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Advair,Seretide

Brand- Name Advair,Seretide Generic Name Fluticasone + Salmeterol Company GlaxoSmithKline Disease/Medical Use Asthma First Approval Date Aug-2000

Salmeterol is a long-acting beta2-adrenergic receptor against drug that is currently prescribed for the treatment of asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). It is currently available as a metered-dose inhaler (MDI) or a proprietary "disk-styled" inhaler that releases a powdered form of the drug.

Asthma is a breathing problem involving narrowing of the airways. Airways are breathing passages that allow air to move in and out of the lungs. In patients with asthma, airways can be narrowed by accumulation of mucus, spasm of the muscles that surround these airways, or swelling of the lining of the airways. Airway narrowing lead to symptoms of shortness of breath, wheezing, cough and congestion. Medications used in treating asthma open airways are called bronchodilators. Salmeterol is a bronchodilator of the beta-2 agonist type. Beta-2 agonists are medications that stimulate beta-2 receptors on the smooth muscle cells that line the airways, causing these muscle cells to relax, thus, opening airways.

Certain allergens (such as pollen) can cause airway narrowing by inducing release of histamine by mast cells. Histamine is a natural chemical that causes tissue swelling and other allergic reactions in the body when released into the tissue. Mast cells belong to a class of immune cells located around the airways. Salmeterol is an inhaled medication that blocks the release of histamine by the mast cells, thus preventing airway narrowing when exposed to allergens.