asthma, asthma exacerbation, chest congestion, chest tightness, tracheitis, wheezing, report of upper respiratory symptoms of laryngeal spasm, irritation, or swelling such as stridor or chocking^[Ref]

The incidence of pneumonia was higher in adult subjects with COPD older than 65 years compared with younger subjects with COPD (18% versus 14%).^[Ref]

Cardiovascular

• Common (1% to 10%): Palpitations, tachycardia, arrhythmias, myocardial infarction, postoperative complications
• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Atrial fibrillation, angina pectoris
• Rare (less than 0.1%): Cardiac arrhythmias (including supraventricular tachycardia and extrasystoles)
• Frequency not reported: Hematomas
• Postmarketing reports: Ventricular tachycardia, pallor^[Ref]

Dermatologic

• Common (1% to 10%): Contusions, wounds, eczema, dermatitis, dermatosis
• Frequency not reported: Skin flakiness and acquired ichthyosis, disorders of sweat and sebum
• Postmarketing reports: Ecchymoses, photodermatitis^[Ref]

Gastrointestinal

• Common (1% to 10%): Oral and throat candidiasis, nausea and vomiting, gastrointestinal discomfort and pain, dental discomfort and pain, hyposalivation, gastrointestinal infections, disorders of hard tissue of teeth, abdominal discomfort and pain, oral abnormalities, gastrointestinal discomfort and pain, viral gastrointestinal infections, diarrhea
• Rare (less than 0.1%): Esophageal candidiasis
• Frequency not reported: Oral lesions
• Postmarketing reports: Oral ulcerations, dyspepsia, xerostomia^[Ref]

Immunologic

• Common (1% to 10%): Allergies and allergic reactions^[Ref]

Metabolic

• Common (1% to 10%): Hypokalemia, weight gain
• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Hyperglycemia
• Frequency not reported: Fluid retention^[Ref]

Musculoskeletal

• Common (1% to 10%): Muscle cramps, traumatic fractures, arthralgia, myalgia, arthralgia, articular rheumatism, muscle spasms, musculoskeletal inflammation, bone and skeletal pain, muscle injuries, soft tissue injuries
• Postmarketing reports: Muscle stiffness, tightness and rigidity, bone and cartilage disorders, myositis, osteoporosis, fractures^[Ref]

Ocular

• Common (1% to 10%): Allergic eye disorders, eye edema and swelling
• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Cataract
• Rare (less than 0.1%): Glaucoma
• Frequency not reported: Dry eyes, eye infections, keratitis, conjunctivitis^[Ref]

Other

• Common (1% to 10%): Candidiasis unspecified site, ear signs and symptoms, viral infections, bacterial infections, inflammation, bacterial reproductive infections
• Rare (less than 0.1%): Angioedema, facial angioedema
• Frequency not reported: Syncope, edema and swelling, dysmenorrhea, pain, unusual taste, lacerations
• Postmarketing reports: Ear ache, fever^[Ref]

Hypersensitivity

• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Cutaneous hypersensitivity reactions
• Rare (less than 0.1%): Anaphylactic reactions including anaphylactic shock^[Ref]

Psychiatric

• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Anxiety, sleep disorders
• Rare (less than 0.1%): Behavioral changes, including psychomotor hyperactivity and irritability (predominately in children)
• Frequency not reported: Depression, aggression (predominantly in children)
• Postmarketing reports: Agitation^[Ref]

Endocrine

• Rare (less than 0.1%): Cushing's syndrome, Cushingoid features, adrenal suppression, growth retardation in children and adolescents, decrease bone mineral density
• Frequency not reported: Hypothyroidism
• Postmarketing reports: Hypercorticism^[Ref]

Hepatic

• Frequency not reported: Abnormal liver function tests^[Ref]

See also:

Frequently asked questions

• Symbicort vs. Advair: How do they compare?
• Is Wixela Inhub the same as Advair Diskus?

Further information

Advair HFA side effects can vary depending on the individual. Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances.

Note: Medication side effects may be underreported. If you are experiencing side effects that are not listed, submit a report to the FDA by following this guide.

Medical Disclaimer