Advair HFA and experiences

I've also been prescribed Advair, two puffs, twice per day. What dose are you on? I was on 250 two puffs, twice daily and was actually told that this was not even the highest dose that you can be on. I didn't like the idea of taking more than the original dose I was prescribed and so my specialist told me to add in Flovent, which I did help. Even after all of this, I still do not like the drug at all and am trying to do my best to say off of it.

On another note, has anyone experienced severe asthma symptoms (very bad wheezing, coughing, chest tightness) BUT had a perfect oxygen saturation level? I have been in and out of the emergency ward for the past week and a half and am getting very frustrated with not only the medical system not treating me because of excellent oxygen saturation levels, but with their treatment plans for emergency. I can remember a time when I would walk into the emergency room and be seen almost immediately and be given a mask treatment as soon as I got in there. I'm guessing that treatment plans have changed as I have experienced three hospitals prescribing anywhere from 4-12 doses of ventolin.

Anyway, if anyone else has had similar experiences I would love to hear your story and what you did to get through it.

Thanks!

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.

On Advair for about 4 years, at first I was fine with only minor throat irritations. About a year later I started having the Leg cramps / Muscle tightness. I've been to many Doctors who couldn't explain my leg pain. I tried to stop using my Advair many times, but felt so horrible that I had to start using it again. Last week my allergy doctor put my on Prednisone for pleurisy and I decided on my own to GET OFF ADVAIR. I have felt like a new woman this week. My leg pain is almost gone, my eyesight seems to be improving, and my random joint pain is slowing down. I didn't realize until I found this site tonight, that SO MANY people have had the same experiences. Like you others, my DOCTOR assured me there weren't ANY side effects. I'll gladly use my inhaler a couple times a week to manage my asthma. DON'T listen to your DR, there are other ways!!!!! By the way, I'm a 38 year old female. I feel like I'm finally getting my life back.

Thanks to everyone for sharing with the Advair thread. I too have had the heart palpitations, *severe* muscle cramps, join pain, back pain and insomnia since I started Advair. I talked to my doctor and he told me that their were no side effects for Advair and intimated that it was "just in my head."

Thanks to everyone for posting their symptoms and experiences. It really helps to know that it's not, in fact, "in my head."

I've been on it for about 4 months. It does seem to help but I've had problems with steriods (prednisone) taken as a result of colitis.
In the case of Advair I get the hoarse voice and sleeplessness.
I'm also concerned about the long term use of this drug on my lungs. It is a steroid. I have diffuctly in breathing, especially taking a deep breath.
Does anyone know of any studies on how safe Advair is for your lungs or the rest of your body.We have had very bad experiences with Steroids.

my 17 year old son needed a hip replacement as a result of steroids (not Advair) this summer.
BEWARE OF STEROIDS.
lets find out about Advair.
Does it have any adverse steroid Affects??
please let me know.

Thank you

Peter W
******

I have been better than ever since taking advair. My doctor said he hears the same thing over and over. Sorry to hear about others experiences that arent' positive

I have been on Advair almost a month, and actually went this past month without an upper respiratory tract infection. But, I have horrible acne now, so I am coming off of it, after finally figuring out the med is the cause. I also have been having trouble clearing my throat, and severe chest pains. I just don't think this med is worth it anymore. Thank you to everyone for posting your experiences b/c they have really helped!!

Wow - thank you all for your comments - you've certainly opened my eyes - I've been on Advair 250 for 5 months and I've been working out like crazy and my belly is as fat as ever. I too am an insomniac, and have been taking Ambien now and can't sleep without it. My skin is unimaginably dry and I can't concentrate at work - this all makes sense now - I'm going to talk to my doctor on MOnday. I was hospitalized for severe asthma months ago ... but there has got to be another way. Thank you allllll for your sharing your experiences -

My cousin has been on Advair for 6 months. Now the doctor has found something wrong with her chest x-ray - an oddity in her lung. She has had a PET scan done, but no results yet. This was not there prior to being on Advair and she is wondering if anyone else has had a similar experience. She is now off Advair, and anxious to see if her lung clears up. She also experiences many of the other side effects the others mention here - hoarseness to the point of being unable to talk, weakness etc. I read about Cushings disease that Advair evidently can bring on, and wonder if that is what is affecting her.