Serevent Diskus Side Effects
Serious Adverse Side Effects
Serevent Diskus | Salmeterol has some very serious adverse side effects associated with it, such as:
- Cardiovascular side effects such as prolonged QT intervals, or fast and abnormal heart beats
- Respiratory side effects such as asthma-related death, and severe exacerbation of asthma
Common Adverse Side Effects
More common and less severe adverse side effects to this drug include:
- Musculoskeletal side effects such as muscle pain
- Neurological side effects such as headache
Warnings & Recalls for Serevent Diskus
Black Box Warning
Long-acting beta2-adrenergic agonists (LABAs) can heighten the risk of asthma-related deaths. Because of this risk,
Serevent Diskus | Salmeterol use for asthma and COPD without a concurrent long-term asthma control medication, such as a
corticosteroid can be contraindicated and can actually lead to a patient suffering from asthma or COPD to die.
Contraindications
Serevent Diskus | Salmeterol is contraindicated in the following patients:
- In asthmatic patients without a long-term asthma control medication such as a corticosteroid
- Patients who have displayed a hypersensitivity to Salmeterol or any one of the drug components of Serevent Diskus | Salmeterol
Who Should Not Take This Drug
Serevent Diskus | Salmeterol should never be used by patients who have these symptoms and preexisting conditions:
- Cardiovascular disorders, including coronary insufficiency, arrhythmias and hypertension
- Concurrent use with other LABAs is not recommended
- Concurrent use with CYP3A4 inhibitors is not recommended
- Patients with convulsive disorder
- Patients with milk allergies
- Patients with thyrotoxicosis
Serevent Diskus Treatment and Use
Serevent Diskus | Salmeterol is a drug that’s prescribed to treat asthma and COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease). Before 2008, it was available as a metered-dose inhaler but currently it is available as a dry powder inhaler that releases the drug Salmeterol. The drug classification of Serevent Diskus | Salmeterol is that of a long acting beta2-adrenergic receptor agonist, or LABA.
Serevent Diskus | Salmeterol is usually prescribed only for severe and persistent asthma following treatment with other inhalers such as Salbutamol. What is noticeably different in this drug is the fact that its duration of action lasts about 12 hours in comparison with 4-6 hours of effectiveness with Salbutamol. When used correctly, Serevent Diskus | Salmeterol decreases the severity of asthma attacks as well as the number of them. It is worth noting that Serevent Diskus | Salmeterol is not meant to work as a short-acting inhaler such as needed during an asthma attack.
Serevent Diskus | Salmeterol was first marketed and manufactured by the drug company GlaxoSmithKline in the 1980s and the FDA approval came in 1990. In November of 2005, the FDA had released a health advisory into LABAs as to how they could lead to worsening of symptoms and in even some cases, have led to death. Please refer to the “warnings and recalls” tab to inquire about the “black box” warning associated with this drug.
How does Serevent Diskus work?
The inhalation of Serevent Diskus | Salmeterol works by causing bronchodilation by relaxing smooth muscles in the airways of the lungs to treat symptoms of asthma and COPD. The way the mechanism of action occurs is by the diffusion of molecules into the plasma membrane of lung cells, and then being released back to the outside of the cell where they come into contact beta-2 adrenoceptors with a long carbon chain forming something into the membrane that mimics an anchor, thus the alleviation of the airways and the ability to breathe becomes much better in a patient suffering from asthma or COPD.
Dosage Information
Serevent Diskus | Salmeterol is approved for use in children as young as 4 years old and is also approved for the alleviation of asthma and COPD in adults. The dosing of Serevent Diskus | Salmeterol depends not only upon age, but also the severity of symptoms.
For pediatric patients, Serevent Diskus | Salmeterol is dispensed accordingly:
- Asthmatic pediatric patients are given two oral inhalations of Serevent Diskus | Salmeterol which is a total of 50mcg. It is important that these inhalations be given 12 hours apart.
For adult patients, Serevent Diskus | Salmeterol is dispensed accordingly:
- For asthmatic patients, 1 oral inhalation two times daily (50mcg) and the intervals should be 12 hours apart.
- For COPD patients, 1 oral inhalation two times daily (50mcg) and the intervals should be 12 hours apart.
- For patients who take Serevent Diskus | Salmeterol before exercising, 1 oral inhalation 30 minutes before exercise.
- For nocturnal asthma, 1 oral inhalation twice daily and the intervals should be 12 hours apart.
