Advair HFA and allergist

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'm 18 years old and I've been taking Advair (500) for about 4 years. I've had very persistant asthma my whole life and my Advair seems to save me from having to use my albuterol around 6 times a day. About 9 months ago i lost my voice for over 2 months. After that went away I had a break for about one month then around 6 months ago I developed what seems like a smokers cough yet I don't smoke. I just got a chest x-ray done and they said it was normal. They put me on steroids and antibiotics but it doesn't seem to be helping.

Could it be the Advair? I don't know that I can go without it even if it is. I want to get rid of this congestion in my lungs. I'm sick of coughing up mucus daily. Does anyone have any advice?

Anyone know of a class action suit? I was on Advair for 4 years for mild asthma (very occasional problems with exercise), at the advice of my allergist. While I was still on it, I was diagnosed with osteopenia, and episcleritis (occasional flare up, now gone since I quit). However, after 1 yr off Advair, I have just been diagnosed with a cataract at 54. I questioned my doctor about the osteoporosis, she poo pooed it. My cataract is advancing very rapidly. I would like to know if I can get some compensation to help with cataract surgery!!!!

I am a 61 year old male and I have COPD with 40% loss in lung function. My allergist started me on Advair 250/50 a couple of years ago. As I was still having trouble with shortness of breath, my internist put me on Spiriva, also. Breathing got easier, but I was experiencing a number of symptoms.

The one that clued me into knowing something in the medicine was bothering me was bright red eyes. Also focus problems and blurry vision. My ophthalmologist found no reason for the eye condition. So I also looked at some other symptoms I had: Severe muscle cramping if any muscle was contracted; severe lower back pain after walking only 5 minutes; hoarseness; loss of voice; Extreme weight gain (55 pound in 1-1/2 years), all in my middle; bloating and tooth/gum problems that were nonexistent 2 years ago; BPH symptoms (poor urine stream, difficulty emptying and many nighttime bathroom visits with normal prostate & PSA tests). E.D.

Whoa! What’s going on here? So I began stopping all my drugs one at a time for one week. Just got to the Advair yesterday and my eyes have already almost returned to white. My hoarseness is almost gone. Was it the power of autosuggestion? Somehow, I don’t think so. This drug works, but one has to balance the side effects with the help it provides. I’m going to try just using my albuterol inhaler and stay off these steroids.

Good luck to you all!

I am a 40 year old woman that is fairly healthy, but occasionally in September and March, I get severe asthma attacks. My allergist put me on Advair in September, and I had severe adverse effects from it the first time I took it. Needless to say, I never took it again. I have never felt so bad. Immediately after taking it, I was unable to drive because I was so dizzy, and my heart felt like it was going to beat out of my chest. I was short of breath and the rest of that day I had to sit down because of the dizziness. To be honest, I rather have the asthma or take a nebulizer treatment than take this drug. I thought I was going to die!

March 9, 2008
I posted my reactions re: Advair HFA which I had tried as well as Advair Discus over the past 3 years in Feb. of this year. At that time I said I was going off Advair HFA and relying on Spring Forest Qigong for stabilizing my breathing. I also was pretty disgusted with my Allergist because I felt I was always getting the 'standard answer' from her.
About a week later I realized this plan wasn't working. So, I reread the Advair directions carefully on using the inhaler and started using it again.
Almost immediately my breathing stabilized w/use of Advair, and I use the SFQigong in tandem with it. The SFQ also helps w/calming me down since meditation is part of it; therefore, it calms down heart palpitations as well. I'm guessing any form of prayer, meditation, deep breathing techniques, 'time to slow down' during the day would do the same thing especially if done on a consistent, daily basis. This would help depression, anxiety, maintaining a state of well-being and probably other things I haven't thought about.
While I do not like meds of any sort, I will stay on Advair HFA until something tells me I should try getting off it again. In the meantime I will do more detective work on other symptoms I have that may/may not be caused by Advair.
Chronic problems such as asthma are so tough to work with; they change with the seasons, our personal make up, and also change as we get older.
I would like to hear from others who are finding natural solutions to these problems that many of us seem to be experiencing.
Good luck and better health to all of you who read this!
Pat, the wife, mother, grandma, teacher, and other hats I wear.

I wrote into this forum on February , 2008 about my son who was taking Advair hfa 115/21 . On Thursday, February 14, 2008 I called his asthma allergist in Forth Worth, Texas after reading all the side effects here and seeing similar and more symptoms in my son with the use of Advair .Needless to say, I talked with my sons asthma doctor that day for at least 40 minutes and told him I was not comfortable with the Advair and told him that my son was having such bad tremors all over his body at night that he was shaking uncontrollably in his sleep and I also told him that my son was having such bad fevers and was super hyper and was very irritable after his medicine( Advair) . The doctor convinced me that this was not from the Advair and continued to tell me that he was convinced the medicine was safe. I was not after my son experienced these symptoms. Well, after talking with my sons doctor, I told him I wanted my son to be put on Asmanex twisthaler. He finally called in the prescription to my pharmacist here in town , but it was hard to convince him the medicine isn't good for anyone especially for all the bad and terrible symptoms that accompany the medicine. The doctor said I could switch my son right over to the Asmanex from the Advair . The pharmacist had to order the medicine cause they didn't have it . I didn't give my son his Advair in the following morning cause I was switching him over to Asmanex . Anyhow, to make a long story short, I took my son to the doctors in the morning without having given hin his Advair and let me tell you what happened. It was like watching someone coming off of a bad drug addiction. He was uncontrollably hyper and more irritable than before and he couldn't sit still for a second and my son is normally a calm and well-behaved child. We took him to the store and he was screaming at me and my husband like he couldnt control his emotions and he was really really really angry for on reason at all like hitting angry and I really was so surprised he was acting this way . I knew it was the downside from Advair cause my son has never acted like this ever before . When we got home , about 8 o clock that evening I gave him his new prescription of Asmanex 220 mcg twisthaler and in one hour he was calm. his breathing had returned to normal, and in two hours he was in bed sleeping so deep and peaceful with no tremors at all, no muscle spasms , no rapid heart beats , no skipped heart beats. I believe this is the first night in four weeks that my son has slept so well without having his whole body shake. I am so glad I did the research I needed to save my son from all the horrible symptoms on Advair the doctors refuse to admit to . I had stayed up all night researching many many many pages on the internet for safe medicines for my son . And at 4:30 am I went to bed after I had found out bout Asmanex and was assured I was finally doing something I knew was good for my son in order for him to fell better and to be safe . While in my search, I came across a website which I would love to share here about a natural medicine I will be adding to my sons asthma treatment to also try and alleviate asthma symptoms as best as possible.***
While researching the internet I also read about new asthma drugs approved by the FDA for kids ages 4- 11 and found out that Asmanex is trying to get regulated for children in a dosage for 110 mcg to come out later in the month of February this year, 2008. My son is finally sleeping all night for a change and breathing so so so well . yeah!!!!!!!!!

I have been using Advair 250/50 for about 4 or 5 months to control my exercise induced asthma primarily when cycling on my 50-60 mile rides. So far I am pretty happy with how it is working, although I have noted that others have had initial success only to have some serious problems later on. My only complaint is the hoarseness, coughing and dry throat it gives me. I now have that somewhat under control with some aggressive cleaning of my mouth with water after I take a dose. I swallow some water and swish it around my mouth very aggressively, spit it out and then make sure I drink 4 or 5 gulps of water to clean my throat with the emphasis on gulp. Now the hoarseness and coughing is relatively minor. I also take two puffs of Albuterol about 20 minutes before riding. This is pretty standard for those that do vigorous prolonged exercise.

I started with a new allergist 3 years ago (other had retired). She said my asthma, moderate to severe, was out of control. Put me on allergy shots AND Advair Discus to begin with. I had too many problems with hoarseness, and being I'm a teacher, that interfered with my teaching! Then she put me on Advair HFA two years ago. It seemed to be better for awhile. Then I noticed hoarseness, dry mouth, and so I went down to 1/2 dose. I told her about it, and she got very angry that I would not follow her directions. She probably does not like me as a patient since I do speak up to her.
I decided to go off the HFA yesterday. Today I have no dry mouth, and my voice is normal, also no palpitations. I started Spring Forest Qigong which is a Chinese healing discipline, part of which there are certain breathing exercises and self healing techniques I can use, some directed toward asthma specifically. I will watch my diet more carefully for the worst trigger foods; I usually get a delayed sensitive reaction of some kind so I rotate those known foods. In addition red wine, I know, has a lot of histamines. I can get an immediate reaction from that, mostly palpitations.
I am thinking strongly of changing allergists or seeking a pulmonary specialist' opinion.

Hi, I just ran across your website. My 11 yr. old son is very much allergic to every airborne thing one can be allergic to. He has been on Advair 100/50 for about 3-4 years now because he has also been diagnosed with asthma. Recently we took him to the pediatrician for what he thinks might be lower chest wall muscle spams. Plus in the past he complained on/off of leg cramps which I attributed to growing pains but after reading your website am not sure. Recently we have him on Prevacid because the allergist thinks he is suffereing from heartburn. Also, yesterday, we took him to get his eyes checked and he needs glasses now for nearsightedness. All could be occurring on their own accord or could this be due to Advair? He is overweight as well and we always suspected Advair and now to hear others say it sure makes me worry.

I am an RN. I have complained to my allergist and Practisioner for years that I have terrible hip pain, muscle and joint pain with the Advair. It works great to control the wheezing, but everytime I start back on it, within 2 weeks I am limping and crying with pain in my legs and hips. Everytime I manage to get off for two weeks the pain subsides. I have had xrays of my hips and there is no deterioration. I too have gained considerable weight. We have tried Spriva and it also had adverse reactions. It increased mucus instead of decreasing it. If anyone has a suggestion, I would like to hear what it is.

My GP put me on Advair in the summer of 2006 because I was having trouble with so much phlegm in my throat and losing my voice by using Combivent. I also have a weakened voice as a result of asthma medication. For the first three weeks the Advair was great. Then one weekend at our cabin, I had a severe asthma attack -- to the point that my husband wanted to pack up and drive an hour to an hospital emergency ward. I thought it was from something in the cabin or in the air. As a result of some research on Advair, I truly believe that it was from taking this medication. Not realizing this, I have continued to take Advair at the advice of my GP. I then noticed that my skin was very itchy, mostly on my legs at that time. My GP said it was excema. It started spreading to my hands, wrists, elbows. I started reading about the side effects of Advair -- from the insert that comes with the discus -- itchy skin is one of the side effects listed. In December 2006, I went to the lung specialist that has been treating me for asthma for several years. I asked him about the itching and mess on my wrists, etc. He indicated that it was excema and not a reaction to the Advair -- and proceeded to write me a presription for more Advair. In January 2007, I went back to my GP because I couldn't stand the itching and red blotches anymore. She wouldn't give me anything to relieve it, but sent me to an allergist. I asked him about the mess my skin was in and he told me that it was very rare that someone would react to Advair in this manner and he didn't think that was the cause. He decided that I was allergic to dog and cat dander. Just the other day I was finally sent to a dermatologist. She was appalled at the condition of my skin, as the ithing and redness had now started to spread to my upper arms, under arms, breasts and stomach area. I took some research about Advair with me to this appointment. She has now taken me off the Advair for a two week trial and given me an ointment help with the healing. Finally, a specialist that really might think the Advair is the cause of this itching all over my body. I sure hope that these doctors will realize that I really have an adverse reaction to Advair and will find another medicaiton that will be suitable, but not cause the problems I am having now. my voice is still strained, but I am sure as the Advair leaves my system, this will improve too.

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 have been on ADVAIR for approx. 1/2 a year. At 1st it seemed to help & still is with the asthma. But now I seem to have a real low resistance to viral infections or at least sinus related stuffiness. I have had a nasal problem with stuffiness/post nasal drip/ears popping & ringing and loss of taste for almost 2 months now. I went to my allergist's P.A. 10 days ago & got a script for amoxicillin 875 mg & I still am having issues. They thought I may have a sinus infection. Is anyone else experiencing nasal congestion & rhinitis while on ADVAIR?

My husband had an allergic reaction to some dust he inhaled and had minor tightness in the chest. His allergist and pulmonogist put him on Advair and he went straight downhill from there. He complained about side effects and expressed his desire to live drug free and the Drs insisted Advair was safe and get used to it because you will be taking it for the rest of your life. After 4 pulmonogists and worsening asthma he finally read REversing Asthma by Firshein and got off the ADvair. He is drug free for 4 months and his breathing tests were better today than 4 months ago when he was on ADvair.
Going off advair saved his life and our marriage. His side-effects included:

Shortness of breath
Lethargy - he stopped working out regularly
Insomnia
Anger - rages - he would burst into rages
Body aches
Forget fullness - he was once driving and couldnt remember the way home!!
And once he said he said he was sleeping and he thought the house exploded and he awoke to realize it was a "popping sound" in his head when he was asleep. He was glad to be alive but he never took Advair again after this one.

dear scared mom,

i also have a 8year old son. I am beginning to think he is suffering from depression or some sort of pychosis. you are not alone. I am very concerned. i am going to follow up with my allergist

OH BOY! I have been on Advair since it first come out! 3 0r 4 yrs?
Am I ever a mess!!! Thrush, yeast infections under my breasts, behind my ears & who knows where else! I have been using nystatins rinses, powders, etc etc & nothing! I went off my Advair for 6 months & no changes with any symptoms! So I am back on it : (, I have also had extreme muscle pain, tired all the time, running nose, depression (on anti dep meds now) A whole big change for me & I have seen 3 docs & just more nystatin scripts, well I am off to see my allergist on wed. & am praying he will see something into this!

It has been just amazing reading these posts. I'm headed to my allergist to discuss other options and I wanted to be as educated as possible before hand because I feel for sure he's going to think I'm crazy.

I took Advair 250 for the first half of last year and I notice weight gain and feeling lethargic. I thought the lethargy was just normal stress. In September my dose was bumped to 500 and by November I was so depressed I started seeing a therapist. I kept asking her "Why is this happening to me now?? I have no reason to be here!" She gave me all the typical answers about clinical depression.

We went skiing over the holidays and I forgot my disk. I noticed immediately that I felt better. Happy for the first time in months. I thought it was because I was on vacation. When we returned, I started my dose again and guess what??? Within 3 days I could barely get out of bed again - and that's when it hit me - this wasn't mental. It came on so quick and was so contrary to my mental state that it was literally like getting sick. I suddenly made the connection and threw that stupid disk in the trash. I immediately started feeling better and I'm saving a ton of money on bills from the shrink.

I have taken Advair 100/50 one puff in the morning for several years. It has worked wonders in alleviating my Asthma. The trouble is I now have developed type II Diabetes. Also I have put on about 30lbs. that I don't seem to be able to loose. I eat about 2000 calories a day and exercise 5-6 times a week. I also have high triglycerides, high cholesterol and fatty liver. After reading the posts in this forum, I am convinced that the Advair is the cause. That being the case I made an appointment with my Allergist on Wednesday. I tell you what he has to say.

I have been using Azmacort (Corticosteriod) for the treatment of my Asthma for over 8 years with great success. With the new laws elimating the use of CFC propellents by the end of 2005, I decided to go to my Allergist to discuss possible alternatives. She immediately prescribed Advair telling me that it contained both a Corticosteriod and a long acting bronchodilator (Serevent).

I started using the 250/50 Advair diskus and within a week was experiencing all of the symptoms describe by other users:

Stomach Bloating
Anxiety
Constant throat clearing
Hoarseness
Sleeplessness/Night sweats
Chest tightness
Worsening Asthma

I immediately went back to my Allergist the very next week and told her of the problems I was having. After a complete check-up, including a breathing test, I was told everything appeared normal and that there was no explanation for the problems I was experiencing. She reluctantly told me that I could go back to using the Azmacort, which I did, and all of the symptoms eventually disappeared within a couple of weeks.

I have been researching Azmacort articles and found that KOS pharmaceutical has acquired a 10 yr agreement to produce Azmacort, along with testing of non CFC propellents.

From my personal assumption, it appears that the Servent additive of Advair may have been the cause of my problems.

Also I have been wondering whether the diskus (powder) was effective in reaching my lungs, or was it just hitting the back of my throat and being ingested into my stomach causing both the throat and stomach problems I experienced.

One thing for sure, I will NEVER use Advair again.

I am taking 250/50 for about 2 to 3 years now. My allergist says the side effects im having are a direct result of the advair. However, my asthma is so bad I cant discontinue it.
I have to deal with:
-sinus congesion(taking flonase)
-IBS (taking some other med)
-migraines 2 a week (taking topomax and relpax)
-sleepy and tired
-gaining weight even though I excerise
-wounds will not heal causing scaring

I have been taking advair 500 for over a year, breathing better than ever. In the last month, I have developed severe muscle cramps in my legs that are incapcitating as well as gained weight. I did not have problems with advair until now. The leg cramps are so severe I had to be rescued from a swimming pool. Also, the muscle cramps have on two recent occasions resulted in a painful injury to my legs.

I take advair 500 twice a day. I read in the insert from the pharmacy that if you have been taking corticosteroids for a long time you need to be careful about stopping them cold turkey--it is dangerous.

I am glad I ran across this site and confirmed my suspicion about the leg cramps. I will call my allergist Monday and see what she recommends.

I was given Advair 500 to use twice a day for a month to see if it improved my lung function test. I typically do NOT follow through with my meds so I promised my allergist dr - i have been seeing for over 25 yrs - that I would use it religiously 2 tiems per day for a month. Well, beginning the first week I starting waking up with headaches and keeping them on and off all day. The second week, the headaches got worse. i was thinking maybe the humidity and storms with it being June. Third week, headaches still intensifying, but bad tatse in moth - bad breath- sore throat, ear ache, drainage, horrible loud sudden sneezing, and nausea. Fourth week, all above still but nausea is awful. I kept thinking i was pregnant. I was nauseated mornings, with frequent urination, nausea after eating, and nausea at night. I have been living with headaches, sore throat, nausea, and this horrible mouth feeling like cotton inside. Well, when it came time for my 1 month appt something came up and i had to cancel so i called to tell the nurse I stopped due to the above symptoms and during that week I had to begin using my albuterol because I was having chest tightness. I have not had a new lung function test to see if it improved, i seriously doubt it did. he know has me on Albuterol and Flovent every 4 hrs. Before this is had not used any inhalers for atleast 6 months. All this just to improve my lung function test. I ekpt thinking it was in my head, but by the 3rd week there were too many things going wrong with my body. Thank you to all of you who have given your side. It helps me to know I am not alone.

My daughter is 14 years old and 2 years ago her allergist put her on Advair due to her asthma. She lasted on Advair for approx 4 months. Within that 4 months she could no longer read, could not concentrate, her grades went from honor roll to straight F's, her vision got worse and she suffered from depression. Two years later she still suffers from depression, memory lose, although she is back on honor roll she still has problems concentrating, and comprehending what she reads. She gets angry very easily, she used to be a very happy person.. I went against her Allergist recommindations to take her off of Adviar and although she refuses to look at the possibly of these reactions I am convinced that this MAJOR changes in my daughter where indeed caused by this medication.
Cheryl

I have been treated for sinusitis and asthma for the last year. On my last visit to the allergist, he commented that my lung function was better on the first visit than it has been since. Ah, the miracle of modern medicine. I read with interest the accounts of the many side effects of Advair. I was beginning to think I had lost my mind or worse yet that this was the way it was going to be from now on... extreme fatigue, depression, weight gain, joint aches and pains..and really I am not much better than when I started. I will wean myself off the meds and try the holistic approach...anything has got to be better than the life I have now

I used Advair at a beginning dosage of 250 twice a day for a few weeks and then reduced it, on the advice of the allergist, to once a day. I continued this for about 3 months and then quit when the asthma was well under control. The only adverse side effects I had were muscle cramping and it was not serious. My asthma is allergy induced and was alleviated almost immediately.

My daughter was taking a puff of advair every morning and evening. She has been experiencing fatigue, headache, constipation and urine retention. I've cut her back to one puff a day and will talk to her allergist in the morning.
Thanks, website, for helping me to realize that what is supposed to be helping her may actually be poisening her.

I am a 39 year old woman who switched from Azmacort to Advair in December for a few weeks. After that short of time, I felt me throat feel like it was closing up, I was agitated, and one morning after a week of building symptoms, took my blood pressure which was 20 pts higher than usual. I also had burning in my chest and felt on the verge of a panic attack. Since then I was prescribed Pulmicort, and it has been so much better.

I also accessed this site mainly because of my son who is 6. He was diagnosed with cough variant asthma and some allergy to outdoor mold. The doctor started him on Advair, and over the last month or so, the behavior change has been startling. He has been very agitated, clearing his throat constantly, wetting the bed, saying he was"scared" at bedtime, saying he was "happy on the outside but sad on the inside", and being so hyperactive and inattentive as to be staring right at him when telling him something, and he would totally go off and do what you just told him not to, and be genuinely confused as to why he was in time out.

I have an appointment tomorrow morning with the allergist and have had him off of advair for four days. Already the throat clearing has stopped and the behavior has subsided. I am also hoping to keep him off of singulair as well after hearing about those side effects and see if we can manage for now. Thanks for all of the helpful info and we will see.

Hello Everyone,
Like all of you. I am a highschool student and competitive athlete (football and baseball) and was diagnosed with asthma 2 years ago. As months passed and numerous trips to my general practicioner/allergist I was given a lot of prescriptions including advair, clarinex, xopenex with the nebulizer, my asthma and lung function became increasingly worse. It was hard to be so dependent on all these medications, which in combination all can make you feel kind of lousy. When my asthma was at its worst I started seeing a chiropractor, and was being adjusted 2-3 days a week. Its hard for me to explain who chiropractic care can reduce asthma, but it has something to do with the spine controlling all systems in the body and when there is disallignment all of these symptoms cant work properly. For asthma sufferers and those sick of taking all kinds of medication I strongly suggest looking into chriropractic care. Today I am completely asthma symptom free, and no longer take a single thing other then carrying the albuterol inhaler with me for comfort, although I havent really needed it. Any questions I would be happy to answer at ******

My 8 year old son was put on Advair 18 months ago because his idiot father and step-mother smoked around him and this was the only medicine that got his asthma under control.
My son has been showing signs of ADHD and may fail 3rd grade if I cannot get him to pass the End of grade testing. I thought his problems in school were because he was having problems with Dad. Eventually it became evident that it wasn't his Dad and I figured out it was ADVAIR. I knew an adult who was on Advair and also showed signs A.D.D. after she began taking Advair. I confronted my son's allergist and he confirmed that A.D.H.D. is a side effect. My son also had problems with headaches, sinus infections, problems with his bowels, dry mouth, sores on his penius, depression and just not my little boy. I even had my son tested to see if we can figure out why he is doing so poorly in school, and I am awaiting on the results. They are factoring ADVAIR and all his allergy medicine in the end result. I am very happy to report that since my son has been off of ADVAIR his reading has picked up and homework is getting a little easier.

I have been on Advair 500/50 for about 4 to 5 years. I cannot keep the weight off. I eat hardly anything at meals. I eat no sweets or bread. About 2 years ago I starting experiencing severe drowsiness even after sleeping well the night before. I was so tired. I had every test done at the dr. possible. I am on a C-pap machine and I kept bugging the sleep dr. about the pressure not being right on the machine. I had a hormone saliva test done and got my hormones on the right track. I kept waiting to feel better.I have had what I thought was irritable bowel syndrome for over a year now and been on medicine for that. It hasn`t really helped. Anyway, I read on the internet about candida and did the spit test. I had lots of yeast. I have been on a large bottle of Nystatin for the yeast now. The allergist said the Advair can cause a yeast problem in the throat and stomach. I feel much better after finishing the Nystatin, but I am sure the yeast will come back. I have to be on something as good as Advair since my asthma is so bad. I am also on Singulair and allergy shots. (For 3 years now) I still can`t handle being in the cold air. My lower calves swell up at my sock line when I am on my feet a lot. It is never ending! What do we do? Can`t live with Advair and can`t live with it!

My son is 9 years old and started on Advair in April of 2004. Thing is, it took us forever to get a diagnosis of "asthma" from the allergists. He spent some time in the hospital as an infant with "croup" - sent us home with a nebulizer and some albuteral - He was a monster while on albuteral! So active that he bounced off the wall. Anyway, as he grew older we had him tested and the skin tests always came back negative. Last time tested was in April 2004 when he showed "slight" allergies to "the usual suspects" - pollens, etc. (but honestly all the spots on his back looked the same to me). Anyway, allergist put him on Advair and things went pretty well over the summer. Now school is back in session and all of a sudden my son is a horrible student - he was tested as gifted in kindergarten - but now he cannot sit still in class - I keep getting notes from the teacher saying he cannot stay focused enough to finish work in class. he is missing recess to get caught up and still bringing work home to finish that he did not finish in class. Homework is a horror! Tonight we started at 5pm and did not finish until 7:30 - Gifted teacher gives me same report - he just can't seem to finish his work. He is driving us nuts! The only thing different is the Advair from last year to this. Could it really be the culprit? I am at my wit's end and very tired of being angry with him. I watch him work and realize he is everywhere in the room except where he is supposed to be - looking at the ceiling - tapping his pencil - walking in circles - having to go to the bathroom - going into some long, involved story that he HAS to tell us - but not on the paper sitting in front of him. When he actually DOES the work it is 100% correct. I am so interested in hearing from other parents with young children on Advair to see if it is just me or if this is a common - or at least feasible - reaction to this medication. You can contact me at kathryn.gritts@lcms.org - be sure in put asthma in the subject line so I know its not SPAM. Thanks so much. I don't know what else to do except have him tested by a psychologist for ADD - but it seems odd that this didn't show up in K thru 2? Thanks!

This site is such a relief. I was on Advair for about a 6 months in total. I had many of the same adverse effects listed by countless people on this site. I decided on my own (after my allergist told me that Advair was virtually side effect free - he did tell me to make sure to rinse my mouth vigorously) to quit taking it and go back to just using my albuterol inhaler when needed. Advair definitely helped me breathe, but I developed this weird metallic taste in my mouth that has taken forever to go away. Now I only get it every now and then. I have two questions - I am HIGHLY allergic to cats. Going to Wisconsin to visit my wife's family, and to put it mildly, her Mom has many cats. On advair I won't have any allergic reaction. I was thinking about taking it for the 5 days I am in Wisconsin (although I am concerned that advair will cause that metallic taste to come back with a vengeance). Are there any dangers from hopping on/hopping off the advair?
Second - does anyone know if there are any long term side effects of using an albuterol inhaler? I probably use it once a day. Excersize and cold weather tend to bring on an attack...and of course, cats...

I have been on asthma maintenance meds for several years. Prednisone, theodur, pulmicort, singulair, and serevent. I only need steroids when I'm sick and reduced my doses of theodur to none since finding out about potential liver damage. Now I'm strictly on serevent, pulmicort, and singulair. The singulair my allergist explained to me has been said to help with allergy syptoms. He also mentione that Serevent and Pulmicort work well together. He gave me the option of trying Advair but I didn't want to try anything new. My goal is to eventually get off the drugs. Period. My asthma is under controll and more of a nuisance than a life-threatening issue. The meds are for preventative purposes. I have very few attacks in one year. I have never been fond of taking maintenance medications and have been more concious of side-effects after the whole Vioxx thing. I found this posting board by total accident and boy am I glad I did. Serevent is an ingredient in Advair. I have had terrible muscle tightness in my back and also experience abnormal weight gain without any change to my diet or exercise habits. I have been on serevent for several years (since it's product launch) and became more religious about using it over the past year. I am probably about 30lbs overweight and could not figure out why until now. Thank you for letting me see this. This morning was the last time I am taking serevent. It's not worth it!!!

I am so glad I found this site. I thought I was going crazy! I've been taking Advair off and on for two years, and prior to that, have taken Flovent and Serevent for three or four years. Every time I report side effects to my allergist, he is surprised and tells me that he doesn't hear about any negative effects from others, implying that I am the only one. I have reported extreme weight gain to him (40 pounds). The weight gain started with Flovent use, but it has ballooned out of control, and that's with diet restrictions and healthy eating over the years. In addition, there are the following symptoms: dental pain (increase in cavities as well), mushy gums and sensitivity; shortness of breath and a heavy, tight feeling in my lungs; severe joint pain and swelling in calves, arms, especially at the knees and arms; stiffness (after a half hour of driving, can hardly get out of the car); extreme incontinence; extreme gas and bloating; abdominal swelling (very pronounced); changes in the skin (many small blood blisters all over plus brown splotches on the face); hair growth on the face; increase in perspiration; dry eyes; itchy scalp and skin (crawling sensation); constant foot pain and athlete's foot ( I never had that before!); depression and extreme fatigue; muddy thinking and memory loss (short and long term); mood swings; cessation of menstrual cycle. I am not one to complain, so I keep quiet about it, but now, it's out of hand. I stopped for awhile, knowing that it had to be the medication, but then my doctor noticed decreased lung function, and urged me to go back on it. I tried Singulair, with combivent, with mixed results, but not as effective in stopping the wheezing as Advair. I would like to try Pullmacort, if it will make a difference. I can't stand all the side effects.

Two weeks after stopping advair I lost 5 pounds mostly in the face and a little in the stomach. Then I realized that I had a yeast infection (not the usual sypmtons) and immediately started a sugar/starch/carb-free diet and went on an anti-candida natural meds cure. The diet was not easy at first because everything has sugar in it. But I started buying my own veggies and meat, cooking enough at night so we had leftovers for lunch and I did start imrpoving and lost another 6 pounds off my stomach within six weeks. I backslid and felt it, and went back on the diet. I'm eating more calories now but I'm still losing. Reading the anti-candida (yeast infection)websites helped me and I know that it will take from 3 months to a year to recover from the imbalance that advair has caused in my body. After 8 weeks I've lost 15 pounds and I feel my immune system is starting to work again because minor scars from cuts and bee stings have started to heal and fade after 2 years of not healing!!!! My finger/toe nails are also going back to normal. My husband's toe fungus cleared up in four days after going on the same regimen with me (apparently you can pass a yeast imbalance to your partner over time...they probably won't have as bad a case of it because their immune systems haven't been comprimised by advair or other steroids). I also take glucosamine and a high potency multivitamin with minerals without added sugars /starch/etc. which most pharmacies carry and eat lots of fresh garlic from the farmer's market.
Read as much as you can and remember that it takes time to loose weight and build a healthy immune system... But throught this process I have learned a lot: the yeast infection was actually causing my newly developed food and chemical/perfume allergies....so controling the yeast imbalance is helping me with those allergies... I can actually be around people with perfume on again without feeling like I am having a stroke. My allergist in Plattsburgh NY never told me about this connection, he said some people just are sensitive. Boy, now I know, if a doctor doesn't answer my questions , I'll find one who is willing to and can.
Hang in there everyone and find a doctor who will help you and not dismiss your side affects/problems.
Best wishes!

"Anxiety attack" - first time EVER, approx. 1 1/2 weeks after starting Advair. I was just riding in the car and all of a sudden felt like I was going to pass out/die, then had numb face and hands and some palpitations and higher breathing rate. I had been also having a lot of nausea (even waking up in the middle of the night feeling nauseous). Got off of it and all problems went away. Allergist didn't believe Advair could cause this, put GP said he could see it as a possibility.

I would like to Thank all of you for taking the time to inform others about your experience of side effects from advair. I have learned so much! And I'd like to thank Guest 4309 for making the connection between yeast infection and advair. After doing a google search for yeast infection, I found many reputable sites (Duke University, urology.org, etc.) that state that steroids and corticosteroids (that's what advair is) can and do cause yeast infections (Candida, thrush, skin infections, sinsus and ear infections/itching). I AM BLOWN AWAY THAT MY ALLERGIST TOLD ME FOR A YEAR THAT THE CONTAST ITCHY THROAT and EARS and LOSS of VOICE, among other problems, WERE NOT CAUSED BY ADVAIR! Like Guest 4309 I wish I had NEVER taken advair. I am off it now and I'm taking glucosamine and acidophilus and eating lots of plain yogurt. Let me tell you, I already feel better. ANd I have sent for the book "Conquering Candida" on www.half.com for $7.50. I'll let people know what happens to me. ANd, please let us all know what works for you!

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?

Oh my GOD! I'm not alone. I just started taking Advair on 7/15/04 and already I have several of the side effects mentioned. I wake up with stiffness, pain & swelling in my fingers. I've had severe pain in my hamstrings, which I've struggled to figure out where it came from. I've gain 2lbs when I've been losing over the last 2 months with my Weight Watchers & Curves combo. I've also experienced the mucous-y, sore throat thing; it feels like something is stuck in the back of my throat. I've also noticed chest pain, like indigestion and sometimes tightening to the point of an attack. I HAVE NEVER HAD AN ACTUAL ASTHMA ATTACK WHERE I COULDN'T BREATHE. My asthma has always been chest irritation induced by cold, flu or allergy symptoms. I'm done taking this medicine and I can't wait to tell my allergist. Hopefully, she won't make an issue out of it or else I will have to find another doctor.

THANK GOD for this sight....what if I'd continued to take it and inherited permanent health problems or damage.

I am a 28 y.o. that began on 250/50 in february. Hadn't had asthma problems since I was 17-then had an an upper respiratory infection in january-went to the doctor because chest tightness wouldn't go away& was immediately placed on
Advair. Went to an allergist who sent me to a cardiologist because my heart rate in the office was 176! I always had a fast heart rate, but worried I had some congenital defect. After multiple tests, an electrophysiologist told me I should limit my albuterol use but said nothing about the advair. I went back to the allergist last month and my breathing was worse so they increased me to 350/50 twice a day. I had horrible palpitations and was very jittery the first few days, but I figured it might get better-and it did. But I have nausea now about every other day, only gained about 5 pounds, but the bloating has made me go up a dress size on bottom. Then for the last two weeks I have been geeting horrible cramps in my calves and feet & I started to wonder if it could be my advair because I have never experienced anything like this before. Also, I have been very moody, depressed and irrational, which I blamed on my "health problems" (my asthma is still not really under control) but now I wonder if this is a side effect as well. I'm so glad I discovered this site, because I was going to "tough it out"---not any more! I am talking to my doctor right away !!

Side effects I've experienced: weight gain in stomach and breasts, pains in chest and joints, palpitations in heart and brain, depression, tiredness and weakness, dificulty concentrating esp. when reading, and a change in voice that everyone notices

MY STORY
I have been taking advair for two years under the belief that it did not have the sideaffects associated with an oral steroid.
About six months ago I started having chest pains so severe at night I thought I was having a heart attack. I went to my GP the next day and we concluded that perhaps I had exercised to vigorously the day before (I had joined a club to lose the weight I had gained, in the stomach and chest area, since taking advair and to build up my muscles because I thought I was losing strenth due to my age, 47. My legs, arms and butt are fit, but my stomach and breasts look like I'm having a baby). In the last three months I have also experienced hip pain that would wake me up one or two nights a week. I made another appt with my GP and he thought it was time for me to see a specialist. Last week, after one Xray, the specialist told me I have lost half of the cartilage around my hip bones. He had me go for blood tests to figure out why and what we can do. Two nights later, I couldn't fall asleep because of the heart palpitations and, after finally falling asleep, I woke up with what sounded and felt like a "PING" in my brain (It felt as though a nerve or vessel had exploded at its end). That morning it dawned on me that it could be the advair, so I got on line to google and typed in ADVAIR SIDE EFFECTS and found this website (it is only fifth in the list....it should be number one!) I just called the specialist to find out that I have no bone disease in my blood, so tomorrow when I see my allergist I'm going to have him wean me off this nasty drug and get my life back.

I never would have taken advair, if I thought that it was so dangerous. If anyone else is having joint pain, you really should see a specialist and have an xray to see if there is a problem....as the person below has said repeatedly in her messages, "listen to your body" and do something about it.
If there is a class action, count me in....I feel as though I've been duped into being a tester for this drug. I wish I had known!

I am a white blonde male, age 43 of about 240 pounds who has always had seasonal allergies and I have taken shots for mold, pollen, dust, etc., off and on for a few years here and there. A few years ago, I guess after the benefits of the last round of shots wore off, I went back to the allergist, I got a cortizone? booster and was turned on to Claritin...and I never looked back. Oh, I would have some rough days or weeks but I could tough it out. Well, within say the last 6 months I developed asthma it appears. I got checked out for allergies again and plan on getting shots again (dust mites, pollen, ragweed, dog, cat) and getting mite 'encasements'. In the meantime, my allergist prescribed Advair 250 diskus and I took my first doze in office. Well, I distinctly recall that same evening being noticeably more irritable and the next day found that 'weakness in the upper chest feeling' and found that where I was not coughing up phlemn (sp?), now I was and it had a bit of yellow (infection) color. I decided right then to stop and to do some research and found this website. I think in this case, I am going to listen to my body and how I feel, and take the experiences of others and NOT use this medicine. Thanks all of you who took the time to post!

i was prescribed advair by my allergist a little over 3 months ago. I not only developed an upper respiratory infection that won't go away but my voice has changed dramatically. i believe it is known as dysphonia. I have not responded to the two antibiotics, prednisone and antifungal drug that was prescribed. has anyone found anything that gets rid of these symptoms. my allergist has told me he can't help me anymore and i need a second opinion. he is the one who prescribed all of it in the first place. help.

After taking the 100/50 advair for a week, I started to get an upper respitory infection. I feel worse now than before I started taking the medication. I also get little red blotches all over my body which was not there before I took the medicine. I feel horrible and I was given this prescription by an allergist. I am sort of happy to see im not alone with these symptoms.