Flunisolide Oral Inhalation

Flunisolide, a corticosteroid, is used to prevent wheezing, shortness of breath, and troubled breathing caused by severe asthma and other lung diseases. This medication is sometimes prescribed for other uses; ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

Flunisolide comes as an aerosol to inhale by mouth. It usually is inhaled three or four times a day at evenly spaced intervals. Follow the directions on your prescription label carefully, and ask your doctor or pharmacist to explain any part you do not understand. Use flunisolide exactly as directed. Do not use more or less of it or use it more often than prescribed by your doctor. Do not stop using flunisolide without talking to your doctor. Before you use flunisolide the first time, read the written instructions that come with it. Ask your doctor, pharmacist, or respiratory therapist to demonstrate the proper technique. Practice using the inhaler while in his or her presence. To use the inhaler, follow these steps:

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Shake the inhaler well.</li>
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Remove the protective cap.</li>
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Exhale (breathe out) as completely as possible through your nose while keeping your mouth shut.</li>
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<span class='ital'>Open Mouth Technique:</span> Open your mouth wide, and place the open end of the mouthpiece about 1-2 inches from your mouth.
<span class='ital'>Closed Mouth Technique:</span> Place the open end of the mouthpiece well into your mouth, past your front teeth. Close your lips tightly around the mouthpiece.</li>
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Take a slow, deep breath through the mouthpiece and, at the same time, press down on the container to spray the medication into your mouth. Be sure that the mist goes into your throat and is not blocked by your teeth or tongue. Adults giving the treatment to young children may hold the child's nose closed to be sure that the medication goes into the child's throat.</li>
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Hold your breath for 5-10 seconds, remove the inhaler, and exhale slowly through your nose or mouth. If you take 2 puffs, wait 2 minutes and shake the inhaler well before taking the second puff.</li>
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Replace the protective cap on the inhaler.
After each treatment, rinse your mouth with water or mouthwash.</li></ul> If you have difficulty getting the medication into your lungs, a spacer (a special device that attaches to the inhaler) may help; ask your doctor, pharmacist, or respiratory therapist.

<p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p>Flunisolide may cause side effects. Tell your doctor if any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away:

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dry or irritated throat and mouth</li>
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cough</li>
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difficult or painful speech</li></ul></p> <p></p> <p>If you experience any of the following symptoms, call your doctor immediately:

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skin rash</li>
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increased difficulty breathing</li>
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white spots or sores in your mouth</li>
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swollen face, lower legs, or ankles</li>
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vision problems</li>
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cold or infection that lasts a long time</li>
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muscle weakness</li></ul>If you experience a serious side effect, you or your doctor may send a report to the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting program online [at <a href='http://www.fda.gov/Safety/MedWatch'>http://www.fda.gov/Safety/MedWatch</a>] or by phone [1-800-332-1088].</p>

Before using flunisolide, tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic to flunisolide or any other drugs. tell your doctor and pharmacist what prescription and nonprescription medications you are using, especially arthritis medications, aspirin, digoxin (Lanoxin), diuretics ('water pills'), estrogen (Premarin), ketoconazole (Nizoral), oral contraceptives, phenobarbital, phenytoin (Dilantin), rifampin (Rifadin), theophylline (Theo-Dur), and vitamins. if you have a fungal infection (other than on your skin), do not use flunisolide without talking to your doctor. tell your doctor if you have or have ever had liver, kidney, intestinal, or heart disease; diabetes; an underactive thyroid gland; high blood pressure; mental illness; myasthenia gravis; osteoporosis; herpes eye infection; seizures; or ulcers. if you have a history of ulcers or take large doses of aspirin or other arthritis medication, limit your consumption of alcoholic beverages while using this drug. Flunisolide makes your stomach and intestines more susceptible to the irritating effects of alcohol, aspirin, and certain arthritis medications. This effect increases your risk of ulcers.