Seretide Australia is designed for treatment of patients requiring regular treatment and suffering from asthma as well as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Asthma represents a condition, whereby the lungs are getting affected. Asthma symptoms are: shortness of breath, chest tightness, wheezing and cough. There are two main reasons that lead to asthma: bronchoconstriction (i.e. tightening of the muscles around the airways) as well as inflammation (irritation and swelling of the airways).

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) represents a long-term condition, which mostly affects the lungs and results in emphysema and chronic bronchitis. Basic symptoms of COPD include: cough, shortness of breath, discomfort feeling in the chest area and coughing with phlegm. The COPD symptoms are basically caused by bronchoconstriction (muscle tightening around the airways) as well as inflammation (irritation and swelling of the airways).

Seretide Australia contains two components – salmeterol xinafoate and fluticasone propionate.

Fluticasone propionate comes from a group of medications called corticosteroids (also known as ‘steroids’). However, they do not belong to ‘anabolic steroids’, which are usually misused by sportsmen and athletes. Corticosteroids, on other hand have got an anti-inflammatory action. Basically, they reduce the irritation and swelling around the walls of the air passages located in lungs and, hereby assist to improve breathing. Corticosteroids generally assist in asthma and COPD treatment.

Salmeterol xinafoate is actually a bronchodilator. The main function of bronchodilator is to keep the breathing tubes of lungs open as well as relieve the asthma symptoms. Usually the effects of salmeterol xinafoate can last up to twelve hours. If taken together and on regular basis, fluticasone propionate and salmeterol may help to control the difficulties in breathing.

Side Effects

In case if your breathing becomes worse right after you start taking Seretide Australia, then immediately stop taking it and inform your physician as soon as possible. Seretide Australia, same as all medicines may cause some side effects on patients taking it. Sometimes those side effects may be serious, but most of the time there are no side effects. So, do not hesitate to seek for medical assistance if you face any of the following symptoms:

• hoarseness and/or soreness in the throat, mouth or tongue;
• headache
• pains in joints and/or sudden muscle cramps;
• increased heart rate;
• pneumonia (i.e. lung infection) has been commonly reported among patients having COPD.

Taking Seretide Australia may cause you to have some allergic reactions:

• swelling of the face, lips, eyelids, mouth, throat and tongue;
• wheezing and/or difficulties in breathing;
• feeling of pain or tightness in chest, fainting;
• fever accompanied by lumpy rash (hives);

In case, if any of abovementioned serious symptoms are observed, please immediately contact your physician and/or seek for emergency help.

Precautions

Do not take Seretide Australia if you are allergic to:

• any medications containing salmeterol xinafoate or fluticasone propionate;
• lactose and/or milk proteins.

Do not take Seretide Australia after the expiry date, which is provided on the medicine package or if the package is damaged or has got some signs of tampering.

Prior to taking Seretide Australia, inform your physician, if you have or had any of medical conditions listed below:

• tuberculosis
• thrush in mouth
• diabetes
• thyroid condition
• low blood potassium levels
• high blood pressure
• heart problem

Provide your doctor with information related to taking other steroids orally mouth or via inhalation. If you are pregnant or have plans to become pregnant soon and/or breast-feeding, inform your doctor accordingly before taking Seretide Australia. All additional information about Seretide Australia can be found via customer support, official website or doctor’s consultation.