Advair HFA and blood pressure

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 have taken Advair 250/50 for approximately 7 years. It was a life saver for me. My asthma was out of control. I slept with my albuterol inhaler in my hand at night. Advair was the wonder drug. It worked when nothing else did. I had bouts of depression and weight gain over the years, but nothing really major. I ran out of Advair a few days ago and just hadn't had the chance to get a refill.I had been experiencing daily headaches, and an inability to sleep at night. I felt lethargic and beginning to feel a little depressed. I contributed it to the lack of sleep, but wasn't really sure why I wasn't sleeping. Today while sitting in class (I am a Nursing Student & will graduate in December 2009), I got a horrible cramp in my left leg, then my left arm went numb. I got a little light-headed and my head was busting! My heart rate felt fast, so I had my instructor take my Blood Pressure. It was 164/105. Now my B/P has NEVER been anywhere near this. I went to the ER, had labs done (all normal) and an EKG (perfect). After about 4 hours my B/P went back to 117/78, normal for me. The Dr. had no explanation for what happened or why. My husband came home, got online and found several forums addressing these same symptoms. I have made a decision to talk with my doctor about alternative treatment.

A few years ago, my doctor prescribed advair to better control my asthma. After a few days, I had an almost fatal reaction to the medication. I woke up feeling fine, took a shower, and got ready for work. I took a puff from the advair discus and immediately felt my throat closing. I started gasping for air and took my rescue inhaler which didn't work at all. The nebulizer didn't work either. Within minutes I collapsed and became unconscious.Luckily, my son was late for work that day so he called 911 and gave me mouth to mouth resuscitation until the paramedics arrived. My blood pressure dropped to 60/30 and I had to be intubated for the first time. I remained unconscious until I reached the hospital. The doctor said the only reason I survived was because my son saved me. If I had been alone that day I'm sure everyone would have assumed that I died from an asthma attack. I wonder how many other people that happened to. Since then, I have been very careful about taking new medications.

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.

I have just tried Advair, and after 4 days, joints all over my body started to ache. My eyes hurt alot and my vision got blurry. Lastly, I just have a general feeling of unease. I quit the advair and was much better within 3 more days.
All pain is gone and eyes feel normal again, although my eye sight seems diminished. I took no other drugs and felt fine before taking the Advair.

I am 44 and suffer from mild copd. I can get by with Albuteral, and will do
so from now on. I know that one is safe.

Good luck to all.

I forgot to add another important problem that I was having on Advair and that was elevated blood pressure.

I've had high BP for years, but always controllable. For the last year or two, my internist has tried six (6) different BP meds and we still cannot get my BP under 155/85.

Today, after being off the Advair, my BP was 139/78 !! This reading was with only being on 1/2 dose of a single med (Cozaar).

I think that calls for a toast ! (yea, I wish! haha)

Two weeks ago my Doctor put me back on Advair 500/50, My voice went hoarse immeditialy (still that way), I also started having headachs, unable to sleep, muscle pain, my blood pressure has increased and I have a rapid heart rate. The problem that drives me crazy is I have difficultly swallowing and I feel like someone is strangling me. I also have a bad cough and thick mucus that doesn't seem to end...not to mention mood swings and problems thinking.
I was previously on advair for years, stopped taking it cause I did not feel right. My Doctor remains firm in her option "advair has no side effects" and thinks I make this up...Wish I never started back on it and stopping using it today.

I wish I found this site before I started taking this crap. I started Advair again about two weeks ago 50/500 one puff at night and one in the morning. At first I would just get a little dizzy sometimes when I took it and a mild head ache a couple times but the last three nights I keep waking up and its hard to get back to sleep even though Im tired and I have noticed my heart beating faster then normal. I have only been getting six or five hours of sleep a night which is not enough for me especially because I have been surfing for hours the last few days. I do think it has helped my ashtma when I go surfing but after reading all of these bad side effects I dont think I will ever take it again. The last time I took it was about a year ago and stoped because it made me feel dizzy and I only took it for about two weeks. Before I started it again I told the doctor that it made me feel dizzy a couple times and he said people just accomodate to it. Its to bad they cant make something that helps my lungs like it does without all the bad side effects. Im going to not use it tonight and see how I sleep and tomorow when I go surfing I will see how my lungs are without it.

I am glad to see I am not crazy!! I started on advair a week and a 1/2 ago. My blood pressure went up and after 6 days of taking advair my bp was 140/99. Heart rate increased from 60's-low 70's up to mid 80's. I have always had really good bp before this and a good heart rate. I also had weird sensation in my arms and legs and a tightness in my chest that would come and go. I had a headache pretty much the whole time I was taking advair. I had horrible cramps in my feet and legs. I also had something strange happen to my face. I got a strange pain in my cheek that went up to my eye feeling like there was severe pressure behind it and then after making my eye water it went back down to my cheek for a minute and then disappeared. I was starting to get really creeped out by all these things happening so I bought a bp machine and monitored my bp. 48 hours after stopping advair my bp was excellent (106/66), heart rate back to the 60's, no more weird sensations, headache is gone, no cramps in my legs/feet, and my crappy mood has improved. All these strange symptoms are gone! I will never take that crap again!! It may work for some but it didn't work for me.

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.

im trying to get off advair. but everytime i try i suffer severe coughing and phelm. which is worse than i ever had before i started taking it. I get really scared and go back on in a day or two. Im looking for advice on how to get off. Doctors dont seem to take my word on it. also have gained ten pounds and blood pressure is up need to get off

I have been taking Advair for several years with no apparent side effects at all. For me it seems to work great. I take one inhalation of Advair in the morning and one at night along with two inhalations of Intal. I work out vigorously five times a week and have plenty of energy throughout the day at work. My heart rate and blood pressure are normal and I am rarely sick.

After I was on Advair for about 3 months, I noticed that my blood pressure was starting to rise and my eyes hurt and felt like there was a lot of pressure inside them. After my rx ran out, I decided not to refill it. 1 1/2 weeks later, I experienced a vitreous detachment in my left eye. 2 weeks after that, I experienced another detachment in my right eye. It's now about a month since I stopped taking Advair and the pain in my eyes has stoppped but I have experienced significant visual problems due to the vitreous detachments, for which there is no treatment. Blood pressure has returned to normal. By the way, my doctor said he couldn't find any side effects listed for eyes or blood pressure. Maybe I should find a new doctor.

I quit Advair last August after being on it for 3 years. Weight gain of 25 lbs. Last time I saw a doctor was 5/09/05 for a well woman exam. Blood pressure was sky high and doctor prescribed Norvasc which I never had filled. Never had high readings before. Skin was tissue thin and couldn't sleep well at night. Strange pains just bending over. Nervous all the time. Bruising at the slightest bump.

I used Albuterol constantly until 24 days ago. Have used no other asthma meds. Was recommended by a friend to read F. Batmangheliidj, M.D. "You're Not Sick, You're Thirsty!" for back pains and depression. He recommends lots of water PLUS SEA SALT! Any kind. (not table salt) (I use Hain's because Wal-mart carries it). Even for high blood pressure. You won't find a doctor who would ever recommend this. I noticed that when I ate popcorn with lots of sea salt on it before bedtime, I would sleep well and not cough and wheeze through the night like I had previously. So I keep a large glass of water w/sea salt beside my bed at night. I use a straw since the salt falls to the bottom of the glass.
During the last 24 days without the Albuterol, I have had 2-3 days I didn't think I was going to make it without my inhaler. But it was during the weekends when I was not working, so I drank lots of water, salted everything (lemons especially) and made it through the day. However, the next day I was able to breathe freekt well but my chest and back were sore from trying to breathe the previous day. It was a good feeling knowing I made it though -- I feel I'm strenghening my lungs. The salt really cuts the phleghm.
If anyone tries this, please post it whether it helped or not. It appears to be working for me. Like I said it has been 24 days which is a record for me.

The purple-red bruising I've had along with the thinning skin is ecchymoses - which is listed as a possible side effect affecting 3% or so. Been off Advair 9 days and have had to use Albuterol maybe once daily.
Blood pressure is going down, also.
Going to tackle the 20 lb. weight gain next.
Hoping to see if this ecchymose will go away in the next month.

Are these advair side effects temporary or permanent? I have taken advair for 4-6 months usually taking it only once a day. I never felt like it helped me out. I started having chest discomfort, rapid heart rate, pounding chest (as if my heart woud explode), tingling and numness, tremors in my arms , legs and chest, restlesness at night, my blood pressure increased, fatigue and weakness. I have not taken it for 8 months but still have re occuring symptoms. Will this ever go away. I have lost my confidence in our doctors. I have read not to just stop taking advair, why is this?

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.

Like many of you, I experienced weight gain (all around the middle); high blood pressure; already had an irregular heart beat; chronic sinusitius with thick thick mucous constantly running down the back of my throat (antibiotics offered no relief); the need to clear my throat many times before I could speak; and the terrible sounding voice. In addition, I had the worst leg crams inaminable in the upper thighs. These cramps completely paralyzed my ability to move and they came on n the middle of the night. Also developed dry skin and break outs on the scalp requiring the use of special shampoos. Two doctors told me they had never heard of any of these symptoms. . .told me that over and over and over and wanted to add drugs for blood pressure, sprays for the sinuses. . .had no idea why the voice even bothered me. Now the clincher is that I was on Advair for 2 years. At the time I started I had a diagnoses of moderate asthma. Two years later - of continuing to faithfully take the medication - I have a diagnoses of emphysema with only 46% capacity for oxygen/carbon dioxide excahnge. I am a non smoker (never smoked) and genetics was ruled out in a test. The doctors STILL want me to continue on Advair. The urrent pulmonologist insistes he, too, has NEVER heard any of these side effects and cannot imagine why I think any of them are connected to Advair. Needless to say, he apparently hasn't ever read the Advair insert as the company now owns up to at least a few. I wonder if . . instead of posting OUR eamil addresses and names (leaving us open to SPAM . .. we start naming the physicians who tell us they have NEVER heard these syptoms before. They can, truthfully, only make that statement one time each . . . after that they are out and out lying and if thier name in here we'll all know who they are. I no longer take Advair . . am very fearful of my lung disease and very inquisitive as to how my condiition could deteriorate so completely while I was following all the medical advice; even allowing myself to be convinced that the doctors are right. And, my blood pressure is now normal and I have lost 20 pounds so far. Everyone wants to know which diet I am following and I just say I have "changed a few habits."

I am 62 with adult asthma, GERD and high blood pressure -was under great control with my meds, changed doctors and on first visit he puthad me start taking Advair 100/50 July 2003. I went from mild manner grandmother to an agressive one in less than two weeks; headaches; progressed to being tired all the time, took nap in the morning and afternoon; reflux all the time standing, sitting or laying down; bad taste in mouth; dizzy and small black outs; excessive sinus drainage/congestion; irrated throat; coughing. On 10-22-2003 went back to pulmonery dr for check up, at that time my blood pressure was up had gained 5 pounds and was told my symptoms were not caused by Advair and that he would see me again in 3 months. I stoped Advair on 11-3--2003 and went back to my original meds. I had an appointment with my gastroentrolst 11-5-2003 for the constant reflux, being as I had just had a flex-sig exam 9 months previous he was not concerned just to watch what i was eating and know he did not think it was from the Advair because the Advair should be out of my system after 24 hours. I changed pulmonary doctors and saw my new one on 11-17-2003. He left me on my original meds and said some people do not tolerate the Advair but my asthma, and blood pressure was under control, the reflux, sore throat i still had. Since this time i have had a bladder infection 12-2-2003 (last one i had had was 40 yrs ago) and am now fighting the loss of my voice(since 1-15-2004) I am on a round of an 1000-mg of amoxicillin for infection of the larynx. But was also told by the ENT dr that this would not be caused by Advair.
I was feeling great until I took Advair and now I have no energy, I am drowning in my reflux and fighting infections from who knows where. Thanks for your website it helps me to know that i'm not alone.

The cure is worse then the disease!
taking the 500 dose
Upper trunk itching
Facial break outs
dry cough
agitation
Increased heart rate and blood pressure
Have switched to 250 hope it helps

I am 69, play tennis, workout with weights. Advair has helped with my breathing, I do get dizzy after using and before using,like I need it. Blood pressure has dropped about 10 points, must eat small amounts constantly to stave off stomach ache.Appears to have helped my muscle aches??

I had been on advair since it came on the market. I have suffered from increased heart rate and increased blood pressure. I complained in Nov. to doctor who proceeded to decreae the dose. I continued to have the same symptoms and in addition was having bouts of tachycardia and possibly skipped beats that were very disturbing. I again went and this time was told that by decreasing the dose that it was only the steroid and that the salmeterol was the same in all. Duh, why did he decrease the dose when it had no affect on the salmeterol. Now he decided to stop it altogether. My heart rate is back in a normal range and my blood pressure has come down to a very good reading. I do not have the the increased heart rate. However what I am experiencing is an increase in pain due to arthritis in my joints. i am wondering if this is because I have stopped the advair and the steroid that is in it. Has anyone else had that reaction after long time use of advair and then stopping it.