Prescription medication · Long-Acting Beta-2 Agonist (LABA)
salmeterol
Also sold as Serevent.
Data updated 2026-05-15
- 7
- InteractionsFew interactions
- Rx
- Availability
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What it does
Information not available.
Common side effects
Nasopharyngitis (common cold), Oral candidiasis (thrush), Headache
Key warnings
No specific warnings noted. Always follow your prescriber's instructions.
Known Drug Interactions
Avoid strong cytochrome P450 3A4 inhibitors (e.g., ritonavir, ketoconazole): May increase risk of systemic corticosteroid and cardiovascular effects. The use of strong CYP3A4 inhibitors (e.g., ritonavir, atazanavir, clarithromycin, indinavir, itraconazole, nefazodone, nelfinavir, saquinavir, ketoconazole, telithromycin) with Fluticasone Propionate/Salmeterol MDPI is not recommended because increased systemic corticosteroid and increased cardiovascular adverse effects may occur. Ketoconazole : Fluticasone Propionate: Coadministration of orally inhaled fluticasone propionate (1,000 mcg) and...
Mechanism: Ketoconazole stops your body from breaking down salmeterol, which can cause the drug to build up in your blood. This increase can lead to heart issues and other side effects throughout your body.
What to do: You should avoid using these two medications at the same time.
The use of strong CYP3A4 inhibitors (e.g., ritonavir, atazanavir, clarithromycin, indinavir, itraconazole, nefazodone, nelfinavir, saquinavir, ketoconazole, telithromycin) with Fluticasone Propionate/Salmeterol MDPI is not recommended because increased systemic corticosteroid and increased cardiovascular adverse effects may occur. The use of strong CYP3A4 inhibitors (e.g., ritonavir, atazanavir, clarithromycin, indinavir, itraconazole, nefazodone, nelfinavir, saquinavir, ketoconazole, telithromycin) with Fluticasone Propionate/Salmeterol MDPI is not recommended because increased systemic...
Mechanism: Clarithromycin stops your body from breaking down salmeterol properly. This leads to higher levels of the drug in your blood, which can cause heart-related side effects.
What to do: Avoid using these two medicines together if possible. Your doctor may need to change your antibiotic or watch your heart health very closely.
Concomitant drug dose reduction may be necessary Respiratory Drugs Salmeterol Not recommended during and 2 weeks after itraconazole treatment.
Mechanism: Itraconazole makes it harder for your body to get rid of salmeterol. This can cause the medicine to build up and potentially cause heart problems.
What to do: This combination is not recommended; however, if used, your doctor may need to lower your dose of salmeterol.
Long-acting beta-adrenoceptor agonist salmeterol ↑ salmeterol Avoid concomitant use with PAXLOVID. The combination may result in increased risk of cardiovascular adverse events associated with salmeterol, including QT prolongation, palpitations, and sinus tachycardia.
Mechanism: This combination makes salmeterol stay in your body longer, which can cause dangerous heart rhythms or a racing heart.
What to do: You should not take these two medicines at the same time.
7 DRUG INTERACTIONS Fluticasone Propionate/Salmeterol MDPI has been used concomitantly with other drugs, including short‑acting beta 2 ‑agonists, and intranasal corticosteroids, commonly used in patients with asthma without adverse drug reactions [see Clinical Pharmacology ( 12.2 )] . No formal drug interaction trials have been performed with Fluticasone Propionate/Salmeterol MDPI. ( 7.4 ) 7.1 Inhibitors of Cytochrome P450 3A4 Fluticasone propionate and salmeterol, the individual components of this product, are substrates of CYP3A4.
Mechanism: Both drugs are broken down by the same liver enzyme and are often used together safely in a single inhaler to treat breathing problems.
What to do: You can continue using these medications together as directed by your doctor for your asthma or lung condition.
This is a plain-language summary of interactions documented in FDA labeling, not individualized advice. Ask a pharmacist or prescriber before combining medications.
Common Questions
What are the common side effects of salmeterol?
Does salmeterol interact with other medications?
What drug class is salmeterol?
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Medication Guides
Understanding Drug Interactions
How CYP450 enzymes, inhibitors, and inducers affect your medications
Generic vs Brand Name Drugs
FDA requirements, cost savings, and when the difference matters
Narrow Therapeutic Index Drugs
Why some drugs demand precise dosing and monitoring
Common Drug Interactions
Dangerous medication combinations and how to protect yourself
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What the FDA Data Shows for salmeterol
The FDA label for salmeterol (sold under brand names such as Serevent) classifies it as a prescription-only medication in the Long-Acting Beta-2 Agonist (LABA) class. Regulatory labeling describes its approved uses and the patient populations studied in pre-market trials. Official labeling lists 5 commonly reported side effects, including Nasopharyngitis (common cold), Oral candidiasis (thrush), Headache.
Post-market surveillance from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) captures real-world experience. Voluntary reports accumulate over the lifetime of a drug and reflect wide-ranging clinical use. The database also lists 7 documented drug interactions derived from FDA labeling, with the top-flagged interaction rated moderate severity. Acquisition-cost data is surveyed weekly by CMS and updated as manufacturers report changes.
Report counts do not establish causation, a FAERS entry documents a temporal association, not proof that the drug produced the outcome. Widely prescribed medications naturally accumulate more reports than niche therapies, so raw totals must be interpreted alongside total exposure. Shortage status, recall history, and patent information further shape supply and switching decisions. This page summarizes public FDA data for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, always consult a licensed healthcare provider before starting, stopping, or changing any medication.
Data Sources
Drug labeling: FDA Drug Labels (SPL/DailyMed). Adverse events: FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS).
FAERS reports are voluntary and do not establish causation. Drug interactions are derived from FDA labeling and clinical references. Always consult a healthcare professional before making medication decisions.
Last updated: August 21, 2025
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.
Data currency: FDA FAERS adverse-event reports through 2025, CMS NADAC acquisition-cost pricing effective December 2024, compiled and last refreshed May 2026. See our methodology for per-source dates and refresh cadence. Spot a figure that looks wrong? Report a correction.
All federal data sources used on this page
- FDA Orange Book - approved drug products with therapeutic equivalence. accessdata.fda.gov/cder/ob
- FDA DailyMed - NIH-hosted drug labeling for FDA-approved meds. dailymed.nlm.nih.gov
- FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) - post-marketing safety surveillance. fda.gov/drugs/faers
- NLM RxNorm - standardized clinical drug nomenclature. nlm.nih.gov/research/umls/rxnorm
- CMS Medicare Part B Drug Average Sales Price Files - federal drug pricing data. cms.gov/medicare/part-b-drugs/asp
- FDA Drug Shortages Database - current and resolved drug shortage tracking. accessdata.fda.gov/drugshortages