Side Effects

Possible side effects

Like all medicines, Seretide evohaler can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them. To reduce the chance of side effects, your doctor will prescribe the lowest dose of Seretide to control your asthma. Allergic reactions: you may notice your breathing suddenly gets worse immediately after using Seretide. You may be very wheezy and cough or be short of breath. You may also notice itching, a rash (hives) and swelling (usually of the face, lips, tongue or throat), or you may suddenly feel that your heart is beating very fast or you feel faint and light headed (which may lead to collapse or loss of consciousness). If you get any of these effects or if they happen suddenly after using Seretide, stop using Seretide and tell your doctor straight away. Allergic reactions to Seretide are uncommon (they affect less than 1 person in 100). Other side effects are listed below: Very Common (affects more than 1 person in 10) • Headache – this usually gets better as treatment continues. • Increased number of colds have been reported in patients with COPD. Common (affects less than 1 person in 10) • Thrush (sore, creamy-yellow, raised patches) in the mouth and throat. Also sore tongue and hoarse voice and throat irritation. Rinsing your mouth out with water and spitting it out immediately and/or brushing your teeth after taking each dose of your medicine may help. Your doctor may prescribe an anti-fungal medication to treat the thrush. • Aching, swollen joints and muscle pain. • Muscle cramps. The following side effects have also been reported in patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD): • Pneumonia and bronchitis (lung infection). Tell your doctor if you notice any of the following symptoms: increase in sputum production, change in sputum colour, fever, chills, increased cough, increased breathing problems. • Bruising and fractures. • Inflammation of sinuses (a feeling of tension or fullness in the nose, cheeks and behind the eyes, sometimes with a throbbing ache) 7 • A reduction in the amount of potassium in the blood (you may get an uneven heartbeat, muscle weakness, cramp). Uncommon (affects less than 1 person in 100) • Increases in the amount of sugar (glucose) in your blood (hyperglycaemia). If you have diabetes, more frequent blood sugar monitoring and possibly adjustment of your usual diabetic treatment may be required. • Cataract (cloudy lens in the eye). • Very fast heartbeat (tachycardia). • Feeling shaky (tremor) and fast or uneven heart beat (palpitations) – these are usually harmless and get less as treatment continues. • Chest pain. • Feeling worried (this effect mainly occurs in children). • Disturbed sleep. • Allergic skin rash. Rare (affects less than 1 person in 1000) • Breathing difficulties or wheezing that get worse straight after taking Seretide. If this happens stop using your Seretide inhaler. Use your fast-acting ‘reliever’ inhaler to help your breathing and tell your doctor straight away. • Seretide may affect the normal production of steroid hormones in the body, particularly if you have taken high doses for long periods of time. The effects include: − Slowing of growth in children and adolescents − Thinning of the bones − Glaucoma − Weight gain − Rounded (moon shaped) face (Cushing’s Syndrome) Your doctor will check you regularly for any of these side effects and make sure you are taking the lowest dose of Seretide to control your asthma. • Behavioural changes, such as being unusually active and irritable (these effects mainly occur in children). • Uneven heart beat or heart gives an extra beat (arrhythmias). Tell your doctor, but do not stop taking Seretide unless the doctor tells you to stop. • A fungal infection in the oesophagus (gullet), which might cause difficulties in swallowing. Frequency not known, but may also occur: • Depression or aggression. These effects are more likely to occur in children. • Blurred vision Reporting of side effects If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor or pharmacist. This includes any possible side effects not listed in this leaflet. You can also report side effects directly via the Yellow Card Scheme at: www.mhra.gov.uk/yellowcard or search for MHRA Yellow Card in the Google Play or Apple App Store. By reporting side effects you can help provide more information on the safety of this medicine.