Advair HFA and advair

Although I have asthma, I was in my physician's office for another purpose when the doctor noticed my cough. After listening to my breathing, she offered me samples of Advair Discus 100/50. "This will take care of that cough," she said.

Sure enough, the cough I'd had for 2 weeks disappeared completely after only the second dose. I thought I'd hit the medicinal jackpot!

Then came Advair day 3. I noticed that my heart rate was elevated constantly, even when I was lying down, and my blood pressure was higher than normal. I figured I was coming down with a cold.

On day 4, I awoke to the experience of having all of the muscles in my body feeling stiff 24/7. This is no exaggeration. And of all things, my lats (the muscles running down your sides starting at the armpit) were completely tensed at all times. It was one of the most unnatural and uncomfortable feelings I've ever had.

By day 5, my entire body was completely rigid. I had to chew gum all day just to release excess tension. I was growing more and more agitated by the minute. I wanted to take care of things that needed to be done (dishes, laundry, etc.) but found myself only able to read or watch TV.

On day 6, the fear began to set in. I was terribly anxious about something, but I had no idea what. Since my brain couldn't figure out why my body was literally in flight-or-flight mode 24 hours a day, it began parceling out all the angst to all of the small aspects of my life. I became unable to do anything because I was afraid of everything.

On day 7, my cough returned, and my mind went crazy. Fearing the worst, I told my husband that I was going completely out of my mind, but I had no idea why. We are 35, and have known each other since we were 14, and I have never seen such a look on his face. I told him we were going to have to get some kind of mental help immediately because I was ceasing to function at all.

On day 8, I'm still coughing, and still going out of my mind. I have to get on the computer to look up psychologists on my insurance company's website. I start the search, but then, a thought occurs to me. I opened a new tab and googled Advair and Anxiety. And there was the answer. I called my husband at work, and told him I was going off the Advair and why. He seemed skeptical, but thought I should definitely give the Advair a trial discontinuation.

Day 9, I wake up 24 hours after my last dose, and my cough is gone. I feel more relaxed than I have in days. Perhaps I am not going crazy after all.

It took about 4 days to go completely back to normal. According to my physician, the reaction I had was to the Salmeterol. I therefore should avoid any products containing any long acting beta-adrenoceptor agonist: Formoterol, Bambuterol, and sustained-release oral Salbutamol. I'm just glad I didn't end up institutionalized.

I've been on Advair for 12 years.I'm 27 years old and fed up with all this medications that doctors prescribe.We are so brainwashed into thinking that we misbehave if we don't see a doctor.Let me tell you what: The majority of the doctors, only know to prescribe medication.They get bonuses from the pharma industries every time they prescribe their "new discovered"medicine.
Advair is supposed to be preventive, what you don't know it's for how long.Exactly!!!.....'cause it's not meant to cure Asthma, it's meant to keep you hooked for the rest of your life.
My worse symptom is a very fast heart beating.I'm a martial artist and every time i exert a fast burst of energy(while i'm sparring for example), my heart goes into pumped up mode.It beats very, very fast and i have to stop because it hurts.Sometimes i keep going no matter what and feel like i'm exercising for two people.When i stop, i breath very deeply for 5 minutes and all of a sudden it stops and beats regularly.
It's not fun, and one more thing: I'm from Argentina and my mom sends me the medicine from there cause it's way cheaper, sometimes i run out(i procrastinate sometimes), i'm left off with no medicine for a few days and boy.....I'm a wreck.The time you stop you go right back to where you started.I've been researching about an alternative to this "S***".I'm afraid 'cause i don't want to feel discomfort with my lungs anymore, but i strongly believe that there should be a natural alternative to all this laboratory drugs and i'm on a mission to find it.

I just turned 34 and I am a woman. I have struggled with mild asthma from early teens. I was always able to control my mild asthma with a rescue inhaler as my asthma was triggered primarily by cats/some dogs. However eventually that faded away and I was in control as long as I wasn't around cats. At age 31, I had my daughter (she is now 2 1/2), I rarely had asthma symptoms during my pregnancy and before. However about 1 week after my c-section I had to go to the ER because I couldn't breathe. They thought maybe I was having a pulmonary embolism from the previous c-section surgery. Fortunately I wasn't, but unfortunately for whatever reason, my asthma had been triggered (even if I wasn't around animals). My doctor put me on a Advair, another rescue inhaler, and ZPac. It helped right away.

I noticed a big difference in my ability to breathe. However 2 1/2 years later, I'm still on it. 250/50 once a day. I've tried going off of it several times but I'm unable to breathe. I don't want to be on a steroid long term, but I also have to be able to breathe after about 2 days being off of it. It's like gasping for every breathe. Not fun at all. The side effects I've had are hives to anything cold, itchy skin, stiffer feeling joints, occasional mouth sores, lots of phlegm (coughing up phlegm especially in the morning). I've never suffered from leg cramps or depression from Advair, in fact prior to having a child I was on Lexapro for anxiety and after being put on Advair my depression/anxiety has gone away. In fact, I've lost weight (30 Lbs) and am now down to the same size I was in college! I've asked two different doctors my OBGYN and Family Doctor if it's safe as we are planning for another child. They say yes. My OBGYN has said if I can't breathe I'm not going to be able to carry full-term. Which I guess makes sense. My Family Doctor said you can use Advair only as needed as it is not a bad drug to go off and on again (unlike antidepressants where you should never just stop them cold turkey). He said (he also suffers from asthma) that asthma can be triggered by stress (and my life has been extremely stressful over the last year).

Is there anyone who has had similar side-effects? Do you believe the benefit of Advair outweighs the negatives? I'm wondering if there is a better non-steroid drug that I can take that is SAFER for pregnancy and for my future. Open to suggestions...

I was on Advair for 3-4 years...initially it was OK. Then I developed tight, tight muscles...I couldn't relax no matter how hard I tried. One day I simply went off the Advair and it was like my muscles all turned to marshmallows...such a relief to actually relax and not feel tight all over. My sleep has gotten much, much better, too.

On Advair after bout with asthma. Stayed on it for about 4 months (500 then the 250/50) I felt worse! Throat tightened, thrush (which i had in mouth, throat and esophagus and up into my sinuses)- raspy vocal cords, dry mouth and weight gain. Dr. pulled me off- i will NEVER use again!

Thank you to everyone who has posted on here. This is my second day of quitting Advair. Got sick and tired of becoming a 57 yr old with the body of a 90 yr old. I am fighting back. Only going to use my emergency inhaler if needed. Advair is ruining my life. I have been on it since 04/11/06 and have never been the same since the beginning. I am saying "NO" to Advair.

Wow, I'm so glad I found this site!
I was diagnosed with pleurisy 2 and a half weeks ago following a virus, a few weeks before, so naturally, as my asthma nurse has always told me, I've doubled up my Advair (or Seretide as it's called here in the UK!) for that entire time.
Previously I was taking one puff once a day in an evening which I never had any problems or side effects with, it just controlled my asthma really well. Now I'm taking 2 puffs twice a day (morning and night) and for a few days now I've been having terrible joint pains in my hands, feet, elbows and knees. Have been searching the internet for what it could be and think I might have found the answer! Hopefully if I decrease my meds back down the pain will improve!
Like a lot of people on here, though, I was NEVER told about any potential side effects to Seretide, just that it was a wonder drug.

About 2 and 1/2 months ago I went to an urgent care facility since I felt like I was suffocating. I am a long time smoker (30 years) and have not had any problems with breathing accept for the occasional morning cough. Long story short, the doctor after hearing my breathing and taking 2 xrays said "you have a pocket of infection in your lung and COPD". I didn't realize it was that quick and easy to diagnose COPD and thought there were more extensive tests to prove that, but I went along with the doctor. The doctor prescribed Advair, an antibiotic, ProAir HFA (albuterol pump rescue inhaler), a decongestant and prednisone. I thought that was an extreme amount of medication but the doctor said she was being proactive. After a couple albuterol breathing treatments and a shot of steroids at the urgent care center I was on my way.

I finished the treatments of antibiotics and steroids as prescribed, but I never took the decongestant (did not want to over-medicate myself). Immediately after starting Advair my joints ached and I felt over all like I had the flu. With my 1 weeks checkup with the doc I mentioned this and she just smiled. About a week after that the achy joints starting easing up, but I started cramping in different muscles. For instance one week I would have a dull cramping in my leg that was persistent during the day and worsened at night. Then the leg stopped cramping, then the lower part of my back started in to a point it was hard to get out of bed, walk or bend over. Then when that stopped something else started up. Then during the last two weeks that I was on Advair I was having periodic chest pains, tightness in my chest, (once again) difficulty breathing, and my vision started to go (blurring)...that with the lower back pain. I am almost 50 years old and have been in excellent health my whole life, and honestly I have never felt as bad as I did while on Advair.

I stopped taking Advair 6 days ago. No, I did not call and ask the doctor's advice because I knew what the doc would say. The first day after quitting Advair I had restricted breathing so I used the rescue inhaler once. The breathing issue became better during the remainder of the day. Slowly the cramping in my body and chest eased up. Today (6 days later) my vision is back to what it was, no chest pains, occasional restricted breathing and will use the rescue inhaler during those times.

I think it's too early to know the long lasting affects of Advair, but at this stage in my life (unless I am worse off with my breathing than I am right now) I don't care to use the medication.

I have been on Advair for about 5 months. It really controls my asthma symptoms well- I had wheezing with exercise and now can run without wheezing. However, I am losing my voice. I feel like I have to strain to speak and this leaves me out of breath, which is a problem since I teach 3rd grade for a living! I also have a chronically sore throat and a white coating on my tongue and throat, despite rinsing my mouth and brushing my tongue after using the Diskus. I am torn about what to do because I hate the asthma symptoms I had but I hate these side effects just as much!

Boy can I relate to all of you. I have chronic bronchitis I think and adult onset asthma or is this lining of symptoms the side effects of advair. I live on albuterol as I keep thinking the advair is not working but keep taking ti 2 times a day. I have more breathing problems, the heartburn is a killer and now on Nexium for that.. My throat feels like it is closing up and the mucous stuck in my throat is a killer PLUS all the crap draining from my sinuses. This is all been going on sicne I started taking Advair. I found your site as I was looking to see if Advair was causing my visual problems. Yup, I think it is. This drug needs more warning posted all over it. I am off the damn med as of right now. Down the trash it goes.

I was started on Advair HFA about 35 days ago. A little background about me is that I'm 35 years old, in good physical shape. I'm a competitive cyclists doing road races anywhere from 45-100 miles, I work out 2-4 hours everyday. I've had lifelong chronic asthma, but have fought the disease with my healthy lifestyle. I also play the saxophone.

Since I've been on Advair I've developed a constant sore throat. Been coughing up stuff constantly when I'm out training on my bike. Can't seem to sleep for more than a few hours at a time. The worst side affect has been the leg cramps which are killing my training for up coming races. I have constant leg cramps that force me to get out of bed over and over to work them out. My energy levels have dropped to the point that I can't do even half a workout without being totally wiped out. This is coming from a guy that averages 60miles a day on the bike, the other day I couldn't even do 15 miles and had to stop from the constant cramps and tiredness. This stuff is a nightmare. I've gone back to using nothing but my albuterol inhaler. I'll continue to do lung exercises 4 times a day and completely clean up my diet and basically get this stuff out of my system. Let this be a warning that you can't get something positive without something negative as well.

I was on Advair for a few months back in about 2005. I was taking it for asthma. I noticed after about a month of using it that I would have these severe asthma attacks if I came in contact with an irritant. Instead of minor coughing if I was near someone smoking my lungs would practically slam shut and I could not get any air. These were far more reactive and severe than I have had on any other meds or none at all. I stopped taking it, switched back to Flovent and the problem went away. A few months later the FDA announced the black box warning for Advair and that this was a possible severe side effect. They need to be more up front with patients about this risk so they can decide if it is worth using, I wasn't given that option.

I am so glad I found this site. I am sitting here with heart flutters that I have occasionally. I have had asthma since childhood and was placed on Advair about 10 years ago because it controlled my asthma much better. I have not felt normal since. I am 42 years old and I have experienced most the the symptoms described. I thought I was going through per-menopause, but that was not the case. I am so glad i found this site. I would have never link my leg cramps, migraines, hair thinning, fatigue, unexplainable bruising, forgetfulness and moodiness to ADVAIR! I am going off this stuff and back to my rescue inhaler. Thanks everyone!

I have been on advair for 2 years and am starting to experience headaches that last the entire day. It helps with my breathing difficulties and I am unsure if I can just stop taking the medication. Its really difficult for me right now and I'm starting to feel depressed about it. I'm not sure how I'll get through this.

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!

My son is 8 years old he has been taking Advair for about 3 years and he has leg pain all the time some times he gets up at night wanting something for the pain its so bad we have been to doctors and all kinds of stuff now they are sending us to childrens hospital to see a doctor for joint pain.they sent us to childrens hospital before my son was rolling his eyes and blinking a lot for about 2 and half years the doctors said he has tourettes and he doesn't thats another story (stupid doctors some of them) we
thought he may have a nervous problem or something because his dad works out of state and he misses him and maybe its
anxiety or something.And at night he
would grind his teeth so bad I thought he was going to brake one of them. And when I don't give him the advair at all that day he sleeps so good no teeth grinding , no waking up with leg pain no moving all over. My son is all most 9 and everyone things he is 5 I really think this stuff has did a number on my child I am going today to the Doctors again and telling them I don't want him on ADVAIR no more! MY son and my family has suffered to much over this stuff!

I am a part-time professional singer and attorney. I developed an odd cough-variant asthma this winter at age 42 -- it had scary breath shortness and wheezing plus lots of phlegm coughed up. I had never before had the shortness/wheezing/asthma, though I have always had allergies and occasional bronchitis following a cold. The asthma/allergy specialists put me on Advair 500 twice a day with each attack, plus an oral prednisone burst/short taper, nebulized (not just rescue inhaler) albuterol (beta 2 agonist), and antibiotics (a different one each time). I also take Claritin, Rhinocort and Astelin for my allergies. I had four attacks of asthma this winter that were treated this way; after the fourth, they put me on Advair 250 maintenance for a month. With each attack, I would get hoarse, have trouble sleeping, and get odd muscle cramps I never had had. The hoarseness was worse each time, but I was able to sing through it at my regular gigs. I attributed the side effects to the prednisone. With my fifth attack, they told me to ramp up the Advair to 500 and do all else the same, but as an experiment to see how this would alter those side effects, I decided to treat it with everything but the prednisone. The hoarseness, sleep trouble, and muscle cramps were all much worse. I found this site, noted the recommendation of several other singers to try Asmanex instead of Advair, and asked the docs about it. They agreed that all these symptoms could be related to the Advair and gave me Asmanex 250 twice/day instead instead of the Advair, plus all the other meds for the attack. The symptoms went away within a week, although it took a little longer for me to get over the asthma attack this time. I am extremely grateful to this site and all the users posting comments. I can sing again, sleep again, and exist without weird muscle cramps during treatment of my asthma. Thank you very much.

Im so glad I found this site. I thought I'm going crazy. I have been using Advair for 2 years now, and started taking it 2 times a day 3 months ago. I experienced severe depression, frequent dental visits due to loss of bone (im 39, thats far too early and I never had problems like that before).

I am 56 years old and was on Advair for about a month and found that I was having night time leg cramps. I have always had occasional problems with night time leg cramps, but the Advair was causing cramps every night. Many nights I was having several episodes which would cause me to get out of bed and walk off the cramp. One night I counted about six times that I got up with very painful cramps. So I stopped the Advair and now I am sleeping again. I think it will take a while before I feel rested again. I am so tired from this whole experience. Leg cramps are not listed as a major side effect for Advair, but it should be. These leg cramps were agonizingly painful.

Hey all. I have had asthmatic bronchitis for about 6 weeks now and I have never had asthma or bronchitis before. It started off as a normal flu for 3 days with fever. Then when the flu went away, I started having trouble breathing and shortness of breath. I never had that before. The doctor told me it was bronchitis. All tests were fine. I was taking azithromycin (took 3 paks of them) and that was the only thing that made me feel normal, but it did not get rid of the infection. Then I was placed on cipro and steroids. Now I'm not on any antibiotics. I'm taking steroids and just started the advair inhaler. I was having asthma attacks and everything. Very scary. I was just wondering how long it took you to get over it and what you did to get over it. I have been to so many doctors and had so many tests done. It's affecting my life. I won't leave the house due to fear of having another asthma attack. I just hope I feel normal again soon, please.

I just started it yesterday, 3 doses of Advair discus in combo with methylprednisolone to treat this "post viral asthma".
Every time I take these meds, i experience tightness in my chest, difficulty breathing and a constant tickle in my throat leading me to cough a lot sometimes so much that i almost vomit.

Cannot handle this anymore. Need advice. Thank you

thank gosh I found this website. I seriously was thinking I was losing my mind! I have been on Advair for 3 days...and I'm not kidding I have barely slept ten hours in those 3 days. I can't sleep...I shake so bad I can barely type this and my heart is beating out of my chest.

I called my doctor...he claimed it was not a "normal" reaction and suggests I stop drinking caffeine. I've been a caffeine addict for years and have never had this reaction. I'm so frustrated because I have bad asthma, and it's only controlled when I'm on medication, but this is ridiculous. I'm sure it works wonders for some people, but for me...I think I'm stopping it ASAP.

I was on singulair before this and had sort of the same reaction. I was also on another medication that made my asthma worse...so I'm beginning to think there is no hope out there.

So I never sleep I now I am short tempered but Its way worse... Even when I have a few beerz I cant sleep more than a few hours I am on like day 26 of my first 30 day dose and I was haven leg cramps but I thought it was lack of
potassium so I take it in a pill. the charle horses would be so bad I would wake up screaming and unable to walk for a while.... I never associated with advair... I went to bed at 11 and I been up since 2 I cant sleep and my throat hurts too ,,, so i was like i should look up some side effects on this stuff.. low and behold... i am miserable and i just got a refill

After reading all the comments that have been posted, I feel compelled to add my story. I have been on advair for approximately two years. One of the first comments I read a week or so ago was about the person that had horrible foot pain for over two years and felt it could have been from the Advair as well.

I have had severe foot pain for over 2 years. I had plantar faciitis in both feet and had surgery on both to fix that. Several months after surgery I still wasn't healed as much as I thought I should be and my doctor felt the same way. I then began a series of more cortizone shots, physical therapy, ultrasound therapy plus an on going slew of blood tests to rule out everything we could. I even went to a Neurologist and had an EMG done. Newest diagnosis is tarsal tunnel syndrome, so I was put on yet another drug (Cymbalta) I wouldn't recommend that one either. And still the pain exists. In fact the pain went from the heals to the tops of my feet. It feels more skeletal than nerve related. I have had stress fractures in both feet and ironically the same exact bone approximately 6 weeks apart. Is all of this coincidence, or linked to being on Advair?

I also have gone through most of the symptoms that others have posted; fatigue, insomnia, blurred vision, sore muscles, headaches, water retention, weight gain (40 pounds in 2 years), slow healing, bad scaring, easy bruising and many more I'm sure I've forgotten.

The day after being on this site and reading everyone's comments, I went and threw my Advair away. I don't have asthma, just bad allergies, and right now my breathing has been fine being off of the Advair. I still use my inhaler though as needed. The one comment that scared me the most was the side effect that several posted about rotting teeth and jaw problems. That's one side effect I haven't had and that's the main reason I stopped using the Advair. I have perfect teeth and don't want to ruin them.

I don't have any answers either, but just know that we as patients have to take control of our health. Don't feel bad if you disagree with your doctor or ask for a second opinion. We as a society have become quick to fix our ailments with drugs that have yet to be "proven" as safe over a long period of time.

Im in the process of weaning my self off of two other drugs that I was taking besides the Advair. I'm doing more on-line research regarding natural remedies for some of my ailments. I still have some side effects but that could be due to the detoxifying process. This is a process that takes a few weeks. Make sure you consult with your physician first before trying any of this.

I started taking Advair a few years ago because my doctor suggested it. I noticed after taking for a bit and then stiopping, I would get ill and have bronchitis. After a few episodes of this, I started taking it regularly. I was supposed to be taking it 2x a day but only took it at night. After about a few months of regualry taking it at night, I forgot to take it one evening and woke up in the middle of the night with the worst attack ever. I started testing this with on and off uses of the advair to see what the relationship was and one for one, if I did not take the medication, I had an attack. I believe that the regular use of Advair caused my body to become dependant on it. I wish I had never taken it in the first place. I am now having asthma attacks 1 to 2 times a day and before Advair, once every 3 months or so.

I am 66 yrs and have been on Advair 150 for several years. I have experienced leg camping and some PVC's but a year ago I had routine blood work and it was so abnormal that the doctor's have checked me for every kind of cancer you can think of and every thing is ok, however, I am still under doctor's care for this. Recently I thought it might be the advair and wonder if any one else has had the problem

I am a 44 year old male. I was on Advair for 7 years. I had Cataract surgery at 42 in both eyes. I was just diagnosed with Osteoporosis in my lumbar spine and osteopenia in my legs. Has anyone has these side effects? And has anyone been able to prove a link to Advair and these side effects? Please email me at ****** and thank you in advance.

I was diagnosed with asthma as a child. In late teens it seemed to not be problem, however after 50, I started developing symptoms of asthma again as evidenced from COPD tests. I am currently using Advair 250/50 since 55 yo.

One symptom, that I have not seen addressed here is that of "slow healing" after injuries. I injured my back awhile ago, and it seemed like 2 years before most of my symptoms were gone. To this day I still feel lingering effects. Then I scraped my shinbone. It seemed like it took forever to heal, and now there is an ugly red/purple scar where the minor scrape was.

I had never taken so long to heal before, and read that this was a problem with taking Advair. I never figured my asthma was that serious in the first place, so I simply cut back on the Advair to once/day or less as it seems still to keep my breathing OK. Sometimes, after a few days of not taking Advair, I feel some minor difficulty with breathing.

Now that I am 63, and so concerned about "slow healing", which I attribute to Advair, I have asked my Dr. to perhaps take me off Advair and simply take Albuterol when needed. Then I read that Asthma patients should only use Albuterol if that is sufficient to control symptoms and to advance to Advair to control more severe symptoms. Another article says that Albuterol does not heal Asthma, only assists with sudden onset of breathing difficulties and that I may still damage my lungs if I do not take Advair.

I remain at a loss as to what is best: Taking Albuterol when needed (perhaps a few to several times/week) or as I was doing before, contrary to recommended dosage, of 1-2 times/day. Fortunately my Dr. goes along with my changes, but tells me if symptoms get worse, she will put me on Advair 2X's/Day (which I probably will ignore dosage because of healing side effects, and use once/day or less).

I will report back later after trying Albuterol for time without the use of Advair at all.

I am 34 years old and was prescribed Advair about two years ago. I have had minor asthma issues over the years but nothing major. So the doctor gave me an inhaler. Then one winter I get sick and started going through the inhaler in about a month, so he prescribed Advair.
To back up I had lower back surgery for a bulged disc. So I had a lot of pain and was taking vicodin. Six months after surgery my back started feeling better than it had for a long time. I was able to exercise and get by with one vicodin in the morning. This went on for about a year. The pain was stable for the most part, but would increase every now and then.
Now enters the Advair. When I first started taking it I felt a little weird but it made my breathing a lot better. After a little while I would forget to take it or just feel like I didn't need it. But I could not stop taking it because my breathing got to bad without it. Over time my pain was getting worse and worse. I ended up being put on time release morphine because we thought the back pain was increasing. Then after being on morphine it seemed like I was always sick. I have been to the hospital twice for breathing and lung infections. I thought my back pain was turning into sciatica!!!! All along it is this F@#$ ADVAIR!!!! I have had a super short temper,daily head ache's,depression, HORRIBLE PAIN in my legs and back. I am so glad I found this site. ADVAIR IS EVIL!!!!! I have stopped taking it for two days now. I really need help from anyone who has info about quitting it. PLEASE CONTACT ME. Thanks : )

I have been on Advair 2X a day for 2 weeks with a history of migraines. The last 3 days I have had 3 separate migraines with preceding scotomas- the third migraine headache on the third day- was the worst ever and didn't respond to migraine medicine. My husband figured out it was the Advair and I stopped the medication. For those with a history of migraines- don't take Advair as run the risk of severe migraine headaches.

Hi - I was on advair for a couple of weeks after a horrible bout of asthmatic bronchitis. I now have this constant pressure under my rib cage that will not go away. I was wondering if any one else has experienced this while on or after stopping advair. Thanks and happy holidays!

I have been on Advair since Feb. of this year, I have had a lot of these side effects but didn't really realize it was from this med. At first I was told to take it 2x a day, reading the directions it says it has to be 12 hours exactly apart. My work schedule didn't allow that so I just took it 1x....Working 2 jobs I just thought when I couldn't sleep and was always tired, it was from working a lot. When I told the Dr. about not being able to sleep more than 4 hours, I was told since I was taking the meds 1x a day that wasn't it. After a bad cold and bronchitis I was told I had to take the Advair 2x a day, now i'm more tired than ever, still can't sleep and have a headache that won't go away even with migraine medicine. I'm even jittery and forgetful--kinda ditsy now and itchy off and on all day...After reading this blog site I see its not in my mind and i'm going to stop taking this med. I think i'm going to the health food store and find something natural.

Advair made me tired, so tired, I felt like the simplest chore was exhausting. I was told by the pulmonologist that of course the fatigue was unrelated to the medication. Personally, I think the doctors push the meds that they get perks from the pharmacy companies. They may get good results from 75% of their patients but be darned the 25% that may be sensitive to the meds, Modern medicine?

I have used Advair 250 for a few years now and have noticed a few of the same symptoms as the other posters, but my main concern is whenever I go off the drug for too long my asthma gets drastically worse. I have become extremely dependent on this expensive drug that I can barely afford and I fear it is just weakening my health while only mildly suppressing my asthma. I feel stuck with this drug now. I feel like a slave to it. It's an awful feeling.

I just wanted to comment to all of you asthma sufferers. I grew up with bronchitis and my brother with asthma. We were always getting sick while young, about every 6 weeks. My nephew inherited asthma from my brother, and he had it very bad, was always getting sick, needing oxygen, etc. While in his teens, someone told him to start playing an instrument like the trumpet or trombone which really exercises your lungs. He started taking lessons in school and it didn't take very long at all to notice a remarkable difference. His other siblings would even get sick and he wouldn't! The exercise, being natural, is a far better and healthy prevention, and makes your lungs stronger. I can't believe doctors don't spread this amazingly helpful advice around. I'm VERY sure they must have heard this before. Wouldn't news like that spread like wildfire through the medical community? But they would probably lose some business!!! So I wanted to help pass it around. I hope it helps some of you!

I think that since I have started the Advair, if anybody has had this symptom and I do not find it in the regular side effects, I have numbness from my waist all the way down to my feet. I have not felt my toes since about 3 weeks ago. I have already had the MRI of the spine and was told nothing to worry about, I have the best looking spine any radiologist had seen. My doctor took labs and they were all negative and normal and now she is going to send me to a neurologists because she is stumped. I believe I am going to stop taking the Advair, because it is the only NEW drug I have started since this began and see if that is the problem and if so. My problem is solved. If anybody else has had this problem let me know. Also numbness has began in my hands and fingers.

Bleeding Gums, Severe Leg Cramping, Yeast Rashes, Sleeplessness, Blurred Vision:

I am a 49 year old woman who was recently prescribed Advair for asthma control. I also have severe allergies. My gums began bleeding almost immediately so I worried that I wasn't rinsing my mouth well enough. I stopped the Advair for a several days since in my mind, that was the culprit. Then my breathing/wheezing/persistent cough came back. So, I started back on my Advair and then started almost immediately having the worst leg cramps of my life. After figuring out that this new symptom correlated to my Advair use, I stopped it again cold turkey. I also am not sleeping over about an hour at a time despite my taking Ambien as well as anti-anxiety meds (I have Bipolar Disorder (Depression alternating with Manic Episodes) as well as Anxiety Disorder). Oh yes, and I developed weird yeast rashes underneath my breasts, on my inner thighs and behind my ears....despite if not being hot at all. I have never had this type of rash before or even been troubled with yeast infections. I also just noticed today that my vision is more blurred when trying to read the guide on my TV (42"). I have had no weight gain...in fact am losing weight..but have been watching what I eat. I don't feel more depressed...in fact, I feel the opposite...kinda euphoric at times..which feels good but can be a step towards mania for me. I decided to do a bit of research on Advair as a cause of the leg cramps...my persistent cough is back but I am afraid to take it now. I guess I need to talk to my allergist tomorrow.

I am a physician and a patient. I have been on singulair and advair for several years now and had weight gain, anxiety, depression, and mild improvement in asthma that I could tell. I had pneumonia 4 times last year and thought it was the environment. I left the Midwest and moved to the east coast where I stopped my meds for several months and all the above symptoms resolved. I recently restarted them several weeks ago do to increase in symptoms and anxiety/panic attacks came back with a vengeance I stopped them and switched to other meds and wow the side effects are improving again. I am not going to take them or prescribe them again.

I have just been started on Advair as of today and now I am concerned.

I have been ill for a month with a upper respiratory bug and my doctor is trying to help ease the breathlessness I have been experiencing with it.
But, after reading all these posts of the side effects, I wonder if there are alternatives I should ask my doctor about?

I don't need the weight gain, dealing with that thanks to Cymbalta (which I am off of now) and the other symptoms don't sound fun either.

The only thing I am having from today is a dry mouth and sore throat.
I say, that's enough!

I have been on Advair for a little over two years. At first I thought it was very helpful, I had a very rough summer last year and it was the only thing helping me. But lately I've noticed an increase in frequency of my migraines, muscle cramps, constant edema in my legs and always being tired. My sleep is broken due to leg cramps, back spasms, or very strange dreams. I had also gained a lot of weight, but thought it was just natural slowing of my metabolism due to age (I am 46). I am cutting back to one dose a day and plan to stop altogether soon. I also stopped my Zocor because that seemed to make my leg swelling worse and the lasix the doctor prescribed just made me pee a lot and my legs were just as swelled up as before.

My uncle has COPD and takes Spiriva and Advair. He has had pneumonia since June 08 off and on through Sept. I've been concerned about this and have been reading up on Advair for people with COPD causing pneumonia. My question is what other choices does he have for medication if he stops taking the Advair? Does anyone know that has been through this? He is on oxygen all the time and his dose of Spiriva is 100/50. After reading the posts, I'm convinced his pneumonia is a result of the Advair.

I am a 47 year old female that has had asthma all of my life. I was wanting to stop taking Advair and looked up this website, boy am I glad I did. I have all of these side effects. I have been taking Advair 500/50 twice daily for 7 yrs. I have all of the side affects and more. I have experienced hair lose, depression ( I also take Wellburtin XL) since I have started the Advair, I have pain in my legs that make me feel older than I am. I have gain 40 lbs in the past 7 yrs. I now wear reading glasses because my vision is blurry. People always say my face looks rounder. I hate the drug. My doctor said the none of the side effects are caused for the Advair. As of yesterday I stopped taking the Advair. I have cut down my does slowly for the past 2 months. Can someone who has stopped the Adavir tell me what to expect now that I have stopped. Advair is a crazy drug and I refuse to keep taking it.

My daughter is no longer on advair, but when she was I thought she was a hypochondriac. She had asthma since age 3 and by the time she was in 4th grade she was put on advair. She gained weight in her face and stomach. She would have trouble concentrating on her school work, stayed moody. She would lash out for little or no reason. She always had some ache or pain. Almost every day either her head hurt or her stomach hurt. It was would last under an hour each time

She started having muscle pains. had to be in a walking cast twice for soft tissue damage to her ankle. She would have no idea how it got hurt. If she crawled on her knees playing she would get fluid on her knees. She would have knee pain off and on for a weeks at a time. All the time we were at one doctor or another. Every one of them said her asthma medicine would not cause this. The last straw was when in 6th grade her shoulders would pop out of place if she tried to do push ups in gym. She had to have physical therapy three times a week for three months. Even though the doctors told me not to she has been off of advair for 4 years now. All of the side effects went away with the except for the problems with her shoulders. She has to do exercises a few time a week to keep the muscle's strong to hold them in place.

My 5 year old daughter's pediatrician prescribed her advair to help with inflammation due to her seasonal allergies. (She had never taken an asthma medication or been diagnosed with asthma) I was very hesitant to give it to her, but she was really miserable. I gave it to her. 30 min later she was acting like she was bi-polar, manic and jumping up and down one min and crying for no reason the next. This went on for about 30 min before she crashed. She was very suddenly lethargic, couldn't hold her head up. Her face was pale, it started getting puffy and splotchy and her skin around her eyes got very red and she complained that her eye hurt so bad, she actually held an ice-pack to it. (A 5 year old) She also was acting very rough, aggressive, banging her toys into things and grabbing things from her friend, which is very unlike her. It was like she was full of intense energy and had to get it out. It was very scary.

Wow, I got on the internet this morning looking got side effects of advair b/c I mail ordered my script so i've been without for a few days. i have been experiencing severe neck pain, thought I slept on my neck wrong, but it's still here after 3 days. I have been on Advair 100/50 for 6 years, and have now worn glasses for 3 years, on nerve blocker medication for neck and shoulder pain, horrible heart palpitations, but I've never thought these things related to the Advair until recently. I've been asthmatic all my life and thought Advair was a lifesaver, but always had some concerns. I knew any medication could not be safe for life, and after 6 years. I'm really starting to pay a price.

I was diagnosed with adult allergic asthma one year ago at 38 years old. I started having problems breathing ONLY AT NIGHT on occasion and palpitations. Had a physical and ekg, totally normal. Went to allergist and they said I have alot of allergies and diagnosed me with the asthma. Funny thing, weeks before I niked 20 miles, hiked 12 miles, canoed 3 miles, played golf in a 3 day span and no problems. Since they told me this and started me on advair I haven't been able to jog more than 2 miles or bike more than 8 to 10.

Its very strange indeed, I have gotten more paranoid feelings when just get a little out of breath, and sometimes cant keep still in a car or sitting down.

I cut back on sugar, sodium and started exercising a little every day, only 15 minutes. But came down with a cold recently and back to square one. I am trying to take the advair only ONCE a day instead of twice and almost feel withdrawal symptoms like shakiness, paranoia, irritability. Does anyone have any idea about this? I am really confused! Thanks... J

i have been on advair for a year and a half and in this time i went from having perfect teeth to having my teeth rotting out.one of my doctors told me that she dosent think that advair did it but then another doctor told me yes it did and the dentist say he thinks it might be caused by the advair.has anyone one out there had this happen to them.please if so let me know.you can email me at ******i could really use the help.

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.

I'm officially blown away. My 10 yr old son has been on Advair for a couple of months and strange things have started happening, so I thought I would surf the internet. HOLY $#!^!!!! I am now convinced that Advair is the cause for his headaches, fatigue, sleeplessness, and now the strange sores on his mouth and nose that NO 10 year old should have to be dealing with!!!!! How can the medical community continue to advocate the use of a medication that causes such significant side effects???? Oh wait, don't answer that...I really don't want to know the real answer do I?? Right now I'm just angry....

Oh yeah! Where are you weight gainers gaining most of your weight. I never had a stomach and I have gained 3 inches over the last 8 months around my waist. NOT worth it.