Advair HFA is one of the two forms of Advair. Advair HFA is an inhaled asthma medication containing fluticasone propionate and salmeterol. This inhaled medicine is approved to treat asthma in adults and children over the age of 12. It comes in an aerosol canister that delivers the medication directly into your mouth.

How Effective is Advair HFA?

Advair HFA is an effective medicine for reducing asthma symptoms such as lung inflammation, airway muscle tightness, and excess mucus. These symptoms block air from flowing freely, making breathing more difficult. The two active ingredients in Advair serve different therapeutic functions.

Fluticasone propionate is a corticosteroid that reduces the amount of inflammation in the airways. Salmeterol is a long-acting beta 2-agonist (LABA), which relaxes the muscles and widens the airways. Together, Advair HFA helps patients manage and reduce the number of asthma flare-ups.

Advair HFA works quickly, improving breathing symptoms in as little as 30 to 60 minutes. Because this inhaler is a long-term asthma medication, it may take up to a week to reach maximum efficacy and provide significant improvements in your symptoms.

Generic Advair HFA is available on Canada Pharmacy Depot under the name fluticasone propionate/salmeterol xinafoate. The generic version of Advair HFA is significantly cheaper than its brand-name counterpart for several reasons.

Firstly, generic drugs are on average 80 percent less expensive than brand names because they do not need to undergo the same expensive clinical trials to be approved.

Secondly, there are usually several companies manufacturing generic drugs, and competition can drive the price down.

Both generic and brand name Advair HFA are more affordable through an online Canadian pharmacy like Canada Pharmacy Depot. Buying your prescriptions from Canada is a safe and secure way to save time and money.

Advair HFA may cause mild to severe side effects. For more information and a full list of Advair side effects, speak with your primary healthcare provider. Certain side effects may go away on their own, while others may require medical treatment.

Mild Side Effects

Mild side effects of Advair can include dizziness, nausea, throat irritation, and muscle or bone pain. Advair HFA also increases the risk of oral thrush, a type of fungal infection that affects the mouth or throat. Sinus and other upper respiratory infections may also occur. If a certain side effect worsens or lasts more than a couple of weeks, talk to your health care provider as soon as you can.

Severe Side Effects

Advair HFA can cause unexpected tightening in your airways, called bronchospasm. This asthma inhaler also increases the risk of blurry vision, increased pressure in the eyes (glaucoma), and cataracts. Advair HFA is known to decrease bone density, which may increase the likelihood of fractures and cause delayed or impaired growth in children. If you feel like you lack energy, you may be experiencing low blood sugar due to the adrenal gland being impaired. If you experience a severe infection like measles or chickenpox, talk to your health care provider right away.

Your doctor will determine the best and most effective dosage for you. In determining your dosage, your doctor will consider the severity of your asthma, your age, and how you have been responding to this medicine. Advair HFA is available in three dosage strengths: 50/25mcg, 125/25mcg, and 250/25mcg. Ultimately, the right dose will be the lowest effective dose to maximize benefits and minimize side effects. Patients prescribed Advair HFA typically take one puff, twice a day.

Does Advair treat allergies?

Advair HFA is only approved to treat asthma. It is not indicated to treat allergies. This is because the cause of allergies is likely different from the cause of asthma. Advair may seem to improve symptoms such as wheezing and chest tightness, but Advair will not fully treat allergy symptoms. Ask your doctor which allergy medication you should use instead.

What is the difference between Advair HFA and Advair Diskus?

Advair HFA is an inhalation aerosol that administers the medication with a press of a button. Advair Diskus is an inhalation powder but is instead manually inhaled through the mouth.

These two versions of Advair also differ in what they are approved to treat. Advair HFA is specifically for asthma in adults and children 12 years or older. It is not approved to treat chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Advair Diskus is approved to treat asthma in adults and children 4 years and older, and for the ongoing maintenance of COPD in adults.

Does Advair HFA affect growth in children?

Yes, Advair HFA may decrease bone density, increase the risk of osteoporosis, and affect a child’s growth. This is because fluticasone propionate is a corticosteroid. If your child is prescribed Advair HFA for their asthma symptoms, your doctor will need to monitor their growth closely and reduce their dosage accordingly.

What precautions do I have to take with Advair HFA?

If you have high thyroid hormone levels (hyperthyroidism), Advair HFA may worsen your symptoms. Fluticasone propionate can also cause high levels of the stress hormone (cortisol) in some patients. Salmeterol, the other active ingredient in Advair, can worsen certain heart conditions and increase the risk of serious infections. Talk to your doctor about ways to reduce your risk of health complications.

Can Advair HFA treat COPD?

No, Advair HFA is only approved to treat asthma. If you require an inhaler to manage your symptoms of chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder, ask your doctor about Advair Diskus.

Is Advair HFA an emergency asthma inhaler?

No, Advair HFA does not work quickly enough to relieve symptoms and is not approved as an emergency quick-relief inhaler. Asthma patients should always carry an additional inhaler that is approved for emergency use. During flare-ups, use the quick-relief inhaler. If you do not have a quick-relief inhaler, ask your doctor to prescribe one.

Can Advair HFA cure my asthma?

Advair HFA can only treat the symptoms of your asthma and is not a cure for this condition. Currently, no cure has yet to be found for asthma. However, Advair HFA should continue to be effective at relieving asthma symptoms as long as you continue to use it.