Advair HFA and dizziness

dizziness,nose bleed, double vision, blurred vision

Wow!!! I can't believe it! I just found this site. I've actually been on Advair 500/50 for years now, about 7 years at least. Just as a bit of a background, I'm 24 years old, used to be extremely active, played water polo, was on the swim team, and was just overall very active in high school. I've had severe chronic asthma since I was 8 years old, so in order to help me stabilize my asthma, my critical care pulmonologist put me on Advair. It was a "miracle drug"! However, while my asthma was under control, I was experiencing all these other symptoms that everyone else has been talking about.
Anyway, to make things worse, I just talked to my (new) doctor and she told me that the Advair makes it so that some organ (I'm sorry, I don't remember the name) actually stops producing prednisone (or the same stuff that your body naturally produces itself to keep your lungs working correctly) if on it for long enough. It makes sense because for the first few years it was prescribed to me, I really only filled the prescription as I was getting sick as a backup, but other then that I was generally under control. For the last I'd say about a year, I've been consistent and used it regularly as the doctor actually prescribed, every day, twice a day, whether I was sick or not. Now, I can't go even a week without it, otherwise I'm in the hospital.
During the last year or so that I've been consistent with taking the medication, I've had major depression, gained 45 lbs, fatigue, anxiety, dizziness, nausea, heart palpitations, heartburn, leg pains, sore throat, sinus infections (we just finally decided I was just allergic to our animals and I've been on decongestants for pretty much the whole year, doing sinus flushes, etc and I'm still all stuffy!), unexplained bruising, crazy mood swings, muscle pains, headaches, heartburn, etc. I thought I was just completely crazy, I kept believing it was all in my head!!!
I'm going to my doctor today and asking her to prescribe me something else. The funny thing was, I was just on my way to the hospital b/c my doctor's been treating me for the last 3 weeks for vertigo accompanied by the heart palpitations and the nausea, she finally is giving up and is sending me to the emergency room. I figured before I went that route, I'd look into it myself. Go figure!

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

Cannot handle this anymore. Need advice. Thank you

I've been taking Advair for about 14months months, first 100/50 and then 250/50 to control my asthma and chronic bronchitis. During the past year I have actually lost 10lbs but over the past six months have experienced increasing symptoms/possible side effects from Advair: chest pains, leg pains/cramps, neasua, dizziness, acid reflux, trouble sleeping, memory issues and extreme muscle weakness. The leg cramps I've been able to control by taking vitamins and enzymes but the chest pains is worrying me. I was searching for possible answers to the mysterious chest pains and thought that Advair may be the culprit. Hence my entering this site. I'm going to chuck mine in the trashcan and go cold turkey Hopefully my symptoms will subside overtime and nothing damaged permanently.

August 5, 2008

Thank you for this website. These testimonies has confirmed by suspicions of Advair's side effects.

I am 52 years old and was diagnosed with adult onset asthma 10 months ago. My physician prescribed Advair (500) and Albuterol inhaler. I was instructed to take the Advair 2 times/day and Albuterol 3 times/day. During the last few months, I have noticed a slight weight gain, fatigue, hoarseness, dry mouth and occasional insomnia. The hoarseness has resulted in 2.5 weeks of losing my voice. Also, I have noticed that my recovery from a prior illness, such as cold, was very slow.

As a result, I discontinued the Advair and use the albuterol as needed. My voice began to returned to normal in two days and I am feeling much better.

Now I am wondering if I am experiencing drug withdrawal symptoms due to discontinuing Advair five day ago. The following symptoms are: dizziness, and needle-like tingling in hands, feet and side.

Again, thank you gals for sharing you'll experience with Advair.

I am so glad I found this site as it has confirmed many of the suspicions I've had about advair for quite some time. I've had the hoarseness, dizziness, memory loss, major weight gain, and major cramps and leg pains. I was even diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis because of the non-stop joint pains etc... The doctors too insisted that non of my troubles were due to the advair and I find this completely maddening that they lead patitents to believe that something is safe when it is not! About 9 months ago, totally fed up with the state my health has fallen to, I began alternative medicine-- acupuncture and am starting homeopathy soon-- and the results have been very promising. I am not using rescue inhaler at all and am weaning myself off the advair. I am starting to feel best I have since I was diagnosed with adult on-set asthma. I would encourage anyone to explore these safe alternatives and would also like to know if anyone has found any "safe" replacement for advair which does help control asthma symptoms w/out the HORRIBLE side effects?

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-

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!

I began taking Advair 250/50 in Nov. '06, approximately 1 month later started having pretty severe spinning & dizziness. Initially I was diagnosed with mild asthma and Ive always had allergies. The Advair cleared up the wheezing almost immediately and it never occurred to me that maybe the Advair was causing my dizziness. However after using in on and off for the last year and a half, I have experienced anxiety, a few panic attacks (for the 1st time in my 42 years), and this overall feeling of cloudiness. I recently started the Advair again and almost immediately I am now feeling very dizzy again, headaches with this stabbing pain behind my right eye, an overall feeling of instability. To add: last year when this all started I saw a neurologist, and a whole series of tests to check the cause of the dizziness Including a brain MRI, eeg and bear tests, these all came back normal. I am truly beginning to believe that the Advair may be the cause of all of this. Just a note, I also have felt the pain in my arm and neck. Has anyone else experienced these feelings in your head? I have stopped the Advair, to see the difference. I'll stick with Albuterol for now. I am a stay a home mom who has always been really healthy, eats right and exercises regularly. Any feedback would help!

Back in May 2007 I screened to take part in a clinical trial involving advair diskus. apart of the screening involved giving me a dosage of the drug. I was given a heart monitor to wear for 24 hours I was snet home and told to return tomorrow. The same day I left with the heart monition, I felt tired through out the day, very sick and nauseated. I didn't make it into the trial for whatever reason, but as the days went on my symptoms got worse, they included: severe constipation, heart burn, burping (GERD like symptoms), BLOATING, I experienced energy dips and dives throughout the day, headaches and dizziness. This went on for months, then I began to have pains in the middle of my upper back...then the chest pains started, after realizing it had to be more than muscle pain, I decided to go to the ER. I told them my symptoms, they did an X-Ray and CAT SCAN. the conclusion of the two test was an enlarged heart(Cardiomyopathy), and it remains so today.

I have recently learned that chemicals in some drugs can damage/weaken the cardiac tissue..which has to happen before the heart can enlarge.

I started taking advair in September of 2006 after being diagnosed with allergy related asthma. I took it for 3 months. Then stopped for a few months over the winter and restarted in spring because of more serious symptoms of asthma. I have had severe stomach upset, acid reflex, rashes, and weight gain. I also feel dizzy a lot. I am very health consious and work out all of the time. I never gain weight so it seems obvious to me advair is the culprit. I am going to try getting allergy shots and see if I can stay off the advair. In home air filters do seem to help with the asthma

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.

I am not cetain Advair is the cause of this but about year or so ago I started experiencing fainting feelings and almost passed a couple of times. The doctoer ran tests and everything seemed normal. One day I was paying attention to the side effects of Advair via an ad on tv and was stunned.
I stopped Advair a couple of months ago and have not had these "weak spells". Now it may be a coincidence but I won't be using it anymore so time will tell. Has anyone else experienced feelings like this?

I have been on Advair since Feb. 13 of this year. I have been experiencing nausea and bad dizziness and wonder if these can be side effects of this drug. I haven't had it before and am not pleased with these symptoms. The dizziness occurs when I am sitting or laying down and move my head or sometimes on just reclining. Any one else have these symptoms???? Can't seem to find a list of side effects on the net that really answer this question.

I have been on Advair for two months now I have been experiencing anxiety, dizziness and over all irritability, weigh gain and leg cramps.

I'm not sure if the side effects are worse than the problems I was having.

I have been on Advair since 2004. Like most of you, it has done wonders for my asthma. I had symptom free days and had fewer and fewer attacks. The bonus for me is that I dropped a lot of weight and felt even better. Advair was a wonder drug for me.
However, as of late, I have been experiencing anxiety, dizziness and over all irritability. Thinking I was developing some kind of health condition, I went to the Doctor. I had the tests and the results concluded that I was a healthy 38 year old male.
It was only after I Googled Advair side effects that I stumbled upon this thread. I hope my contribution helped. I am getting off Advair.

I only took 3 doses & felt insane by the 2nd. Once I took the 3rd , it confirmed for me that it was the Advair & not the antibiotic I was also on. Horrible nightmares, confusion, disorientation, intense dizziness lasting 13 hours, nausea, a complete surreal feeling, and major depression accompanied wild jitters, and an overall creepiness I have never experienced. I also felt partially deaf as if I had overdosed on aspirin. I have not seen any others w/similar side affects, but I thought I would include mine anyway in case someone else reacts the same way. I will never use this product again.

I've been takig Advair 250x2 for about a year now and until I found this website I thought I was losing my mind. Side effects include thrush (and I rinse with half peroxide and half water, brush teeth, and then rinse with Listerine after i use the advair), leg cramps, dizziness, "lung pain", weight gain, post nasal drip, sleeplessness.....I have an apointment with my Doctor tomorrow, I think I'll suggest that he take me off advair and put me on something else!

I am so glad I found this site. I thought I was going crazy!

I have been an Advair user for about four years now and have gained 45lbs. The weight gain is solidly in my mid section and is bearing down on my lungs, stomach and intestines. I am only 5'3" and I am pretty miserable.

So the dizziness, heartburn, heart palpitations, hoarse throat, coughing, etc that everyone else is experiencing - me too. Thought it was the weight gain. I have dieted, exercised every day - sometimes twice a day, adjusted my eating routine, anything and everything to get my weight down but to no avail.

Each winter I am slighly worse than the last - and after four years, I can't walk more than 2 blocks without use of an inhaler. I thought it was me - the weight gain - and my work schedule. The ability to walk less and less was really starting to scare me. I can't do stairs without stopping halfway to catch a breath. I wasn't like this 4 years ago! I PRACTICALLY RAN UP AND DOWN TWO - THREE FLIGHTS OF STAIRS each day of work! and could walk a hiking trail for hours without worrying about my breathing.

Swimming is the only exercise that seems to help, takes the heavy feeling away from the mid-section so I can breathe again.

It seems alot of people are experiencing problems. Shouldn't the makers of Advair be told and the doctors informed?

i have been on and off advair since 2002. it is very effective for its intended purpose;the relief from asthmatic symptoms.however i always got a hoarse voice(even with thorough rinsing) and shortly after, my speech would become slurred. I cant be sure,but headaches,dizziness and high blood pressure also seem to be side effects. all the side effects quickkly go away (a few days) when i discontinue its use. at this point i prefer to live with the asthma.

28 y/o male. I have used advair on and off for three years. I started on 100/50 twice a day and eventually reduced to once a day. Right now I am trying to wean myself off it completely; I haven't had a dose in 48 hours. I have been on some kind of inhaled corticosteroids for asthma since early childhood. I never had any issue with weight gain. The side effects I noticed with Advair have occasional heart palpitations and dizzyness, and loosing my voice. Since I have to speak publicly because of my job, the voice loss has been the worst. I wouldn't describe it as horseness, but rather a sort of vocal weakness or wateryness. I normally have a fairly deep, loud voice, and it comes back within 48 hours of discontinuing the advair. I tried every method of rinsing out my throat and mouth to avoid the voice loss, to no avial. As I said above, I have been 48 hours without a dose, and I feel fine. Wish me luck. I'm interested to see if I can make it without the steroids...its been over 20 years.

I just started Advair 100/50 and had extreme dizziness when I inhaled the medication. I felt as though I was about to faint. Anyone else experience this?

I have been on advair for at least three or four years and now have been dependant on it. I have gained 55 pounds and I never had a weight problem. I started getting very stiff knees and elbows with leg cramps but shrugged it off as part of the weight gain. Occasionally i get heart palpitations and dizziness and I also have developed serious heartburn or reflux at night. I never thought all these symptoms were related until I came across this website. I am amazed that other people are going through this also.

I have been taking Advair 500/50 and have found that aside from the weight gain, acne and phelgm in throat I also find that I have been getting dizzy and my gums are ultra sensitive. Is anyone else experiencing dizziness or sensitivity in the gums?

Side effects were my sons (age 7) diarrhea, dizziness, heart racing/palpitations

It started as a cough... thought I had a cold but just cough continued until I lost my voice. I coughed so hard I thought it was something much more serious since my mother died of lung cancer. I have never smoked but got plenty of second-hand smoke. Doctor said it was allergy/asthma and prescribed Prednisone (7 day) and Advair. Prednisone is now gone but still have trouble with voice breaking up, some cough, and not leg cramps, stomach cramps and dizziness. I am on 250/50 and also prescribed and using Albuterol and Flonase. Thanks for this site and information. I will discontinue Advair and see the reaction. I am now not so worried. -Pamela-

I have had major asthma problems for years - usually needing prednisone 3 or 4 times a year, using albuterol inhaler around the clock. I have been using Advair for about 2 months now and I have had absolutely no asthma attacks at all. I can exercise and feel like a normal person for the first time in years. I have had several side effects that are problematic - one of them being dizziness, scratchy thoat and chronic sinus congestion. What is worse, debilitating asthma or a chronic sinus infection? I have decided breathing is better than anything so I will stay on it.

Thank goodness for this site !

I am a 36 male living in Australia and was prescribed Advair(Seretide) 4 weeks ago to treat a asthma induced cough.
About a year ago I was diagnosed with high blood pressure and have scheduled visits to a cardiologist, the next one in a few weeks for an echocardiogram and follow up.

About 2 weeks after starting Advair I started having the following side effects:

Racing heart beart, dizziness & feeling faint,waking up with tingling in my hands at night, inability to sleep at night, anxiety/ nervousness.

Further side effects developed over the last few weeks:
hoarse, need to swallow, extreme anxiety and feelimg panicky.

Initially I put the symptoms down to stress and concern over the impending cardiologist visits.
But the situation worsened to the extent that last week I felt extreme distress at going to work.
I went to my GP who put it down to stress and referred to a pyschologist.
This site has been such a relief - thanks

I am new to asthma drugs, diagnosed with asthma in November at 44 years old. I hope that this helps someone else. I was put on Advair a few weeks ago. Along with Zithromax antibiotic to clear up the URI. Also was given Albuterol was severe breathing problems. The Albuterol helped of course (no sleeping though) and the antiobioitc as well as Advair seemed to get the problem under control in about a week. A few days after the anitibiotic was done, symptoms returned, but not as bad. Dr. put me on prednisone (the sterioid), and Advair. That was a hard week, but as before the symptoms improved. however, a few days after the prednisone course symptoms returned. The Dr. then decided to continue with the Advair, another longer course of prednisone and added Singulair to the mix. Within 3 days of taking the Singulair with the Advair, I could not sleep, had severe heart palpitations, wheezing, and the heartburn was so bad I felt like I had a huge stone in my chest and throat and several moderate asthmas incidents where I had to use the Albuterol. I had a headache, dizziness, and could not sleep. The Singulair MADE MY BREATHING PROBLEMS WORSE. And if you read the side effects of Singulair they actually can make worse the very asthma symptoms they are supposed to improve. It was a real eye opener. READ YOUR PATIENT INSERT FROM THE PACKAGE. I felt like I was going to die and each day felt worse. I discontinued the Singular after 4 days and within 24 hours felt much better and in 48 hourss had none of these syjmptoms. My doctor was just incredulous that this MIRACLE drug THAT MOST PEOPLE NEVER, EVER HAVE problems with could bother me. Drs try but you know your body better than anyone else, dont' be shy and stand your ground, they are wrong sometimes!!So listen to your head and heart, and body and read the labels. I had to figure this out for myself. On to the next part of the story, I am on Advair now for about 8 weeks, and notice in the past week, I am light headed, dizzy sometimes, am not sleeping a sound sleep, waking every hour or so, am NERVOUS AND JUMPY, my legs and arms are so weak, I can barely walk, so so tired, I feel like I am just slipping away. It is hard to type this because my fingers are so shakey and weak. Thank goodness I found this web site. I am discontinuing the Advair, I know in my gut that after reading this and listening to that little voice in my head that I am sensitve to a lot of drugs anjd Advair is on of them. It might be 1-3% of the people tested that have these awful side effects, but it doewsn't seem such a small group if you are one of them. And if you look at the studies, they only test around 400 people!!! So my journey continues. I am not totally convinced I even have asthma..............Please email if you would like.

I'm 28 and just in the past 2 years I've developed some allergies, and just recently got on Advair for breathing difficulty. I had been using my Albuteral, and got irritated having to use it just about every 4 hours. So Advair worked awesome for the first week 1/2 but now it's been two weeks and I'm starting to get bad side effects. The thrush in my throat...even with washing my mouth out thoroughly. Weight gain I just noticed this week, and dizziness, cloudy thinking, headaches, and wondered why my back has been sore when I haven't even done much hard work?? Well,thankfully to this website I know I'm not crazy and ADVAIR is horrible. Tonight i'm convinced and getting off of it. I'm going to try and go a more Holistic route if possible and use my albuterol for the time being. I do wonder like some of you mentioned about kick backs. Makes me sick!!!!!!!! And it's true about the bullying, I go in next tuesday to check on my thrush.....she's not going to like what I have to say!!!!!!!!!! Wish me luck!!!

Please tell me, Has anyone had very back constipation and then Diarrhea. I have be on Advair 250 for 4 weeks and I have had very very bad stomach cramping then diarrhea and then constipation for days. Neck pain, sinus pressure very extreme, dizziness, and now I have thrush in my mouth. My constipation or gastrointestinal problem has not left yet but the other symptoms have except the thrush. My email is ******Please tell me about constipation and Diarrhea issue.

I have been on this medication for the last 2 weeks .I never had asthma . I had a case of acute bronchitis with wheezing it required 2 day hospital stay/steriods and inhalers.I am off prednisone and suppose to take this inhaler for 12 weeks.
I am experiencing :
Hoarse voice/Bloating/nerverousness/dizziness very painful neck spasms that radiate down my left arm to my hand.
My gut is to quit. I go bac to work on Monday. I am an er case manager I will be seeking out the pulmonologist to have a heart to heart!!

What side effects should I watch for?
Although side effects from fluticasone and salmeterol are not common, they can occur. Tell you doctor if any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away:

dry or irritated throat
cough
difficult or painful speech
tremor
nervousness
dizziness
headache
upset stomach
diarrhea
cough
dry mouth
throat irritation

If you experience any of the following symptoms, call your doctor immediately:
vision problems
white spots or sores in your mouth
swollen face, lower legs, or ankles
cold or infection that lasts a long time
muscle weakness
increased difficulty breathing
skin rash
unusual bleeding or bruising
rapid or increased heart rate
chest pain or discomfort

I have been on the medication for a few days and already notice dizziness, I feel weak and the need to "hold myself" up is strong. Blurred vision, dry mouth and nausea. Have not had difficulty breathing as often as before I was prescribed it.

dizziness,sinus,severe hand tremors,and 25 lb. weight gain.
Breathing has improved.

Since taking Advair four weeks ago, I've experienced the following: Fast heartbeat, dizziness, dry mouth, severe stomache cramping and bloating