The correct fluticasone dose can depend on why a patient needs the medication, medical history, and age. This medication is available for the management of asthma and allergies, both of which have different dosing recommendations. Doctors may start their patients on low doses and slowly taper up if the patient fails to respond to initial treatment. Tapering the dosage allows the doctor and the patient to find the cutoff point where the patient starts to experience benefits with the lowest risk of side effects.
For allergic rhinitis and nasal inflammation, a doctor may recommend a nasal spray. This form of the medication comes in a dropper bottle patients can squeeze to force the medication into the nose. The recommended dose is usually two sprays per day until the patient's allergies improve. Treatment may also involve tools like nasal rinsing to clear out allergens, as well as oral anti-allergy medications, depending on the nature of the patient's condition.
Asthma patients can take fluticasone in a metered dose inhaler or a powder form. The medication is taken as part of an asthma maintenance program to reduce the incidence and severity of asthma attacks. For patients who have only been using bronchodilators, the recommended fluticasone dose at the start is typically low. Patients on corticosteroids may need to take a higher dose at the beginning, with the highest doses reserved for patients on oral steroids.
Patients taking this medication for asthma usually do so with the goal of weaning off steroid medications. These patients may need periodic dose adjustments as they lower their steroid dosage over time. If the patient's asthma becomes more severe, it may be necessary to increase the fluticasone dose or to stop lowering the steroid dose, at least temporarily. When improvements occur on the medication, the dose can be kept stable, as it is clearly working for the patient's needs.
Younger patients typically need a lower fluticasone dose. Patients taking multiple medications for allergies, asthma, and other conditions may need dose adjustments to compensate for concerns about drug interactions or damage to the kidneys and other organs. It is not advisable to change doses without discussing the medication with a physician. Corticosteroids used for asthma control should never be stopped abruptly, as this can expose the patient to the risk of severe complications. This means that patients who notice improvement on a fluticasone dose should still take their steroids as directed by a doctor.