Patient/caregiver was educated on precautions to be exercised while taking Fluticasone as follows:
- If you miss a dose, try taking it at the earliest notice of noncompliance. If it is time for the next dose, skip the missed dose and take the dose scheduled. Do not take an extra dose to try making up for the missed dose, as it can lead to toxicity and serious side-effects with the drug. Notify your doctor and other health care personnel regarding your dose noncompliance.
- Fluticasone should be used with extreme caution in individuals with history of arrhythmias and reduced serum potassium levels. Fluticasone, being a steroid, carries the risk of lowering the blood potassium levels. Low potassium levels in the blood contributes significantly to development of new or aggravation of underlying cardiac arrhythmias Also, many medications belonging to the antibiotic, antidepressant, and antipsychotic groups carry risk of causing life-threatening cardiac arrhythmias. Avoid taking Fluticasone along with medications belonging to the above-mentioned groups, to prevent any dangerous arrhythmias from developing. Closely follow for development/worsening of signs and symptoms of cardiac arrhythmia, such as, episodes of chest pain, rapid irregular heart rate, palpitations, dizziness, and shortness of breath. Report any such findings to your physician immediately, so that, an alternative plan of care could be considered. Observing compliance with intake of any anti-arrhythmic medications prescribed can help with better control of arrhythmia symptoms.
