Advair HFA and acid reflux

I've been taking Advair for about 14months months, first 100/50 and then 250/50 to control my asthma and chronic bronchitis. During the past year I have actually lost 10lbs but over the past six months have experienced increasing symptoms/possible side effects from Advair: chest pains, leg pains/cramps, neasua, dizziness, acid reflux, trouble sleeping, memory issues and extreme muscle weakness. The leg cramps I've been able to control by taking vitamins and enzymes but the chest pains is worrying me. I was searching for possible answers to the mysterious chest pains and thought that Advair may be the culprit. Hence my entering this site. I'm going to chuck mine in the trashcan and go cold turkey Hopefully my symptoms will subside overtime and nothing damaged permanently.

I have adult onset asthma that has gotten progressively worse since I moved from a small Midwestern town to a larger city in the Sonoran desert. On account of this progression in asthmatic symptoms and flair-ups, I switched from Flovent 220mcg to Advair 500/50 about a year ago. For a long time, Advair really seemed to be helping my asthma. Outside of gaining 10-15 pounds in this year (which I asked my pulmonologist about and was assured that inhaled steroids cannot be responsible for), I have fortunately not had many of the aforementioned side effects. However, in the past month after experiencing a bad flair up while studying abroad, I have developed severe heartburn, nausea, acid reflux, a sore throat, and mouth sores. I take the medicine as prescribed and am always sure to properly rinse out my mouth, having been warned about this. After reading everyone else's entries on this site, I am now curious if Advair is doing more harm that good.

26/f on Advair for 1 year, 3 mos. Diagnosed with asthma when I was 17. Was overusing my Albuterol and my symptoms got worse so pulmonologist prescribed Advair 250/50. After the first week of taking 2 puffs a day, I didn't need Albuterol inhaler and was able to exercise for the first time in YEARS without needing emergency inhaler. Advair was my life saver. Also prescribed to me was Protonix- the doctor thought I had acid reflux which contributed to my asthma symptoms. I take that seasonally now, when I notice a hoarseness in speech. I do get headaches every so often, they have been occurring more frequently as with mood swings so I am researching medications. I have no idea if this is tied into my Advair use since I've been on it over a year now. I might try going off Advair to see if it is related. I've also had a weird muscle cramp in my left armpit area which I NEVER would have thought was related to Advair but several people here have reported it.

In short, the headaches, mood swings, etc. do NOT outweigh my ability to exercise and breathe normal. I will most likely try to lower my dose of Advair or ween myself off to see how I do, but if my asthma worsens, I'd rather stay on Advair

I started taking advair in September of 2006 after being diagnosed with allergy related asthma. I took it for 3 months. Then stopped for a few months over the winter and restarted in spring because of more serious symptoms of asthma. I have had severe stomach upset, acid reflex, rashes, and weight gain. I also feel dizzy a lot. I am very health consious and work out all of the time. I never gain weight so it seems obvious to me advair is the culprit. I am going to try getting allergy shots and see if I can stay off the advair. In home air filters do seem to help with the asthma

I am a 39 year old female. I have been taking Advair for about 4 years now, since a bad attack landed me in the hospital. My pulmonologist initially put me on the 500 strength and told me to take it twice daily. After a couple of week of that my skin broke out in small bumps all over the place - my face, my chest, my back, even on my scalp. I suspected the Advair, told my doctor, and she advised me to reduce to once daily. I did, and the bumps were gone within days. After a few months she decreased me to the 250 dosage and I remained on that for 3 years with no debilitating side effects. Unfortunately my doctor retired around this time and another doctor took over her practice.

About a year ago I noticed that my joints were weaker, specifically my knees, and I had one bad fall caused by complete loss of strength in my left knee. My new doctor said I might be experiencing cartilege loss but did not mention it may be from the Advair.

Then a few months ago I had got an upper respiratory infection which went into bronchitis. My doctor put me on an antibiotic that I'd never taken before and increased my Advair to 500 again. Almost immediately I began experiencing racing heart, joint pain, extreme skin sensitivity, sore throat and ear pain. I also got a yeast infection, which is something I have never had before. I still did not suspect Advair as the culprit. Although I reported all these symptoms to my doctor, he also did not mention the possibility of Advair playing any part in them. He told me it was acid reflux, although I've never had a single GI problem in my life. He told me the muscle pain was stress, for Heaven's sake. I wasn't very comforted by his diagnosis, but couldn't think of what else I could do.

One morning a few weeks ago I woke up and for some reason decided to Google Advair, and found copious documentation from reputable sites like Mayo Clinic that detailed all the possible side effects of the drug. I was floored to see that I have been experiencing so many of them.

I have now taken myself off Advair. It's been a week thus far and my breathing has not gotten any worse but the heart racing has already gone away. I also feel less ear pain. The joint pain has remained. I suspect that bone and cartilege damage done by this drug will not be reversible.

Tomorrow I have another appointment with my doctor and plan on showing him the information I printed out from the Mayo Clinic site on the effects of Advair. I do not plan to resume taking that drug.

I have an 8 year old who was put on Advair; after 3 months he started having pain in his chest and left arm, said it hurt to breath and had a fever. Within three days (continuing the Advair) it had turned into pneumonia. His asthma/allergist doctor who put him on the Advair took him off of it, only to have my sons pediatrician put him right back on it. One week after getting a clean bill of health for the pneumonia and being back on the Advair he started in with the exact same symptoms (hurt to breath, pain in chest & left arm and fever). Took him in right away only to have the pediatrician give him a prescription for acid reflux; He dismissed my concerns the first time and refused to even consider that it might be the Advair the second time we went in there. I took my son off the Advair that day, three days later he was able to sleep all the way through the night and the chest pain and fever subsided (did not give him the med. for acid reflux). I will not put my son back on this medication. I have also noticed a change in his behavior, not as irritable or anxious as he has been for the last month or so.

i'm male 30, had asthma since i was 2, tried about every inhaler and pill you can think of. anyway march 2006, started taking advair, it helped alot,i was able to play sports again and even outlast alot of people, the only thing was it made weak in the strength department and my balance was off.

i also expreienced what alot of people here are saying, about weight gain, moon face, acid reflux, not wanting meat, acne, hoarsness, sinus infection, belly getting bigger.

i got off it about 2 months ago in june due to a back injury, i believe the advair caused me to get the back injury.

the back is better now, but since being off advair i can't walk up stairs without taking a break. but my skin is alot better and i lost 10-15 pounds just being off of advair.

right now i'm trying to find an alternative, so far vitamins are helping a little bit.

My sister had been using advair for many years the past 6 to 12 months she had been experiencing unexplained problems. weight gain-mainly in midsection( Dr did ultrasound to check for tumor), increasing dry mouth to the point of mouth and throat sticking together Dr. did tests to rule out serious conditions but came up with no answers, She has been complaining of being tired more easily and getting short of breath unable at times to climb stairs, in the last month she was mentioning problem sleeping, acid reflux getting worse, on September 5th she had a sudden attack and died within minutes. The Dr said the cause was bronchiospasms. I heard something on TV and started doing some checking and advair has been known to be involved in sudden deaths due to bronciospasms. The symptoms she experienced in the months prior sound like they also might of been side affects or adverse reactions and the Dr. never suspected her medication when no other cause could be found. I want to warn people that if they are even possibly having adverse reactions to advair check it out closely befor continuing. My sister was only 58.

I'm 24 year old female, and I've been using Advair for about 3 weeks now, and have used it for a month at a time previously in the past. I remember that it always seems to help at first, give me more energy, and making my running better (I was a competitive runner in college and developed asthma as an adult), but after about a two week period, the medication actually seems to stop helping, and instead I start getting chest tightness, severe acid reflux, naseau, headaches and muscle fatigue. I've also had incredible sleeplessness, excitability and restlessness, and rather significant weight loss, which at first I attributed to running more (and I'm sure its a combination), but I think the restlessness is to blame for a lot of it.

Additionally, despite rinsing, my voice is hoarse, my mouth always tastes bad, and I have to swallow or drink liquids all the time. My ezxema has gotten much worse, and I've developed acne on the sides of my face, which hasn't happened in years.

I thought maybe I was losing my mind, but this site has made my fears seem quite reasonable.

I was on Advair for almost three weeks. Within the first few days, I thought it was helping. Then I started having really bad problems with acid reflux, throat irritation/hoarseness, a dry cough, need for nearly constant throat clearing, and tightness in the throat. It also seemed like the Advair was getting less effective in helping my breathing. I ended up going to a asthma specialist. In addition to asthma, I found out I may also have this other condition called Vocal Cord Dysfunction (VCD). VCD is commonly mistaken for asthma as the symptoms and triggers are very similar. Also, there is a fairly high rate of co-occurance with asthma and some literature even suggests having asthma predisposes one for developing VCD (having GERD and allergic rhinitis also appear to be triggers). In one study, 56% of individuals with "severe" asthma were found to also have this condition. Another 10% were found to not even have asthma. The point in talking about all this is that I think in my case taking Advair significantly exacerbated my symptoms of VCD. M y doctor's response was to put me on prednisone when the Advair didn't work. It seems like lots of people posted concerns about similar side effects to mine and some even noted they were having more trouble breathing. They might want to look into this condition. Here's a link: www.cantbreathesuspectvcd.com

Rare but occasional leg cramps. Acid reflux due also in part to inherited condition. I have been taking advair for about 6 years. It has saved my life. I can breathe well and be active like never before.

Normal weight gain due to stress factors, probably only in part to advair --folks, weight gain doesn't come solely from advair--you have to put the food in your mouth in order to gain weight--so you are over-eating and advair is only part of the problem. A good solution to weight gain is to read up on nutrition, for example, MACROBIOTICS, a food philosophy relying on lots of whole gains, natural fiber is good fo filling you up, beans, etc. --and try to improve what you are eating. Avoid sugar, it is the coccaine of the food world and SUGAR CAUSES HEADACHES (migraines).

Also, it is NORMAL to gain weight as you age. Especially for women, because the added weight pulls on your bones, causing a good kind of stress that causes the bones to bulk up just as you are approaching menopause.

Learn to be happy eating foods that are good for you, and you will weigh less and feel better.

Although advair may have some problems and may not be for everyone, its benefits enable me to live a normal life and it works well for me, the benefits outweighing the negatives. A hundred years ago, or even maybe only 40 years ago, someone like me would have had little chance of living to be 50.

Almost completely lost my singing voice after only 11 days (an octave is gone)! Sudden and terrible acid reflux though I quit eating "bad" foods long ago.

To everyone who has taken this stuff for a long time, and has taken the time to share details here, THANK YOU!

No more Advair.

I have been on Advair for about 1 month. It has helped my asthma but I am concerned about my throat. Sometimes it is such a strain to speak. At first I thought I was getting laryngitis but then I came to the conclusion that it was a side effect of the Advair. I do not get soar throat symptoms but I am really concerned about the possible damage this drug may have on vocal cords, larynx or the throat in the long term. I just assume go back on an albuterol inhaler which helped my asthma just as well. I have used singulair (the directions say to take at night) but I have to make sure that I'm practically asleep, otheriwise, it makes me sick to my stomach and horrible acid reflux.

Hello my name is Tiffany, I have a 13 year old daughter whom is going through alot of issues and I now guessing it is all caused by advair not sure yet. My daughter suffers from Asthma, acid reflux, allergies since she was born, she was a premie and only seems to suffer with the asthma issues. She has gained over 60 lbs now weighing 204 from 160 last year. She is constantly complaining about back pain, phlegm in her troat, headaches, mentral cramps. can't sleep, now she seems to be going depression, the doctores wants her to see an therapist he wants to put her on lexipro. My god she is only 13 what is she depressed about, she is always nervous, and upsets easily. She missed over 40 days of school last year. Advair seems to be the only thing that has helped her breathing she has not had as many attacks but she is suffering in othe areas. What do I do. she has been on singular, flovent, provental, pretizone when she is suffering. She is on xopenex for her daily nebulizer treatment or when needed now. She takes flovent, allegra, advair 250/50, topanex for headaches, all of this daily. We are finally getting to a pulmonoligist this month hopefully he can relieve her of some of this medicine. I am going to do research on this serevent we have not tried that one yet. Now since she has been on the advair she has not had problems with her acid reflux. She did change her eating habits. Can someone tell me if they have childred suffering from this medicine as well.

I took myself off Advair over a month ago and am still having side effects. Some of them have improved but not all.

Nauseau-much better
Dizziness-still there
Itchy ears- still there
Migraines- still there
Edema- still there
Lethargy-still there
Fatigue-still going
Vision Changes- those stopped when i went down to one dose a day
Frequent urination-oh yeah
I've also had a number of uti since going on advair with no other reason
canker sores- still going
weight gain-same
heartburn-i have acid reflux now which i didn't have b4 advair
heart palpations-a little better
tremors-those stopped when i went down to one dose a day
restlessness & nervousness- a lil better
memory problems-same
scratchy irritated throat- same
thrush- had about 4 times in the last year, currently last wk and i've been off advair for a month...
burning pain in stomach- went away when i went down to one dose a day.. my doc said i probably got an ulcer.

I'm 29 and I feel like I'm 40. I'm exhausted. If this doesn't go away I guess it might be something else but I think maybe my side effects are still lingering.
i know someone says it gets out of your system shortly but it sure doesn't feel that way for me. but then again i've been on it continuously for almost 3 years.

Out of desparation I went on the internet today to see if anyone else besides myself was having adverse reactions. I went to the Dr. yesterday and neither one of us could figure out why I was hoarse,throat full of phlem, felt like I had a lump in my throat and it felt tight. Kept feeling like I had to swallow. The roof of my mouth is sore and my toungue is sore. Funny taste in my mouth. Acid reflux. Prilosec no longer working. Running a fever last week of 102 degrees. Yesterday when I took my morning dose of advair it fellt like my mouth was on fire. Constant non stop post nasal drip, which made me feel like I constantly had to swallow. Felt paniky. Desided to take myself off Advair today. I'm already feeling better. My voice is coming back to normal. The thick phlem is subsiding and the swelling and tightness in my neck is almost gone. Weight gain of 20 lbs in the last year. The advair was actually triggering bronchitis and was also causing acid reflux. The medication prilosec, nexium,protonix etc. can increase your chance of getting pneumonia and upper respritory problems. I was not diagnosed with asthma, yet the Nurse Practioner was treating me with aggressive asthma medication, which over time was worse than the original symptoms. By the way Flovent and advair are the same thing so I also took myself off flovent. I went to the health food store and bought allergy 10 and echinacea. Echinacea boosts the immune system and acts like an antibiotic, but should not be taken for more than 6 to 8 weeks at a time. Allergy 10 can be take indefinately.

Hi there, 35 y/o male, in decent shape (though have moderate to severe allergies and get reoccuring sinus infections). In Mid-Nov '04 was diagnosed with acute bronchitis and was perscribed a Z-pak and 500/50 Advair diskette. Symptoms improved some, the wheezing I was experiencing subsided. So after a few weeks of taking the Advair I started to get this deep phlem, in my epoglotis/trachea area. Seemed I was always having to clear my throat, was getting very annoyed and concerned. So I went and saw a Ear, Nose & Throat MD who diagnosed me with GERD. Put me on a very restrictive diet, non dairy products, no caffiene, alcohol, sleep w/head propped up at a 30 degree angle, and yada yada. Also perscribed Protonox for acid reflux. Well, it seemed to help some, but now that I think about it, it kind of coinincides with my Advair perscription running out. Then I started getting the slight wheeze back, my doc put me back on Advair 100/50 2x/day. The whole time though I've had this persistent annoying phlem issue, I thought maybe it was still atributed to the GERD, but now after reading all of your posts, I'm beginning to think it might be caused from the Advair. Long story short, seems I've had this phlem issue, dry throat, some dry cough and I'd say a 10lbs weight gain in the four (4) or so months I've been on Advair. Am I going nuts, or could the phlem issue really be caused by the Advair? Feel free to email me at ****** if you have/are experiencing the same/similar symptoms. Bye the way, I'm going to ditch my Advair today and see how it goes.

My 10 year old daughter has been on Advair for 6 months and is now getting off!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! She has now developed an acid reflux condition and according to her Dr. a "vocal cord disorder". He refuses to even listen to anything negative about Advair. She is in so much discomfort and GI pain that she has been to the ER and 3 different doctors who all say it is the Advair! The asthma Dr. will not hear of it. She has gained weight, has a swollen appearance to her face and is now on Prevacid and Gavascon to heal her stomach. Her asthma is not that severe to be on a Advair 2 times a day as she was originally prescribed. What a huge mistake. This stuff is evil and if anyone has a moderate to mild case of Asthma, should rethink using the purple disk. Ask around and investigate!!!!!

FACE IT PEOPLE>>> ADVAIR is not worth
all the hidden delayed problems even if it
does help you breathe easier. My 14 year old
took 100, 250 and 500 short term and exper-
ienced rashes, irrability, hoarse voice, bloated
stomach, rash on face, and throat constriction
when he began to run or play. I took him off
cold turkey after doctors referred him to a
cardiologist, pulmonologist and gastrologist.
Turns out him simply had acid reflux all these
years and has not used his albuterol since
being put on the proper medication. KNOW
YOUR STUFF AND RESEARC!!!!!

Started advair after an extreme allergic reaction to burning poison ivy. It helped me to breathe more easily; but I think the doctor kept me on it too long. During the first year I had experienced heart attack like palpitations at night which I just lived through, and I saw a throat specialist who told me that voice lessons would help my throat pain and loss of voice (i.e., the problems were caused by my using my voice too much without training). At the end of the year I asked my allergist if I should continue to take advair and he said absolutely yes. After 8 more months on it the side affects incresed to include: hip and joint pain, acid reflux (I think this may be caused or made worse by back pain because it does get better after I do exercises that take pressure off the back), infection in sinus are that increased to a golfball size, rounded face and body front, anger, and depressive, negative thoughts. A month ago I decided myself to get off advair after reading this site and can say that already I have been having pleasant thoughts of well-being again and I sleep well even with joint pain. How long does it take for the body to recover from advair?

I started advair after an extreme allergic reaction to burning poison ivy. It helped to control my breathing; but I think the doctor kept me on it too long. During the first year I had experienced heart attack like palpitations a few times which I just lived through. I saw a throat specialist, who told me I needed voice lessons to regain the voice I was losing. I asked my Dr if I should still be on it and he said absolutely yes. I guess my state of vulnerability after almost dying kept me from questioning the negative affects the drup was having on me. The depression I was experiencing probably also contributed. I stayed on it for another 8 months and the side affects increased to include: hip and joint pain, acid reflux (I think this may be caused by back pain because it gets better when I do exercises that take the pressure off the back), rounded face and front part of baody, anger, and depressive thoughts. I myself decided to get off advair a month ago after seeing this site and I so happy I did. I have been actually having feelings of well-being again and I sleep well evn with the joint pain. How long does it take for the body to recover from the affects of advair?

I'm 29... My doctor prescribed Advair 250/50 after I had a difficult case of bronchitis that left me short of breath for some time after. I used the Diskus properly and rinsed well after each use, but still had problems with mouth ulcers and laryngitis. I also experienced:

Tightness in my chest

Severe heartburn & acid reflux (which I've never had before)

Dry, flaky skin as well as periods of severe acne

Muscle & joint pain

Jaw pain & tooth sensitivity

Menstrual disruption (My first period on Advair was very short and light. Then it stopped altogether. I've been off Advair for over a month and am still in this menopause state.)

If you would like to see a pretty comprehensive list of the side effects of using Advair, and also learn of all the complications that could arise from its use and the interactions of other asthma medications, please read our just-launched website at: www.asthma-advair-danger.com You'll find information on medication interactions and even how acid reflux can affect asthma. The website was created to educate others like ourselves and to help asthmatics know the truth. We wish you well.

Listen to your body,
Diana