From the Guidelines
Wixela 500 should be taken as one inhalation twice daily, in the morning and evening, approximately 12 hours apart, with a dose of 500 mcg of fluticasone propionate, as higher doses may provide little added benefit and increase the risk of systemic effects 1. The medication contains fluticasone propionate, an inhaled corticosteroid (ICS), which is generally considered safe at low doses, but its benefits and risks need to be balanced, especially at higher doses 1.
- Key points to consider when taking Wixela 500 include:
- Rinsing your mouth with water after each use without swallowing to prevent oral thrush
- Using the medication regularly as prescribed, even when symptoms improve, as it works by reducing inflammation and relaxing airway muscles over time
- Not using Wixela for acute symptom relief; a rescue inhaler should be used for sudden breathing problems
- Following your healthcare provider's specific instructions, as dosing may vary based on your individual condition
- Being aware of potential side effects, such as throat irritation, hoarseness, and headache According to a meta-analysis of randomized trials studying the effectiveness of fluticasone for adolescents and adults with moderate to severe asthma, the greatest clinical benefit was observed at a dose of 200 μg/d, with only minimal additional improvement seen at doses of 500 or 1000 μg/d 1.
- It's essential to note that as many as one-third of patients with asthma may have some degree of corticosteroid insensitivity and thus may not exhibit an adequate clinical response even to high-dose therapy 1. If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember, but skip it if it's almost time for your next dose, and never take a double dose to make up for a missed one.
From the FDA Drug Label
Wixela Inhub should be administered as 1 inhalation twice daily by the orally inhaled route only. The maximum recommended dosage is Wixela Inhub 500/50 twice daily. For patients aged 12 years and older, the dosage is 1 inhalation twice daily, approximately 12 hours apart.
The dose and frequency of Wixela 500 is 1 inhalation twice daily, approximately 12 hours apart, with a maximum recommended dosage of Wixela Inhub 500/50 twice daily 2.
From the Research
Wixela 500 Dose and Frequency
- The Wixela Inhub device is a generic equivalent of Advair Diskus, a fixed-dose combination of fluticasone propionate/salmeterol powder for oral inhalation 3.
- The bioequivalence of Wixela Inhub and Advair Diskus has been established, suggesting that Wixela Inhub may provide an alternative option to Advair Diskus for patients with asthma or COPD requiring intervention with an ICS/LABA 4.
- The dose strengths for Wixela Inhub and Advair Diskus are comparable, with Wixela Inhub available in doses of 100/50 mcg, 250/50 mcg, and 500/50 mcg 3.
- A study comparing the effectiveness of initiating fluticasone/salmeterol combination therapy via pMDI versus DPI in reducing exacerbations and treatment escalation in COPD found that patients using the 500 mcg/d dose of fluticasone propionate (FP) had fewer moderate/severe exacerbations when using a pMDI versus a DPI 5.
- Another study compared the efficacy and safety of once-daily fluticasone furoate/vilanterol (100/25 mcg) versus twice-daily fluticasone propionate/salmeterol (250/50 mcg) in COPD patients, but did not specifically examine the 500 mcg dose of FP 6.
- The frequency of administration for Wixela Inhub is typically twice daily, as it is a fixed-dose combination of fluticasone propionate and salmeterol 4, 3.