Fluticasone and salmeterol Inhalation, oral/nebulization and Shingrix

• Generic Name: fluticasone / salmeterol
• Dosage Forms: n.a.
• Other Brand Names: Advair Diskus, Advair HFA, AirDuo RespiClick, Wixela Inhub

Fluticasone and salmeterol is a combination of two medicines that are used to help control the symptoms of asthma and improve breathing. It is used when a patient's asthma has not been controlled sufficiently on other asthma medicines, or when a patient's condition is so severe that more than one medicine is needed every day. Fluticasone and salmeterol will not relieve an asthma attack that has already started.

Fluticasone and salmeterol is also used to treat air flow blockage and reduce the worsening of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). This includes chronic bronchitis and emphysema.

Inhaled fluticasone belongs to the family of medicines known as corticosteroids or steroids (cortisone-like medicines). It works by preventing certain cells in the lungs and breathing passages from releasing substances that cause asthma symptoms.

Inhaled salmeterol is a long-acting bronchodilator. Bronchodilators are medicines that are breathed in through the mouth to open up the bronchial tubes (air passages) in the lungs. It relieves cough, wheezing, shortness of breath, and troubled breathing by increasing the flow of air through the bronchial tubes.

Fluticasone and salmeterol must be used with a short-acting medicine (eg, albuterol) for an asthma attack or asthma symptoms that need attention right away.

Fluticasone and salmeterol is available only with your doctor's prescription.

• Generic Name: zoster vaccine, inactivated
• Dosage Forms: n.a.
• Other Brand Names: Shingrix

Shingrix is a vaccine used for the prevention of herpes zoster. Herpes zoster is caused by the same virus (varicella) that causes chickenpox in children. When this virus becomes active again, it can cause herpes zoster, or shingles. Shingrix helps prevent shingles.

Shingrix works by exposing you to a small dose of inactive virus, which causes the body to develop immunity to the disease. This vaccine will not treat an active infection that has already developed in the body.

Shingrix is used to prevent herpes zoster virus (shingles) in people age 50 and older, including people who previously received a live zoster vaccine (Zostavax).

Shingrix will not treat chickenpox, shingles, or nerve pain caused by shingles (post-herpetic neuralgia).