Advair HFA and copd

I have used Advair for just two days and every muscle in my body has developed weakness and pain, so I stopped and will seek another drug for my newly diagnosed bronchial COPD

I have been on Advair 250/50 for 5 years for asthma. I'm a 48 year old female. I have experienced severe hoarsness and my voice is rough sounding. Some days I am so hoarse that others have a hard time understanding me. I have had 5 kidney stones in the last 5 years, never had one before taking Advair. I had the last one a month ago and it was so large I had to have surgery. I experience nausea about once a day. I seem to always have a headache. I feel tired all of the time. Over the last year I have developed high blood pressure. I have gained 20 pounds. I have rashes on my upper arms that comes and goes. I experience mood swings. The Advair does control my asthma, but these side effects are too much anymore, especially the hoarseness. I am going to ask my doctor for other solutions.

DEPRESSION, ANXIETY, SWEATING, NAUSEA

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.

my brother is taking advair for COPD. he is also on blood pressure medicine
and a medicine to stop smoking. he has been having terrible insomnia for many months now. also. several times when he's driving, he's suddenly become so tired, he has to pull over. it happened again recently in the middle of the afternoon and he had an accident. he says just before the wave of fatigue comes over him, he seems to have some severe allergic reaction with sinus drainage. has anyone else ever had any of these experiences? this seems incredibly scary.

I had been taking Advair 500/50 for several years, however, most of that time I only took it once a day (not the recommended 2X). My diagnosis is near fatal asthma/COPD. About a year and a half ago I began taking Spiriva in addition. I am stable, but with a low pulmonary function for the past year (peak flow remains around 200). I see an acupuncturist/herbalist and an currently trying Wei Labs products: Soup A and LC Balancer, that are supposed to reverse lung damage. I recently visited a new, conventional, pulmonary specialist who wanted me to retry Advair at its recommended dosage, which I did. I noticed a nagging headache (at my forehead), a tendency to be agitated very easily, and a diminished peak flow. His response was to continue and add another medication (Singulair, which I have tried years ago with no good result). I stopped the Advair (though I am continuing on the Spiriva, until I see more results from the herbs). Also, I am a thin person who exercises all the time, and I had noticed that my weight was about 10 lbs more than I would like it to be (this had been the case for a couple of years). I have yet to see if that will drop, I have only been off for a couple of days. Additionally, I have had the experience with conventional steroid sinus meds over the years; the meds would stop working after a month or two and I would end up with worse congestion. I ultimately had a surgery to clear polyps and extra tissue, and have been breathing well through my nose since 2004 without meds. I feel I need to get off the conventional meds for the asthma too, on them I appear to be in a slow decline.

My mother has been on Advair for her COPD for about three years. Over the last year she has had to have two crowns and 6 cavities filled. Prior to using Advair, she went years without any dental problems. I can't find any info on dental decay being a side effect with Advair use. Has anyone else had these problems?

my mother was on Advair for COPD and now she is totally messed up mentally....My mother is paranoid. She refuses to go outside and thinks people are bugging our house and are all out to get her....she never used to behave like this. My mother is from the generation that I like to call "old school" Its a generation that goes to the doctor and takes whatever the doctor prescribes without questioning it. I'm "new school" I question everything and only take medicine as a last resort....I believe in natural alternatives....if there is anyone else out there who is suffering or has a loved one suffering from paranoia please contact me at ***

I have been on Advair 250/50 for approx 4 yrs. I am 47 now. I Know I have to take the medicine for my COPD every 12 hrs. If not, I have difficult time breathing. I had leg cramps in the beginning, but not too much now. The problem that is most bothersome now is low back pain. Not sure if I have osteoporosis setting in, or it is just a side effect. I am always coughing up mucus. My shoulders, arms, and legs, are very sore to the touch. Feels like someone has come up and slugged me, and that is just from a finger touch.
I know I cannot get off of the Advair, If does help my breathing, but I also know the consequences if I do not take it. Almost like my life line.
Does anyone else feel this way?

I'm 58 with COPD and the Dr. put me on Advair for breathing. I have been having severe join pain the last two weeks and believe it may be from the rx. also, have reccurring pneumonia, thrush, and sleep disturbances. Sound familiar? let me know if you have the joint pain.

I started advair a year ago for COPD and the side effects have become intolerable, but I'm between a rock and a hard spot, because it has made it possible for me to get off of the rescue inhaler which I was previously using every two hours. My hair periodically falls out by the handful, my legs swell every night and a deep bruise to my right leg has created a four week odyssy of the ankle swelling to twice the size of the other by dinnertime and the bruise is only just starting to appear - I suspect the steroids have slowed healing. I also have most of the same side effects as listed by others here - belly-bloating, diarrhea, severe stomach cramping, charlie horses, quicker temper, hoarseness, sore throat, heart palpatations, and chest pressure, trouble swallowing, bruising, blurred vision, most disconcerting is the way this stuff is affecting my short term memory. I just started back to school and I can't absorb anything into my memory and my ability to conceptualize (one of my best skills, previously) is now frightenly limited. For the first time in my life, I know what it is like to be the one in class scratching my head with a dumb expression on my face. I realized that it was the Advair, because I tried studying in the early morning (after the last dose of Advair had worn off) and Voila - my memory and conceptualizing abilities had partially, but dramatically, returned. But I need the Advair to GET TO class and by the time I reach the test (after my morning dose of Advair), I can't recall anything in a timely enough manner (test taking had always been my strength). I hate to think what this drug is doing to the minds of children in this country. I now know for the first time in my life, what a horrible feeling it is to not "get it" after trying with all your might. I flunked a math test last week after studying days and nights for it - first test I've ever flunked in my life and I used to get Bs in college while not opening a book until the night before a test. Does anyone know of anything else that is anywhere nearly as effective without all the side effects? I suspect it is the fluoride in Advair that makes it so dangerous - a good percentage of the dangerous drugs taken off the market or still on the market, but with blackbox warnings contain Fluoride - it is highly reactive and unpredictable. Flonase (nasal spray made with steroids and fluoride) makes my father and sister nearly psychotic!

I was a 2:42 marathoner. I used a synthetic varnish containing isocyanates, pentanedione, organic solvents, in one 7-hour session; the company-recommended respirator did not in fact prevent transmission: Severe chemically- induced asthma, plus neuropathy, plus, plus.

I've used Advair 500/50 for six years. There have been many diverse effects from the chemical exposure; I'd not questioned any being Advair side effects. But the raised blood pressure was not initial, and certainly not a priori. Diminished hearing, diminished eyesight, anxiety. Again, not to lump in, but these questions are new for me. But the point I'd like to bring before this group is this: In August I was diagnosed with ehlichiosis , and was prescribed 28 days on doxycycline. They recommend eliminating many possible antagonists to the doxycycline. My respiratory capacity had been continually diminishing. My ongoing physician said this was to be expected and recommended only the next more powerful steroid. Not a good solution. Before all this I was strong; repaired myself. In the absence of constructive answers, wondering if the Advair was weakening me, making me dependent, I quit the Advair as well on beginning the doxycycline. Today is eleven days post-doxycycline. Eight days ago there began with increasing severity, a terrible wracking deep cough producing dark yellow mucus. Painful. No fever. Grevious throat from the wracking, but I question whether this is a cold or infection. It's just in my lungs. Maybe it's as though I've thrown off an epithelial coating. These past two days the quantity of deep yellow mucus is not as ready, but the wracking and coughing is more severe. And my lung capacity, my respiratory capacity, is frighteningly diminished. Until these past two days I'd considered this an infection, especially post-doxy. But it doesn't feel like an infection. And I'm scared. Is this because I quit the Advair abruptly after long regular use? Have any of you had a similar experience. Can you discuss the effects of abruptly discontinuing Advair. Have you stayed off it. What's happened to your respiratory capacity. Have you any professional studies, trials or experience to recommend. Thanks.

My wife ran a 102 fever in June while traveling.. Took her to emergency room. They said she had pneuomonia, gave her antibiotics and inhaler.
Follow up doctor said she had COPD and prescribed Advair 100.
Returned to home and visited Respiratory dr. He put her on predisone (8 down to 1 5mg tablet over a week) and 4 weeks of Advair 250. After 2 weeks she started running 102 fever, reduced to 99.6 with Ibuprofine. She is tired, has a bad dry chest cough and has had bad diahera. Will take her to Dr monday and have stopped using Advair.

Started taking Advair 7/27/07. Since then I have alot of twitching. In my legs, my arms and sometimes even my head twitches suddenly. I used to be able to sleep late in the morning, but now the twitching wakes me up.
Have also experienced some chest tightness.

I am a 71 year old man with COPD (emphysema) My pulmonologist has prescribed Spiriva and Advair. I have taken Advair for over three years and Spiriva for about 18 months. Lately, I have experience a rapid heart beat (sometimes 138 bpm), problems with hoarseness, thick mucus in the throat, weight gain including an unpleasant, distended belly after eating, leg cramps at night, heartburn, dizziness and slow stream urination. I've been checked for prostate problems, the results of which were normal. My heart has always been healthy but lately with the rapid heartbeat, I've become very concerned. I am going to stop taking the Advair and see what the results are. The Spiriva seems to be doing a good job for me and I will continue with it since it is not a steroid.

Unbelievable Rash on my back, scalp, etc. that my dermatologist indicated was exzema. After 7 months of constant itching, I have finally found this site and I am hoping that if I discontinue the advair, my rash will once and for all diminish.

I have been on Advair 250/50 since it was allowed in the USA. I also take Spiriva. I told my pulmonary doctor last October that I would like a lower dosage. Now I am on 100/50. The side effects have not dimished and I am getting scared. My skin has aged and the forearms are like goosepumps. Just diagnosed with cataract in one eye and I was told I have severe osteoporosis. I have COPD, the reason for taking Advair. I now have HIVES. I do not suggest anyone try Advair. It is a killer. Tomorrow I have an appointment with my regular doctor for the hives and I am going to inquire about getting off Advair. I don't know if I need any other medication? I use oxygen at night when I go to bed (concentrator). When I was working I didn't need the oxygen during the day but I know I have a lot of anxiety which leads to depression. I have small canisters of oxygen in case I need it. When I get upset, I can use it but notice I recover on my own.

I just finished sending a message but omitted info that might be of interest to others. I am a 76 year old white male diagnosed with COPD, a former heavy smoker, on O2, 24 hours a day. With O2, Spirrvia, and exercise I am back to a fairly normal life and have just started using liquid O2 with a Helios disoenser. I love it. It is no more difficult than wearing a 45 pistol on a web belt and lasts much longer than gaseous O2.

Previous poster please post the results of your Dr. visit regarding the "fast" heartbeat. Just about this time last year I had a problem with my stomach and mouth burning, which I
KNOW was Advair. The Dr. took me off the Advair and gave me medication for my mouth. Somewhere within a week following that, I went back for a re-check. My heartrate had always been in the low 70's. It was all over the board. It was going from the 50's up to 150 and falling back down. This went on for a week and after wearing a halter over the weekend I was sent to a cardiologist. I wore the halter again for 3 or 4 days. He decided it was the Albuterol I was using in my nebulizer. I was also using Atrovent too. They switched my Albuterol to Xopenex. Personally, I can't tell the difference, but within maybe 3 weeks my heartrate went back to normal. I was short of breath and I went back on 150/50 Advair. I am interested to know what your Dr. thinks may be causing the fast heartbeat, and I know there can be many causes. I have asthma too but now they say "COPD".
Please post the results of your Dr. visit. It's always nice to know what causes it.

I guess you right about not being able to sue the Pharma, that is if they would have listed the worst side effects on the label. Or if my doctor would have warned me, that this medicine could kill me. If all the websites are correct, I should only be taking 250/50 for my copd, not the 500/50 that I have been taking for 3 years. I understand your thinking, that maybe one drug could help you with your illiness, but the cure could kill you. I mean I may not die with a Pulminary disease, but; if I am lucky I could die of one of the side effects. That is what is wrong with the medicine and health fields in this country, why should we have to settle for dying from any medicine, especially when the medicines cost more than a lot of people's mortgages every month. It is not a good trade off. I understand though, 20 years ago, I got lead poisioning, and was told that if I take the med. to cure me, it was only a 50/50 proposition, but; if I didn't take it I would surely die, but; that was 20 years ago. Today we should not have to choose which medicine is going to kill us. If we sit silently by and allow the pharmacuticles to choose profits over the right and moral thing to do then we deserve what they do to us, but; my friend if somebody does not stand up and say enough is enough then all hope is lost.

I am sure glad that I found this site. I am a 58 year old male, I have been using Advair 500/50 for about 3 years but; I did not know there were side effects with this drug. I have COPD with approximately 15% of lung capacity left. Before starting on the Advair twice a day, I could walk app. 100ft before I got so out of breath. now I am lucky to be able to walk 10 ft. and even then I must rest and catch my breath. I have gained an enormous amount of weight, and at first with a change to my diet I would lose a couple of pounds, but; that was also with my cardiac rehab. The cough is getting much worse and I cough so hard I feel like I am going to pass out. I am nauseated, have no real taste for food anymore. It is hard to swallow even water. I get a sore throat and a lot of mucous and it has become at times very hard for me to speak. I have to speak slowly trying to form my words so they can be understood. I also have a heart condition, and was having real bad palpatations. Why I didn't know, I was hospitalized and was put on Warfain and Solatol which does help. I never would have associated any of these side effects if I had not read them here in this site, thank you for alerting me. I am at a loss as what to do, I am going to contact a lawyer, but; I still do not know if I should stop taking the Advair.

I have been on Advair for 3 years or more. I started on 100/50, then went to 250/50. And after a while I had a terrible "burning" in my mouth. I had never associated it with the Advair. During a routine visit with my Pulmonary Dr. I mentioned that my mouth, throat and stomach had been burning very bad. He immediately said, "ADVAIR". I asked if he thought that Advair would do that. He replied, "I know it can". He told me to stop using it and he gave me a prescription for Nystatin. The yeast had gone through my mouth, throat and my stomach and intestines were burning too. However, after a few days I had to ask him to let me go back on the Advair because I was having a bad problem with my breathing. I am now on 100/50. I've had all the same problems that everyone else is talking about. I believe two people have mentioned the "foot cramps". Two of my toes will draw together and I have to pull them apart. I also have bad cramps in my legs. I mentioned the problems with my toes drawing together and nobody seems to believe me. I too have a problem with my weight. I keep wishing I could give up the Advair but I have COPD and use oxygen. I use Atrovent solution and Xopenex in my nebulizer in addition to the Advair. I wrote to the Company about all the "symptoms" I was having. They were very nice, listened to all my complaints and they did follow-up with a letter to my Dr. I'm sure they had heard my story before. But I wii have to say they were concerned and tried to be helpful.

Is Asmanex a new drug? I checked on the internet and it has a long list of side effects. I doubt if itwould have any less side effects then advair.
I have decided to try alternative methods
If anyone has any suggestions as to alternative med that works for asthma and copd.
I would like to see it posted
Thanks

I HAVE COPD AND MILD ASTHMA AND HAVE BEEN ON ADVAIR 250/50 FOR ABOUT 4MONTHS I HAVE HAD THE ACNE, WEIGHT GAIN, HEADACHES, VOMITING, STOMACH CRAMPS, MOOD SWINGS, RESTLESSNESS, AND JUST FOUND OUT TODAY THAT I SHOULD HAVE ALREADY BEEN BACK TO THE DR AND WILL BE GOING TODAY FOR ITCHING AND HIVES WHICH I HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING DAILY. IF YOU DO EXPERIENCE HIVES YOU ARE SUPPOSED TO CONTACT YOUR DOCTOR IMMEDIATELY.

I started taking Advair about two years ago. The Doctors say I have COPD,and I was given Advair to help me breath. Since I started taking this drug I have developed cronic pain in my legs,arms and sholders, weaknes in my intire body, numbness in hands, cramps in legs,feet,hands and sometimes in upper body .I have a problem sleeping, nervousness,hoarseness. I have no quality of life any more. I loved gardening but cannot do any of that any more. Walking in my home is a chore now. I have told my Doctor but he seems not to believe me. Maybe we need to go to school to learn how to treat our illnesses. I hope some one will investigate this drug and its side effects. There has to be another drug to help open our air passage ways to help us breath. Peggy

I have been on Advair 500/50 for 2 years taking 1 puff twice daily. I have had these side effects:

weight gain
dry skin
itchy skin
pain in muscles and joints, mostly legs
thin skin on arms
bleeding problems/ clotting disorder
rapid heart beat
thinning hair
difficulty sleeping
thirsty throughout the night
dental problems
water retention
heartburn
I hate taking this drug but it does help keep my COPD(emphysema) under control. I get depressed at times due the side effects of this drug and the impact it has on my life and how I feel about myself. I often think of just stopping the drug and seeing how I feel but I am afraid to.

This past November I got the flu, as did my husband and daugther. The day after Thanksgiving I started to have some difficulty breathing. I went to the doctor and they prescribed an inhaler for me, which did nothing. I went back to the dr. again and she prescribed an anxiety medication and combivent and told me that it was just anxiety. Why would she prescribed combivent (which is strictly used for COPD) if I supposedly just had anxiety? I went to another doctor and he informed me that I had pneumonia and broken ribs. He prescribed prednisone and Advair. Since taking Advair the quality of my life has gone downhill tremendously. I have gained upwards of 30 pounds, have a swollen (and painful) stomach, have lost my voice (I cannot speak above a whisper), I'm having excruciating pain in my right hip joint, it hurts if I put any weight on the heels of my feel, and my back is killing me. Advair has not helped me in ANY way. It has not helped my breathing, in fact, it's made it worse.

When I informed my doctor of this he acted like I was crazy. He said it was completely safe and that I had nothing to worry about. So, I went to a pulmonologist...and he told me to stay on the Advair also! Even though they're aware of the fact that it hasn't helped me! I found it ironic that someone stated on here that they thought the dr.'s might be getting a kickback for prescribing it, because I thought the exact same thing!

I have been off of Advair for 4 days now and there has been no improvment. I called the company that makes Advair and the woman I spoke with said she was "in shock" that the dr.'s kept me on that medication with the side effects I'm having. According to her, 5% of people using Advair will experience "hoarsness," which is a grand understatement...it's more like loss of voice. She said she was filing a report with the FDA and we would receive a copy of it. When I asked her if this could have caused permanent damage, she was honest with me. According to her there is now a study for people who have been on Advair for 2 years, then off of it for a year, and they still have their symptoms. She also said that the study stated that there was no difference between long-term use and short-term use. Which basically means that it doesn't matter if you've been on it for 2 months or 2 years, if you're going to have a reaction...you'll have it.

I'm praying this isn't permanent. I'm only 37 and this is miserable to have to deal with while running my business and taking care of my family.

I have used Advair two years 50/250 dosage. In the last week I broke out with splotches and bumps over most of my body after inhaling my dosage. I stoped taking it but still having minor outbreaks after waking up in the mornings. Since quiting usage the pain in the joints of my fingers has stopped. My breathing is still ok. I have COPD and the Advair seemed to help me take deep breathing and I was able to stop using combivent. I have slight memory problems but use notes to keep myself reminded of items for the day. I'm one month from turning sixty. RGB

I have been on Advair for severe COPD for 2 yrs now. In the beginning I was feeling great. I am off prednisone and hardly using my inhaler. After about 2 months I started having severe pain in my bones and muscles. Went to several rhuematologists for diagnosis. Rhuematoid arthiritis,
fibromylgia, Osteopenia and whatever else!I now have depression, memory problems, and a horrible cough, and having a lot of difficulty functioniong.At that time I contacted Glaxo and was told that they had no side effects. Now I am hearing all these side effects that people are having I think this does have to be reported.

I have been on advair for just over 2 months, i too have had all the symptoms that all of you have experianced , and stopped taking the advair as well. My symptoms are severe muscle weakness, pneumonia, thrush, major phlem, hoarness, neck pain, mood swings, aggression, excitability, weight gain (25lbs. in 2 months), i was givin advair for COPD, and i told my dr. of my change in symptoms, and they said it could not possibally be the advair millions of people are taking it . So i took it upon myself to stop taking it its only been 2 days without it, and i have yet to start feeling better.

Read many of the postings and I am experiencing almost the same thing...weight gain of about 15 lbs, the little bumps like acne on my face(not sure what that is) and occasional muscle/joint pain. The Advair really helps me breath much better than I used to but the side effects are awful. If anyone knows of an alternative medication that works with a lesser degree of side effects, please let me know.

Thank you

I posted earlier but just wanted to make note of the following. Advair does make breathing easier for the COPD impaired like myself. I am using it, probably AMA, only as a maintainance drug as it definally causes thrush of the throat even if you rinse and gargle. I might also add that this medication is manufactured by the German pharmaceutical conglomerate, Glaxo/Kline/Smith. It cost me $130 per disc here in the states. About the time I found it could be pruchased for half that amount in Canada, the Germans at the bequest of American pharmaceutical interest refused shipment to those Canadian internet pharmacies who were shipping it to the states. It should also me noted that this was accomplished through the vast lobbying campaign aimed at GOP congressmen. Glaxo donates several million dollars per year to the GOP campaign fund so it is obvious why we are getting screwed on the price. I am a regesitered Republican and this is very disturbing. I also find it disturbing that every other TV commercial is hyping some new medicinal miracle and that Drs. across the U.S. must be on the take in some fashion as most ignore the multitude of side effect patients mention and prescribe Advair as the drug of choice.

I have COPD and been on Advair for one year now. I have the cramping in my legs and my arms and legs constantly ache-- Also--I have not seen this on any of the above but has ANYONE had any dealings with hair loss? I have been loosing alot of hair daily for the past few months and I also have the bloating of the stomach all the time.
I am only on Combivent and ADVAIR so something is doing it to me. I am 62---