Possible adverse effects symptoms and conditions

I am very skeptical of all of the claims I have read here. I am no advocate of GSK or any other drug company for that matter, but I think people are getting carried away with attributing their symptoms to Advair. The known side-effects are readily available, anything else is purely based on assumption. I agree that Advair may in fact have many more possible adverse effects than they let the public know, but let us be careful about making ourselves little scientific researchers and concluding a causal relationship based upon a single case study (and an informal one at that). Talk to your doctor about trying something with less risk, such as Singulair, Azmacort, Intall, Fluticasone Propionate, etc. Please though, be careful not to be so quick to claim generalizable findings based on your specific case. I myself am going to work with my physician to attempt a gluten-free diet and a less invasive medication therapy. Advair is not habit-forming or addictive, so withdrawals are doubtful at best. Read up on the pharmacology of Advair (salmeterol in particular), and you can come to your own conclusions. Best wishes to all of you fellow asthmatics!

Interestingly, the side effects reported by other people here are mentioned in the Singulair package insert in France, which I found online in a 2005 edition on the manufacturer's French website. I don't think the same list is included in the American package inserts. The French distributor is "Laboratoires Merck Sharp & Dohme-Chibret" which appears to be a Merck-related entity. So if Merck has known about these side effects at least since 2005 and includes a warning in the French packaging, I think people should be asking Merck and the FDA why the French warnings are not given to U.S. patients and physicians. It may be that our laws need to be improved. Here's the info in French, then in English:

4. QUELS SONT LES EFFETS INDESIRABLES EVENTUELS ?
Comme tous les médicaments, SINGULAIR, est susceptible d’avoir des effets indésirables. Il a été décrit la survenue de douleurs abdominales et de maux de tête lors du traitement par ce médicament. Deplus, les effets suivants ont été rapportés : réactions allergiques incluant éruption cutanée, gonflement du visage, des lèvres, de la langue, et/ou de la gorge pouvant entraîner des difficultés à respirer ou à avaler, démangeaisons et urticaire, fatigue, fébrilité, agitation y compris comportement agressif, irritabilité, étourdissements, hallucinations, somnolence, rêves anormaux ou cauchemars, insomnie, fourmillements/engourdissements, convulsions, malaises, douleurs articulaires, douleurs musculaires, crampes musculaires, sécheresse de la bouche, nausées, vomissements, troubles digestifs, diarrhée, hépatite, augmentation de la tendance au saignement, ecchymoses et oedème, palpitations.

Si vous remarquez des effets indésirables non mentionnés dans cette notice, veuillez en informer votre médecin ou votre pharmacien.

4. WHAT ARE THE POSSIBLE ADVERSE EFFECTS? Like all the drugs, SINGULAIR may have adverse effects. There have been reported incidents of abdominal pains and headaches during treatment by this drug. In addition, the following side effects have reported: allergic reactions including rash, swelling of the face, lips, tongue, and/or the throat, possibly including difficulties with breathing or swallowing, itching and hives, tiredness, fever, agitation including aggressive behavior, irritability, dizzy spells, hallucinations, somnolence, abnormal dreams or nightmares, insomnia, tingling/numbness, convulsions, faintnesses, arthralgia, muscular pains, muscular cramps, dryness of the mouth, nausea, vomiting, turbid digestive, diarrhea, hepatitis, increase in the tendency to bleed, bruises and edema, palpitations.

If you notice adverse effects not mentioned in this note, please inform your doctor or your pharmacist.