Advair HFA and heart problems

Perhaps you should read a little further on the Advair paperwork. I started having all sorts of problems while taking Advair for 4 months, first thing I told Drs. that I was taking Advair, all just ignored that and tried coming up with a reason for problems. I finally did my own research and if you look at the fine print at the end of Advair paperwork you will find your info about heart problems and withdrawal symptoms that you possibly be on another medication while withdrawing from Advair and the Symptoms of withdrawal.
It has been over a year now since I stopped taking Advair and am having lingering heart problems do to Advair, slowly getting over them, but went to the ER two weeks ago due to rapid and irregular heartbeat. Advair has thrown my electrical system out of whack, not to mention the mental stuff.
Ask a Heart Dr. about Advair, I had two pages of problems when I saw the Heart Dr., no surprise, he said all are related to Advair. There are a few of us that are sensitive to this drug and most doctors. have never seen these symptoms and think you are nuts. So be skeptical but don't dismiss these people. Oh by the way after doing a breathing test with the top guy at Pomona Valley Med Center, guess what, I don't have Asthma, so why did My Dr. put me on it in the first place without first getting tested? I am now so sensitive to anything with caffeine or other things that can increase your heart rate that any of them can trigger Palpitations and such. Yes it can help people, but it can also ruin a life, so beware. Oh, My breathing was great while i was on it, but not worth a heart attack or stroke
If I keep having problems I will soon be on Beta Blockers, so you take all the Advair you want, but you've been warned.

I am very skeptical of all of the claims I have read here. I am no advocate of GSK or any other drug company for that matter, but I think people are getting carried away with attributing their symptoms to Advair. The known side-effects are readily available, anything else is purely based on assumption. I agree that Advair may in fact have many more possible adverse effects than they let the public know, but let us be careful about making ourselves little scientific researchers and concluding a causal relationship based upon a single case study (and an informal one at that). Talk to your doctor about trying something with less risk, such as Singulair, Azmacort, Intall, Fluticasone Propionate, etc. Please though, be careful not to be so quick to claim generalizable findings based on your specific case. I myself am going to work with my physician to attempt a gluten-free diet and a less invasive medication therapy. Advair is not habit-forming or addictive, so withdrawals are doubtful at best. Read up on the pharmacology of Advair (salmeterol in particular), and you can come to your own conclusions. Best wishes to all of you fellow asthmatics!

I'm a heart patient with an ICD (implanted cardiovascular device)...my PCP had me use Advair in her office, about 10 minutes after use, my ICD fired off in her waiting area. I don't mind telling you when it fires it takes me to my knees & it's as if a donkey kicked me in the chest...it also scared the other patients waiting in her lobby area. Needless to say after that one time use, my prescription wasn't filled & I've not used this product again. My suggestion is if you have heart problems...DO NOT USE THIS PRODUCT

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've had asthma virtually all of my life. I'm 34 yrs. old now. I've had allergy shots (they did nothing). I used to take Theo-Dur (Theophylline). I've tried Serervent (didn't work). But Advair has really improved my asthma symptoms. Before Advair I was using Albuterol 10x per day. I'd wake up during the night and take a shot of Albuterol. It was not a good situation.

I've been on Advair for about 3 years now. I was prescribed the 250 dosage, but I take it only once a day in the morning. The asthma is the best it's ever been.

I've noticed a lot of the side effects that many of you have. Some of the stuff is easy enough to live with. I can deal with the occasional soar on my tongue / throat. I can tolerate a scratchy voice every now and then. But there are other issues that I now attribute to Advair that I can't continue to live with.

My back ache is awful. I cannot get comfortable at all. It even hurts when I'm laying in bed trying to fall asleep. I've gained weight too -- about 40 lbs. I'm 6'1" and 215 lbs. I was 180 in my beer drinking days. I'm not all that active, and maybe metabolism does slow with age ... but I'm not eating any more than before starting Advair. If it was just the weight, I'd blame myself and work out more.

The most significant change I've noticed was swelling of the lower legs. My shins would feel like they were full of fluid and they were tender to the touch. The medical term in Edema, and I saw a doctor about the Edema because it can be a sign of heart problems, etc. All tests came back as normal.

Now -- with the back pain and the edema and the weight gain -- all the doctors said the same thing. "Lose some weight". It makes sense, right? Less weight = less stress on your back & less stress on your legs. But I am thinking that the Advair is responsible. What can I do?

I'm not medical scholar, but I am pretty observant. I've experience the ballooning effects of Prednisone as a kid. I've see Jerry Lewis recently on TV all puffed up from the steroids he's taking. I've seen athletes transform themelves from lanky and athletic to puffy and muscleboud -- as a result of steroid use. And while it's a different type of steroid -- how much of the "bulking up" can be attributed to the medication?

Another symptom I have is slow recovery from workouts. When I lift weight (for toning - not for bulk), it takes me 3-4 days for my muscles to recovery. It used to take only 1 day.

I don't know what to do. I feel like I need the Advair to breathe properly, but it's making me very uncomfortable in so many other areas. I'd love to stop taking it and see if the side effects go away, but quiting a steroidal medication like Advair isn't supposed to be done "cold turkey".

Suggestions?

My sister-inlaw was precribed advair and died of a massive heart attack in the middle of the night. She had no history of heart problems.