An inhaled or nasal steroid
Fluticasone furoate
A once-daily inhaled or nasal steroid used to control asthma or to ease allergic rhinitis and hay fever.
What is Fluticasone furoate?
Fluticasone furoate is a corticosteroid that comes either as a once-daily inhaler to control asthma or as a nasal spray for hay fever and allergic rhinitis. It works by calming the underlying inflammation in the airways or the lining of the nose, so symptoms are prevented rather than relieved on the spot. As a preventer it must be used regularly every day, even when you feel well, and it is not a reliever for sudden symptoms. After using the inhaler it is important to rinse your mouth to reduce the risk of a sore mouth or oral thrush.
Education and reference only. This is a plain-language guide to Fluticasone furoate — it deliberately contains no doses. Doses depend on the person, the brand and the reason for treatment, and belong with your prescriber. Always check the BNF, the product labelling (SmPC) and follow medical advice.
What it is
Fluticasone furoate is a steroid that reduces inflammation. As an inhaler it is taken once a day to prevent asthma symptoms, often as part of a combination inhaler with a long-acting bronchodilator. As a nasal spray it is used for hay fever and other allergic rhinitis, easing a blocked, runny or itchy nose and sneezing. In both forms it is delivered directly to where it is needed, so very little reaches the rest of the body.
How it works
Fluticasone furoate calms the ongoing inflammation that causes swelling and irritation, either in the airways in asthma or in the lining of the nose in allergic rhinitis. By reducing this inflammation over time, it makes the airways less twitchy and the nose less reactive, so symptoms are prevented. Because it works on inflammation rather than opening the airways immediately, it has to be used regularly to keep working and is not the right choice for sudden breathlessness or an instantly blocked nose.
Company & origin
Originated / developed by: Generic (long-established).
A once-daily corticosteroid used in the UK as an inhaler for asthma and as a nasal spray for hay fever and allergic rhinitis.
What it treats
Conditions Fluticasone furoate is used for
Practical use
How to take Fluticasone furoate
General, dose-free guidance — always follow your prescriber's and the leaflet's specific instructions.
- Use it once a day at the same time, regularly, even when you feel well, as it is a preventer.
- After each inhaler dose, rinse your mouth with water and spit it out to reduce the risk of a sore mouth or thrush.
- For the nasal spray, aim it slightly away from the central wall of the nose and give it a few days to work fully.
- Keep using a separate reliever inhaler for sudden asthma symptoms, as this medicine does not relieve them.
- Do not stop it suddenly if you use it for asthma without talking to your team, as your control may slip.
- Tell your prescriber if your symptoms are not controlled, rather than simply using more.
Weighing it up
Advantages & disadvantages of Fluticasone furoate
Advantages
- A convenient once-daily steroid that effectively controls asthma or allergic rhinitis by calming inflammation.
- Delivered directly to the airways or nose, so very little reaches the rest of the body.
- Available combined with a long-acting bronchodilator in a single asthma inhaler.
Disadvantages
- It is a preventer that must be used every day and does not relieve sudden symptoms.
- The inhaler can cause a sore mouth, hoarse voice or oral thrush if the mouth is not rinsed.
- The nasal spray can cause nosebleeds or nasal irritation in some people.
Practical use
Good to know
The most important thing to understand is that fluticasone furoate is a preventer, not a reliever: it needs to be used every day to keep inflammation down, and it will not quickly relieve a sudden asthma attack, for which a separate reliever inhaler is used. With the inhaler, rinsing your mouth and spitting out after each dose helps prevent a sore mouth, hoarse voice or oral thrush. The nasal spray can take a few days of regular use before it works fully, so steady use through the hay-fever season is best. It is generally low-dose and well tolerated, but as with all steroids your team will use the lowest effective amount and review it, and the nasal spray can occasionally cause nosebleeds or nasal irritation.
Who should not take it / use with caution
- It is not suitable as a reliever for a sudden asthma attack, which needs a fast-acting reliever instead.
- It is used cautiously in people with an untreated nasal or airway infection.
- People who have had recent nasal surgery or injury should check before using the nasal spray.
Monitoring
- Reviewing asthma control, inhaler technique and how often a reliever is needed.
- Checking for a sore mouth or thrush and reinforcing mouth rinsing after the inhaler.
- Using the lowest effective amount and reviewing nasal symptoms over the season.
Side effects
- With the inhaler, a hoarse voice, sore mouth or oral thrush, helped by rinsing the mouth after use.
- With the nasal spray, nosebleeds, nasal dryness, irritation or headache.
- Rarely, with higher or long-term steroid use, wider steroid effects that your team will watch for.
Key interactions
- Certain medicines that strongly affect how the body handles steroids (such as some antifungals or HIV medicines) can increase steroid levels, so tell your prescriber about them.
- Combination inhalers also contain a long-acting bronchodilator, which has its own cautions.
- Always tell your prescriber about all medicines, as your overall steroid load is considered.
Available as: A once-daily dry-powder inhaler for asthma and an aqueous nasal spray for allergic rhinitis.
Answers
Fluticasone furoate: frequently asked questions
Is this a reliever inhaler?
No. Fluticasone furoate is a preventer that calms inflammation over time; it must be used daily and does not relieve sudden asthma symptoms, for which you need a separate reliever.
Why should I rinse my mouth after the inhaler?
Rinsing and spitting out after each dose helps prevent a sore mouth, hoarse voice and oral thrush from the inhaled steroid.
How long does the nasal spray take to work?
It can take a few days of regular daily use to work fully, so it is best used steadily through the hay-fever season rather than only on bad days.
Can I stop it once I feel better?
If you use it for asthma, do not stop suddenly without advice, as your control may slip; your team will guide any changes.
Does much of the steroid get into my body?
Both forms are delivered directly to the airways or nose, so only a small amount reaches the rest of the body, but your team still uses the lowest effective dose.
The wider class
About Inhaled / nasal corticosteroid
Fluticasone furoate belongs to the inhaled / nasal corticosteroid class. For how the class as a whole works, its shared safety principles and monitoring, see the full guide.
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Authoritative sources
- BNF
- NICE CKS
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