Advair HFA and asthma attack

I recently went into an asthma attack that admitted me into the hospital on Sept 3rd. I was given albuterol treatments which I also use at home and have for 3 + years via nebulizer when needed. They also prescribed ADVAIR on Sept 4th or 5th and released me from the hospital. Once home my breathing started to decline despite using my nebulizer on time. By Monday night my breathing was shallow and my Cramps had severe pain onset. I began walking stiffly. I went to bed that night and my breathing continued to decline. In the morning I could hardly walk because of the pain in my calves. I could however sit and they "seemed " fine but turned in a bit. I took my children to school and at 8am dropped them off to the teacher at the curb check in. (Meaning I did not have to get out) I pulled aside to get out and see a friend and as I stepped out of the car my calves seized again. At the advice of my friend I decided to right away drive around the corner to the Medical Center where I go. I had an appt later that morning for follow up from Hospital, but decided I better not wait.
BY 8:10 I was in a red zone with my asthma Chest in FULL SEIZE (225 peak flow from over 375 an hour earlier using the peak flow meter I had in my car)
I got out of the car to go into the medical center and IMMEDIATELY Dropped DOWN a Foot and my Feet FLIPPED over my Knees Bowed out and I was walking like a Monkey. I scrambled to get into the medical center where I yelled for assistance and was given breathing treatment with no relief and sent to the Hospital via Ambulance. Breathing 3 breathing treatments in 3 hours no relief of Seizing in Chest. Xrays Clear. .I stayed there until Sept 16th where I have now been released, I am still walking monkey like , I have numbness in my face, a severe headache and I have not slept since Sept 14th at 5 am . I am not tossing and turning, I am wide awake.Today is Thursday Sept 18th. It took at least 3 days of before I was taken off ADVAIR. I had been on ADVAIR for at least 7-8 days 150/50 twice a day. I noticed a difference in my Chest muscle within 12 hours. My legs started to soften and not be so stiff within 1 or 2 days, however my feet drag sideways as I take a step. I have to swing my legs forward for each step. I directly link this to the ADVAIR.

I have been using Advair (250) for many years with no problems. We are remodeling out kitchen which has stirred up a lot of fine dust in the house. That coupled with the smoke caused by the recent forest fires in California I had a severe asthma attack. My doctor increased my Advair to 500. Within a week my voice left me. I have laryngitis of sorts and an accompanying cough that I can not shake. It has been nearly three weeks since it started and two weeks since I quite taking any Advair at all. How long does it take to recover from these symptoms after coming off Advair? I need my voice to function at work.
Secondarily, after reading about cramping being a part of people's symptoms, I have had cramps in my legs feet and toes for several years-mainly at night. Hopefully being off Advair will resolve that as well.

Hello Every one i am a 28 yr old female / i have had asthma all my life and took many meds that really mess me up one was alupen / i went into cardio arrest at the age of 4/ in 2004 i was alone with my kids when i got an asthma attack / i had them before but never like this i called my husband to take me to the ER / i got into the car i told my kids to put their seat belts on and thats the last i remember. I blacked out waking up in icu on life support. doc ask what i was taking i told him i had a albuteral therapy advair and my singular pill / i told him the advair was making me sick / over weight and he said no its not the advair / but like i said ive taking about every asthma med out there and nothing made me so sick to the point of death like advair. i did call the 1-800 to find out about the law suit.

i'm 17. I have extremely bad asthma. and i've had it all my life. i remember being 3 taking nebulizers. i don't know it had gotten better, worse or stayed the same over the years. but i started taking asthma preventers medications because it was really out control. i have horrible allergies all together (which really is all asthma is) but little, tiny things will set asthma attack off instantly, like a short breath from under my bed or even steam from the dishwasher o_O. so i needed to go on preventers. i went from prevention inhalers, pills then finally advair.(and no doubt it works the Best) i was still kinda a kid at the time so it was 100/50, im to young to remember any side effects. but 100/50 wasn't cutting it, so i went to 250/50 , im still on it today. its hard to notice rashes, sinus, mental etc, problems because i have soooo many other allergies. plus im taking medications from them to.
i'd say im pretty healthy though, despite asthma i still play sports and i don't have to use my inhaler THAT much when i take advair it does work good, and i don't really notice all the symptoms/ side effects mentioned in the other comments, its a very good possibility some people are just allergic to advair, i was allergic to some meds i was on, plus, advair is a drug. Every drug Will have some kind of side effects unless its all natural. i question albuterol, i'll find myself reaching for puff when i don't even need it. O_O ! even with the new cfc free inhalers they have out.

I have taken 100/50 Advair off and on for several years and hadn't noticed any problems. Three weeks ago I was switched to 250/50 strength Advair following a bad cold which I believe had become bronchitis but my NEW doctor believed was an asthma attack. I don't have asthma "attacks". I just have asthma which is always under control except for when I am exposed to smoke. Even then it isn't that bad. I just use a puff or two on my inhaler and I am good to go. So, I don't think I even needed to be put on the 250/50 strength! Right away, even with careful rinsing, I started to develop a sore throat. I had a constant cough, had to constantly clear my throat to try to speak and it hurt to talk. Within two weeks, besides the throat and congestion problems, I felt miserable as if I had a severe case of influenza: major headache, sinus and teeth pain, joint pains, severe fatigue, chills, burning eyes and blurry vision. I also developed an itchy red rash on my buttock and felt as though I was beginning to get a UTI. Because I felt so lousy, I told myself I didn't have to take the Advair which I knew would just make my throat feel worse. So, I went a whole weekend without the Advair and I started to feel better. Then on Monday morning, I took the Advair (which immediately made my throat hurt) and later went to see the new doctor in the afternoon. (We didn't discuss Advair because I hadn't made the connection and, obviously, he didn't either.) The doctor said I was negative for a UTI and thought my rash was cellulitis. He prescribed an oral antibiotic. I haven't taken any Advair since Monday a.m. because I read about its side effects on the Internet on Monday evening. My throat feels better. It is so good not to be constantly coughing and clearing my throat! The rash didn't respond to the antibiotic, but it did respond to the anti-yeast infection skin cream I decided to use on it. Unfortunately, the antibiotics DID give me a vaginal yeast infection and now I am also treating that! I am wondering if there is a connection between my skin yeast infection and the 250/50 Advair or if Advair just causes thrush (a mouth yeast infection)? Also, my eyes still burn and I still get blurry vision. Could I have a yeast infection in my eyes? I'm wondering because I have read on the Internet that steroids--just like antibiotics--can cause yeast infections. If so, then maybe thrush is not the only type of yeast infection that 250/50 Advair could cause?

Hi all. I'm posting again after being off Advair for about a week. I've noticed a dramatic change in my emotional health. The anxiety that I've been suffering from for the last three months while on Advair has now entirely vanished. I feel like my old self again, and friends and family have also noted the difference. I won't ever take this medication again-- I'd rather deal with my asthma in a preventive way.

I have been on advair for about 5 to 6 yrs. I was on 250/50 at first and my hands and legs would all ways hurt me. Then I had a bad asthma attack which landed me in ICU. That's when the doctors gave me the largest dose of the 500/50. It has been a year since I have been on this and I have hair loss.
One side of the head around my egdes are bald.
And the rest of my hair is getting very thin. I am only 39 years old, and I have to were wigs.

It is day 4 off my advair and WOW what a difference! I feel great, clearer,lighter, its hard to explain. No withdrawls YET, I am sure the biggest asthma attack ever is impending, but things are really good right now. My mood and personality are even better, I guess when you feel like your dying all the time you can get a little moody. I also enjoyed reading yesterday about Advair and tooth decay (4 fillings and root canal this year) and chicken pox (got them AGAIN last year). Don't worry glaxo, my rotten teeth and life threating bout of pox and spasms of my HEART, which I hear is an important organ, is all a trade off to be able to breathe a little better. Sure. I plan on sending my unused (and will remain) Advair to GSK with a bill for my teeth. We will see what happens.

I have been on Advair for the past three years after a severe asthma attack on Oct 2005....what a mistake..I got all the side effects possible...really! Rash, arrhythmia, tachycardia, eye problems, runny nose, shakines, depression, anxiety, sleeping problems, nausea, muscle cramps or muscle spasms, hoarseness or voice changes, sinus infections, abdominal pain, dizziness, etc, etc and it is gatting worse! I am on 100/50 once...every two days! I could not stand all of this anymore- Does anyone know about some other less dangerous medication (Albuterol gives me the worse arrhythmia) Is it sensible to note that Advair and another dangerous medication; Paxil are from the same maker: glaxosmithkline pharmaceuticals? No wonder! Any input/help will be most welcome-A very worry French guy in San Francisco-

My son was prescribed Advair for his asthma a week ago. He has been having leg cramps so bad, his legs buckle on him. Dr said it's not because of Advair, but after reading this site, I'm taking him off Advair immediately.

I have used Advair since November, 2003, first 250/50, then 500/50 after a bout with broncitis and phneumonia, and now 150/50 since last winter. My only side affect that I think is a side affect is I have had an increase in blood pressure that caused me to have to take mods, and my eyes have been giving me a fit this past year, draining, mucus, blurred vision at times. except for those I am thankful for the drug. After having severe asthma all of my life, since I was 1 year old and I am now 56, I am a new person all together. Not one asthma attack since the second day after I started using the inhaler. Now I get an albuteral inhaler and it expires before I ever use it.

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.

After living with asthma and relying on a rescue inhaler for 28 years, I was prescribed advair 500/50 and it has changed my life. I have not used my rescue inhaler since. It is like a miracle cure. I know its not a cure but it really works great. Do you know what it feels like to leave the house without panicking because I couldn't find my rescue inhaler?

I have had asthma since I was 7 and I'm 45 now. Since I have started using Advair 3 years now I have not had an episode of an asthma attack. However, as of recent I have had very (real) and constant pain in my elbow joint and numbness and tingling in my hand and fingers. It's as if the muscle has been injured.

I have been taking Advair for about 5 weeks now and I have just started noticing a sore throat and difficulty singing. I wondered if it could be caused by the Advair. (Thanks a lot for your postings) I will try rinsing better after use and see if I notice a difference. I have also noticed that I feel like I constantly have to clear my throat and I wondered if this could also by caused by the Advair? I can say I haven't had an asthma attack since I began using Advair.

Last Sunday, I had to go to the emergency room because I couldn't breathe. At times, it felt like my body didn't WANT to take a breath. Scary doesn't even begin to cover what I felt. Until that day, I had NEVER been hopsitalized for my asthma. It turned out to be a severe asthma attack. I am convinced that the only thing that saved me was that I am a classical singer and am used to controlling my breath. Had I panicked, I am not sure I would be here to write this. However, it wasn't until last night that I realized this was all from the Advair. Yesterday, I had a really good day. I only used my rescue inhaler a couple of times (since I still have a few residual breathing issues from the severe attack a week ago.) As I went to bed, I took my Advair, as usual, and within 30 minutes I was having trouble breathing again. Nothing as severe as before, but enough that I found this website and others and all of the comments about the side effects,as well as, the FDA warning about this "product". I immediately threw my diskus away. Thank you all for your posts!

I've been off and on Advair for two years. I'll take myself off of it cause I don't like what it does but then the asthma goes nuts. So far I've been on this for three days - 2 doses per day of the 250/50. Massive joint pain like I have the flu, dizzy, ear-ache, nausea, sore-throat, hoarsness, headache, lethargy. I am also on Zyrtec every day 1 pill to control post-nasal sinus drip which kicks off an asthma attack. One more note. I moved to Massachusetts 6 years ago from Alabama. I had two sinus problems a year in Bama - bronchitis type stuff and that was it. I was diagnosed with Asthma 2 years after moving to Massachusetts.

I read this information and am concerned for everyone who thinks they have a side effect caused by Advair.

My son was a severe asthmatic. He was hospitalized for asthma in the intensive care unit twice by the time he was 2. He almost died the first time. When he was 11, (4 years ago) he was put on Advair and has not had a major asthma attack since then.

He is a total success story. Unlike many kids with severe asthma his lung function is normal. (I hear that untreated asthma causes permanent loss of lung function - we have avoided that with him.) He runs track, plays soccer and is very, very active. My doctor says that most kids with similar medical histories can only sit in front of the TV and play video games.

I fought against putting him on it, but the doctor convinced me to try it. I didn't want to overmedicate him, and it hadn't yet been approved for kids under 12. But now I am so glad I did- my son has a normal life, and doesn't have to restrict his activities.

I was put on Advair about three years ago after I had an asthma attack - I'm allergic to my new wife's house pets ( Dog and 2 Cats) Until then I had never had an asthma problem. I have not experienced any attacks since, I'm 51 years old now and the only side affect I have noticed from taking Advair 500/50 is that if I cut myself or bruise myself it takes much longer to heal. A razor cut will stay for weeks, it will continue to look like a small bruise or a small cut - I have an appt with my Doctor after reading about the new FDA warning "increased risk of death associated with their ingredients"

I have been on Advair for 3 years. I was have a real hard time breathing, more than normal, thought it was the asthma. Then I started choking on my saliva, my food, couldn't swallow my pills. The choking would trigger an asthma attack so I would have to use the albuterol. Since I took myself off the advair 2 weeks ago, all symptoms have disappeared. I have not had to use the albuterol yet. I have also experienced raspy voice and weight gain of 30 lbs. I think the advair was directly contributing to my choking.

Since June 2004, I took Advair after a very bad asthma attack when I was hospitalized.
Last month, I stopped taking Advair during a week vacation when I inadvertently forgot it at home. Since my asthma didn't return, I decided to try living without it. That's when I started having stomach cramps. I made the connection to Advair last night when I realized that my problems started after I stopped taking Advair. Thanks to this website, I realized that the side-effects, which I thought was just life, was coming from Advair:
- weight gain despite working out 5 days a week. Even though I did my regular leg stretches, my joints felt very tight. Sometimes after working out, I felt dizzy or close to vomiting. I thought this was due to excessive training so I cut down the days and switched my workout. But it didn't matter, I am now unable to workout regularly because of the daily stomach cramps.
- severe leg cramps after biking and kayaking
- if I sat down too long, my feet got bloated like I had been riding an airplane
- Insomnia
- heart palpitations
- dry and flaky skin
- an open wound from a slight burn that is taking a long time to heal
- joint pains at night that are only relieved by lying in a hot tub for half the night
I'm hoping that these side effects will go away eventually as the Advair drug gets out of my system.

I was diagnosed with Mild Asthma 2 or 3 years ago (I'm having trouble remembering things right now). My main problems are when I have to 'pant' - then I have problems with my asthma. So summers can be rough for me.

I was placed on Advair 100/50. I had no problems, I noticed that I didn't need my inhaler and life was good.

I stopped using it while pregnant, I noticed that my asthma went away. Which can be typical while pregnant. But it started back up after the delivery.

One of the PAs gave me a prescription to start in July, it was for 250/50, I didn't notice the dosage increase until I filled it out. I've been taking it for 5 or 6 days now. Yesterday, I noticed that my voice is very hoarse, like laryngitis with no other sinus/allergy symptoms. And today I feel like I'm about to have an asthma attack. I've already used my inhaler once and I'm still feeling short of breath and light headed. Plus I noticed major anxiety this morning...

I have an appointment with my doctor this afternoon. I'm so glad that I found this website - these symptoms are ridiculous...

I am 19 years old and have been on Advair for 4 years. Although I have not had an asthma attack in 4 years =), I've had really bad heart problems for the past 2 which I never had prior to taking Advair. I'm finally going to the doctor this week and now I know it has to do with the Advair. I also have shortness of breath and for the past year have had reading comprehension problems as well as someone else had mentioned. I hope the symptoms will go away because it's not fun and I'm glad that I'm not hte only one who has these problems.

I was on Advair 3 days. On the third day I was rushed to the emergency room and treated for shortness of breath, chest pain and my mouth, throat and tongue were on fire. I was admitted to ICU and was treated for cardiac arrest. The shortness of breath was caused from an asthma attack brought on by advair, the chest pain and upper backpain (which I still was suffering from when released after 3 days in hospital) caused an inflammation of my chest wall and my mouth, throat and tongue were treated for second degree burns. I believe all these complications I endured were caused from advair. I believe advair could have killed me if I did not seek medical attention when I did. I do NOT recommend this medication to anyone at any age.

My 11 year old had severe asthma but has seemed to grow out out of it. Our doctor had him evaluated by a pulminary expert to access his asthma. My son had a 30% oxygen exchange in the tiny capilaries of the lungs. I was so horrified. He had not had an asthma attack in 2 years. He immediately went on Advair...and our family life has become horrible. He is angry...he is defiant. He has bad dreams. He doesn't feel good. He now weighs 135 lb! The kids tease him. We have him enrolled in sports to excersize his lungs and get his weight down. He feels bad because he's not as fast as the other kids who are 70-80 lbs. He is always tired...and always confused. The Pulminary guy spends 6 minutes with us...scares us...gives our son a drug that is turning our life upside down. We went to his pediatirician and after 2 year he is now off Advair. This is a new development. I am seeing anger and depression now from him. When you guys went off the Advair, was there a period where your body had to balance itself back? I hope this anger/depression are is just a stepping stone from Advair to a happy life.

I had my first trip to the ER for an asthma attack. I was started on Advair only three days ago. Being extremely healthy, except for the asthma, and not taking any medications except for the Albuterol, I was a little concerned about the side effects of the steroid in Advair, especially since I am having difficulty sleeping after only a couple of days of it. Glad I found this site. I will stop using Advair. Too bad, in a way, since it did stop my asthma symptoms and I actually felt normal for a coule of days, but I don't want to experience irreversible systemic damage. I'll guess just put up with using lots of Albuterol during the winter. Thanks to all of you for the posts,

Wow!!! I was on Advair for 6 days when I got what I thought was indigestion that would not go away but it was in my throat. I mentioned to the doc that I was fine before the Advair and medrol pack (asthma attack) but was given Reglan and told to take Pepcid twice a day and sent for an upper GI series. The GI series was fine. I slept upright, stopped the coffee, soda, tomato products, downed Tums and Mylanta but nothing helped. Stopped the Advair and saw the doctor the next day. Again told the doc I was fine before the Advair, on Advair for 2 weeks and my throat was checked this time. White blisters!! On Nystatin and now lozenges. My throat stills feels horrible after a week on these meds. Added Acidophilus, Garlic pills, CoQ10 and waiting to feel better. NEVER, NEVER take 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.

First I would like to say that I know Advair helped save my life. I started it 2 years ago after respiratory failure from the flu and asthma. I was also on a course of Prednisone then and gained 20 lbs. Since my experience I eat better than ever (no fast food) and exercise regularly. I hired a personal trainer, joined Curves and walk several miles a week. I cannot lose weight! I began to suspect perhaps it's from Advair even though my Dr says it's not. I have not had an asthma attack in 2 years so I am going to attempt stop it on my own and see if that helps. I am very frustrated! I am also on Singulair and Proventil and hope these will ward off any attacks.

I have had asthma my whole life and have dealt with it by sitting still and calming down, until about 6 or 7 years ago. I started having problems after I moved into a new house and was prescribed Vancerill, Serevent and Albuterol. I had never had to go to the hospital for a serious asthma attack until I started using these medications, one time by calling 911(mostly albuterol for emergencies just like the rest of you). Recently my doctor switched me to Advair telling me that everyone is being switched over and they won't make the other meds any more. Every time I use it I get a sharp pain in my upper back just under the left shoulder blade that does not go away for 2 or 3 weeks. At it's worst I feel numbness all up and down my left arm and in my fingers. I thought it may be carpel tunnel but it is not, I was tested for it. When this happens I end up taking 25 advil a day or 6 DOANS just to deal and that does not even work. I AM DONE WITH THIS CRAP - NEVER AGAIN, NEVER EVER AGAIN WILL I USE ADVAIR. My doctor keeps telling me it's a pulled muscle that has not had a chance to heal! I am fit, I have worked out my whole life, I drum, I do gymnastics and I have never ever had this kind of pain until I used Advair for the first time. This is ***. I will never use that crap again, I don't care if I die from an asthma attack, it would be better that this crippling pain.