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I'm so glad I found this! I thought I was going mad for a while t...

Posted at 12:28 PM on May 09, 2009 by sickofbeingsick8, #41333
I'm so glad I found this! I thought I was going mad for a while there. Background: I'm a 34 yr old female. Diagnosed w/ asthma at 12, but they suspect I had it before that. Used only Ventolin for a long time. Five years ago, right around the time I had my second child, my symptoms (and allergies) seemed to get much worse. We moved around that time, to a house with a HUGE Chinese elm in the backyard (which I now know I'm allergic to) and right next to a main freeway. Around this time, Dr. prescribed Advair 250/50 when he realized I was using Ventolin up to 6 & 7 times/ day. The first year, I actually felt so much better (I could BREATHE!!) that I think I wouldn't have noticed any side affects. Year two I had MAJOR hair thinning. Dr said "age and hormones". Following 3 years on it: Almost constant nasal congestion (despite always being on a decongestant), sinus infection, tonsil infections, laryngitis, TWO bouts of pneumonia in 3 years. Around the year mark on it, I did experience the depression and anxiety, however, I had had the "baby blues" with my first child and just thought it was a more severe version of that. Now, I feel CONSTANTLY "run down" and almost always have some low-grade infection (yeast, UTI, sinus, bronchitis...etc.), am always hoarse and am just waiting for another round of pneumonia. I also get dizzy A LOT. I am in the second day of a cold turkey quit and am looking for alternative diet/exercise therapies. Good Luck to everyone!
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Reply 6 months ago on May 18, 2009 by educate38, #19928

Thank you I am not losing my mind! I am 41 diagnosed with asthma early childhood. Used rescue inhaler for many years. I have been on Advair for close to 4 years. I have experienced the hair thinning, leg pain, heart fluttering, chronic sinus infections and fatigue. I thought I was in peri-menapause, that proved to be wrong. I am so glad that I read your posting and several others. I suspected the Advair, but I can't breathe without it. I must seek out alternative treatments.

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Reply 6 months ago on May 19, 2009 by geraldatwork, #19937

You should have your doctor recommend a medicine with only a steroid component. Advair has a corticosteorid (Fluticosone) and a long acting broncho dilator (Salmeterol). In most cases it is the Salmeterol alone or in combo with the steroid that causes the problems. In most but the most extreme asthma cases just a corticosteroid should be enough. There are many such as Flovent (same steroid in Advair and may not be a bad choice since it did work) Asmanex, Asmacort, Q-Var and some others.
You should start feeling better for a while after stopping Advair. The effects of Salmeterol go away quickly but the Fluticosone (steroid) component of Advair can work for a week or more. After about a week your asthma symptoms will probably return. If that is the case this proves that just a steroid alone should be enough.

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