Advair Diskus is a combination of two well-known and accepted products in one asthma inhaler. It is the first combination product for asthma to be offered in the United States that fights inflammation and airway constriction (bronchoconstriction). One of the constituent drugs in Advair Diskus, salmeterol (Serevent) a long-acting beta agonist, fights bronchoconstriction -- muscle tension around the bronchial tubes. The second medication is fluticasone (Flovent), a corticosteroid that helps reduce lung inflammation, irritation and swelling.

To get both effects from these medications, people used to have to carry two different inhalers. The goal of the diskus inhaler is to combine both medications to make it easier for a person to take both with only one device, and hopefully, follow his/her asthma action plan better. However, some patients cannot use the salmeterol and/or the fluticasone and will need to use other brands (like Foradil and Pulmicort) to get the same effect. These medications do not come in a diskus, so those people will continue to need two devices.

The Diskus inhaler is used with Advair ® and with Serevent ®. To use the Diskus inhaler:

1. Hold the Diskus in one hand and place your thumb of the other hand on the thumb grip.

2. Push your thumb away from you until the mouthpiece snaps into place.

3. Hold the Diskus level and horizontal with the mouthpiece facing you.

4. The medicine is now ready to be inhaled.

5. Breathe out.

6. Hold the Diskus level, and place the mouthpiece in your mouth. Breathe in deeply and steadily through the Diskus. Do not breathe through your nose.

7. Remove the Diskus from your mouth. Do not breathe out into the Diskus.

8. Hold your breath for approximately 10 seconds.

9. If a second dose is prescribed, slide the lever on the Diskus and repeat steps five through eight.

10. When you are finished, close the Diskus by placing your thumb on the thumb grip and sliding it back toward you until it clicks shut. The lever will return to its original position and reset.

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