fluticasone vs fluticasone/salmeterol

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Side-by-side comparison of fluticasone and fluticasone/salmeterol. Data from FDA drug databases (Orange Book, NDC Directory, recalls, shortages) covering 20,000+ approved drugs, plus CMS pricing; see our methodology.

minor Known Drug Interaction

( 7.4 ) 7.1 Inhibitors of Cytochrome P450 3A4 Fluticasone propionate and salmeterol, the individual components of ADVAIR DISKUS, are substrates of CYP3A4. Ritonavir Fluticasone Propionate: A drug interaction trial with fluticasone propionate aqueous nasal spray in healthy subjects has shown that ritonavir (a strong CYP3A4 inhibitor) can significantly increase plasma fluticasone propionate exposure, resulting in significantly reduced serum cortisol concentrations [see Clinical Pharmacology ( 12.3 )] . During postmarketing use, there have been reports of clinically significant drug...

Drug Class
fluticasone Corticosteroid
fluticasone/salmeterol Corticosteroid / Long-Acting Beta-2 Agonist Combination
Type
fluticasone Over-the-Counter
fluticasone/salmeterol Prescription
Summary
fluticasone

Fluticasone is a steroid medicine that helps reduce inflammation in your nose. It can help relieve allergy symptoms.

fluticasone/salmeterol

Advair Diskus is a medicine that contains a steroid and a long-acting bronchodilator. It helps to control asthma and COPD by reducing inflammation and opening airways in the lungs.

What It Treats
fluticasone

Fluticasone temporarily relieves symptoms of hay fever or other upper respiratory allergies. These symptoms include a stuffy nose, itchy and watery eyes, itchy nose, runny nose, and sneezing. It can help you breathe easier and feel more comfortable when you have allergies.

fluticasone/salmeterol

Advair Diskus is used to treat asthma in people 4 years and older. It helps control asthma when other long-term medicines don't work well enough. It is also used to treat COPD, including chronic bronchitis and emphysema, helping to improve airflow and prevent flare-ups.

How It Works
fluticasone

Fluticasone is a corticosteroid. It works by reducing inflammation in the nasal passages. This helps to relieve allergy symptoms.

fluticasone/salmeterol

Advair Diskus contains two medicines. Fluticasone is a steroid that reduces swelling in your lungs. Salmeterol is a long-acting bronchodilator that relaxes the muscles around your airways, making it easier to breathe.

Common Side Effects
fluticasone
  • Headache
  • Fatigue
fluticasone/salmeterol
  • Upper respiratory infection
  • Sore throat
  • Hoarseness
  • Oral thrush (candidiasis)
  • Bronchitis
FAERS Reports
fluticasone
  • Headache 6,061
  • Tiredness 5,935
  • Difficulty breathing 5,830
  • Feeling sick to your stomach 5,209
  • Pain 4,528
fluticasone/salmeterol

No adverse event reports.

Serious Warnings
fluticasone

Children 4 to 11 years of age: The growth rate of some children may be slower while using this product. Children should use it for the shortest time needed to relieve symptoms. Talk to your child’s doctor if they need to use the spray for longer than two months a year.

fluticasone/salmeterol

Long-acting beta-agonists (LABAs) like salmeterol can increase the risk of asthma-related death. Do not use Advair Diskus to treat sudden asthma symptoms. Do not use other medicines containing a LABA. Watch for signs of pneumonia if you have COPD.

Pregnancy
fluticasone

It is not known if fluticasone will harm an unborn baby. Talk to your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is also not known if fluticasone passes into breast milk. Talk to your doctor if you are breastfeeding.

fluticasone/salmeterol

It is not known if Advair Diskus will harm your unborn baby. Talk to your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is also not known if Advair Diskus passes into breast milk. Talk to your doctor about the risks and benefits of using Advair Diskus while breastfeeding.

Also Compare, Nearby Drugs

How to Read This fluticasone vs fluticasone/salmeterol Comparison

fluticasone is classified in the Corticosteroid drug class, while fluticasone/salmeterol sits within the Corticosteroid / Long-Acting Beta-2 Agonist Combination class. Drugs from different classes work through distinct mechanisms, so a head-to-head comparison illustrates trade-offs rather than equivalence. Both drugs are split between OTC and prescription status, which affects access and supervision.

Adverse event totals above are pulled from the FDA's Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). For these top-ranked reactions alone, fluticasone has 27,563 submissions while fluticasone/salmeterol has 0. Those figures reflect cumulative reporting volume, not per-patient risk, so older, widely dispensed drugs typically look worse on count alone. These two drugs have a known minor interaction flagged in FDA labeling, attributed to both of these products contain the same steroid medicine. taking them together increases the amount of medicine in your body, which can lower your natural hormone levels.. Serious warnings, pregnancy guidance, and contraindications can differ even when indications overlap.

A table cannot represent individual circumstances. Data here is sourced from FDA Structured Product Labels (SPL) and FAERS, both of which update as manufacturers and clinicians submit new information. This registry does not provide medical, treatment, substitution, or medication-change directions for fluticasone or fluticasone/salmeterol.

Registry boundary: This comparison displays source-record fields and does not provide individualized medical direction.