Advair HFA and inhaler

I just turned 34 and I am a woman. I have struggled with mild asthma from early teens. I was always able to control my mild asthma with a rescue inhaler as my asthma was triggered primarily by cats/some dogs. However eventually that faded away and I was in control as long as I wasn't around cats. At age 31, I had my daughter (she is now 2 1/2), I rarely had asthma symptoms during my pregnancy and before. However about 1 week after my c-section I had to go to the ER because I couldn't breathe. They thought maybe I was having a pulmonary embolism from the previous c-section surgery. Fortunately I wasn't, but unfortunately for whatever reason, my asthma had been triggered (even if I wasn't around animals). My doctor put me on a Advair, another rescue inhaler, and ZPac. It helped right away.

I noticed a big difference in my ability to breathe. However 2 1/2 years later, I'm still on it. 250/50 once a day. I've tried going off of it several times but I'm unable to breathe. I don't want to be on a steroid long term, but I also have to be able to breathe after about 2 days being off of it. It's like gasping for every breathe. Not fun at all. The side effects I've had are hives to anything cold, itchy skin, stiffer feeling joints, occasional mouth sores, lots of phlegm (coughing up phlegm especially in the morning). I've never suffered from leg cramps or depression from Advair, in fact prior to having a child I was on Lexapro for anxiety and after being put on Advair my depression/anxiety has gone away. In fact, I've lost weight (30 Lbs) and am now down to the same size I was in college! I've asked two different doctors my OBGYN and Family Doctor if it's safe as we are planning for another child. They say yes. My OBGYN has said if I can't breathe I'm not going to be able to carry full-term. Which I guess makes sense. My Family Doctor said you can use Advair only as needed as it is not a bad drug to go off and on again (unlike antidepressants where you should never just stop them cold turkey). He said (he also suffers from asthma) that asthma can be triggered by stress (and my life has been extremely stressful over the last year).

Is there anyone who has had similar side-effects? Do you believe the benefit of Advair outweighs the negatives? I'm wondering if there is a better non-steroid drug that I can take that is SAFER for pregnancy and for my future. Open to suggestions...

Thank you to everyone who has posted on here. This is my second day of quitting Advair. Got sick and tired of becoming a 57 yr old with the body of a 90 yr old. I am fighting back. Only going to use my emergency inhaler if needed. Advair is ruining my life. I have been on it since 04/11/06 and have never been the same since the beginning. I am saying "NO" to Advair.

I'm so glad I found this! I thought I was going mad for a while there. Background: I'm a 34 yr old female. Diagnosed w/ asthma at 12, but they suspect I had it before that. Used only Ventolin for a long time. Five years ago, right around the time I had my second child, my symptoms (and allergies) seemed to get much worse. We moved around that time, to a house with a HUGE Chinese elm in the backyard (which I now know I'm allergic to) and right next to a main freeway. Around this time, Dr. prescribed Advair 250/50 when he realized I was using Ventolin up to 6 & 7 times/ day. The first year, I actually felt so much better (I could BREATHE!!) that I think I wouldn't have noticed any side affects. Year two I had MAJOR hair thinning. Dr said "age and hormones". Following 3 years on it: Almost constant nasal congestion (despite always being on a decongestant), sinus infection, tonsil infections, laryngitis, TWO bouts of pneumonia in 3 years. Around the year mark on it, I did experience the depression and anxiety, however, I had had the "baby blues" with my first child and just thought it was a more severe version of that. Now, I feel CONSTANTLY "run down" and almost always have some low-grade infection (yeast, UTI, sinus, bronchitis...etc.), am always hoarse and am just waiting for another round of pneumonia. I also get dizzy A LOT. I am in the second day of a cold turkey quit and am looking for alternative diet/exercise therapies. Good Luck to everyone!

Hey all. I have had asthmatic bronchitis for about 6 weeks now and I have never had asthma or bronchitis before. It started off as a normal flu for 3 days with fever. Then when the flu went away, I started having trouble breathing and shortness of breath. I never had that before. The doctor told me it was bronchitis. All tests were fine. I was taking azithromycin (took 3 paks of them) and that was the only thing that made me feel normal, but it did not get rid of the infection. Then I was placed on cipro and steroids. Now I'm not on any antibiotics. I'm taking steroids and just started the advair inhaler. I was having asthma attacks and everything. Very scary. I was just wondering how long it took you to get over it and what you did to get over it. I have been to so many doctors and had so many tests done. It's affecting my life. I won't leave the house due to fear of having another asthma attack. I just hope I feel normal again soon, please.

After reading all the comments that have been posted, I feel compelled to add my story. I have been on advair for approximately two years. One of the first comments I read a week or so ago was about the person that had horrible foot pain for over two years and felt it could have been from the Advair as well.

I have had severe foot pain for over 2 years. I had plantar faciitis in both feet and had surgery on both to fix that. Several months after surgery I still wasn't healed as much as I thought I should be and my doctor felt the same way. I then began a series of more cortizone shots, physical therapy, ultrasound therapy plus an on going slew of blood tests to rule out everything we could. I even went to a Neurologist and had an EMG done. Newest diagnosis is tarsal tunnel syndrome, so I was put on yet another drug (Cymbalta) I wouldn't recommend that one either. And still the pain exists. In fact the pain went from the heals to the tops of my feet. It feels more skeletal than nerve related. I have had stress fractures in both feet and ironically the same exact bone approximately 6 weeks apart. Is all of this coincidence, or linked to being on Advair?

I also have gone through most of the symptoms that others have posted; fatigue, insomnia, blurred vision, sore muscles, headaches, water retention, weight gain (40 pounds in 2 years), slow healing, bad scaring, easy bruising and many more I'm sure I've forgotten.

The day after being on this site and reading everyone's comments, I went and threw my Advair away. I don't have asthma, just bad allergies, and right now my breathing has been fine being off of the Advair. I still use my inhaler though as needed. The one comment that scared me the most was the side effect that several posted about rotting teeth and jaw problems. That's one side effect I haven't had and that's the main reason I stopped using the Advair. I have perfect teeth and don't want to ruin them.

I don't have any answers either, but just know that we as patients have to take control of our health. Don't feel bad if you disagree with your doctor or ask for a second opinion. We as a society have become quick to fix our ailments with drugs that have yet to be "proven" as safe over a long period of time.

Im in the process of weaning my self off of two other drugs that I was taking besides the Advair. I'm doing more on-line research regarding natural remedies for some of my ailments. I still have some side effects but that could be due to the detoxifying process. This is a process that takes a few weeks. Make sure you consult with your physician first before trying any of this.

I was diagnosed with asthma as a child. In late teens it seemed to not be problem, however after 50, I started developing symptoms of asthma again as evidenced from COPD tests. I am currently using Advair 250/50 since 55 yo.

One symptom, that I have not seen addressed here is that of "slow healing" after injuries. I injured my back awhile ago, and it seemed like 2 years before most of my symptoms were gone. To this day I still feel lingering effects. Then I scraped my shinbone. It seemed like it took forever to heal, and now there is an ugly red/purple scar where the minor scrape was.

I had never taken so long to heal before, and read that this was a problem with taking Advair. I never figured my asthma was that serious in the first place, so I simply cut back on the Advair to once/day or less as it seems still to keep my breathing OK. Sometimes, after a few days of not taking Advair, I feel some minor difficulty with breathing.

Now that I am 63, and so concerned about "slow healing", which I attribute to Advair, I have asked my Dr. to perhaps take me off Advair and simply take Albuterol when needed. Then I read that Asthma patients should only use Albuterol if that is sufficient to control symptoms and to advance to Advair to control more severe symptoms. Another article says that Albuterol does not heal Asthma, only assists with sudden onset of breathing difficulties and that I may still damage my lungs if I do not take Advair.

I remain at a loss as to what is best: Taking Albuterol when needed (perhaps a few to several times/week) or as I was doing before, contrary to recommended dosage, of 1-2 times/day. Fortunately my Dr. goes along with my changes, but tells me if symptoms get worse, she will put me on Advair 2X's/Day (which I probably will ignore dosage because of healing side effects, and use once/day or less).

I will report back later after trying Albuterol for time without the use of Advair at all.

I am 34 years old and was prescribed Advair about two years ago. I have had minor asthma issues over the years but nothing major. So the doctor gave me an inhaler. Then one winter I get sick and started going through the inhaler in about a month, so he prescribed Advair.
To back up I had lower back surgery for a bulged disc. So I had a lot of pain and was taking vicodin. Six months after surgery my back started feeling better than it had for a long time. I was able to exercise and get by with one vicodin in the morning. This went on for about a year. The pain was stable for the most part, but would increase every now and then.
Now enters the Advair. When I first started taking it I felt a little weird but it made my breathing a lot better. After a little while I would forget to take it or just feel like I didn't need it. But I could not stop taking it because my breathing got to bad without it. Over time my pain was getting worse and worse. I ended up being put on time release morphine because we thought the back pain was increasing. Then after being on morphine it seemed like I was always sick. I have been to the hospital twice for breathing and lung infections. I thought my back pain was turning into sciatica!!!! All along it is this F@#$ ADVAIR!!!! I have had a super short temper,daily head ache's,depression, HORRIBLE PAIN in my legs and back. I am so glad I found this site. ADVAIR IS EVIL!!!!! I have stopped taking it for two days now. I really need help from anyone who has info about quitting it. PLEASE CONTACT ME. Thanks : )

I have been taking the advair diskus 100/50 for two years, and I also thought it was my miracle drug. I can breath great , and only take my inhaler a lot less. I also have hoarseness, due to the advair, but recently was told by my doctor I have a mild heart murmur. I'm not sure yet what I'm going to do, maybe talk with them on what else I could take instead of Advair. It's hard only because my breathing has been so good, but my heart is also very important. I have not had any leg problems, I have had some problems sleeping, not to bad.

I lead music for a children's choir and noticed my voice getting weaker over the past year, to the point I could no longer sing. Then my speaking voice got raspy as well, almost like laryngitis. Went to the doctor, and he told me to get off Advair immediately, replacing it with a liquid inhaler. That started to improve my voice for about a week, then my voice almost left entirely. I had to get off all asthma meds at that point, but what to do when one grows accustomed to breathing?

I am a hiker. The doc knew that. He suggested I focus on more hills to increase my lung capacity. I did my homework I made the following drink when I'd get up in the morning: 1 glass full of ice and some water, about an inch from the top. 1 heaping teaspoon of unsweetened cocoa (caffeine helps asthma and i like chocolate) 1 handful of chopped dates and here is the important ingredient - 1 full dropper of mullein oil, found at health food stores. Mullein opens my airwaves in about 2 minutes. I drink this weird shake and have no problems with my breathing and am off all other asthma meds. Asthma varies in people, as does severity, body type, health history, etc.

I hope this may help someone who would like to stop the asthma drugs and still be able to breathe.

Oh yeah! Where are you weight gainers gaining most of your weight. I never had a stomach and I have gained 3 inches over the last 8 months around my waist. NOT worth it.

I hope this helps someone.

I was never allergic to anything in my life until I went around this cat at the age of 33. I sneezed and got a really scratchy throat. I thought it would go away, but it turned into a cold. I thought the cold would go away, but it turned into bronchitis and then pneumonia. I was jogging everyday at the time and realized something was wrong when I couldn't finish my run.

I was hospitalized for two days and upon discharge I was stocked up with a cocktail of drugs: Singular, Advair, Albuterol inhaler, and Claritin. Needless to say, I took them all, because I was scared of dying. Thank God I'm not a good medicine taker, because I missed many doses and only took them as needed. I think this is why after 3 years I have only started to see the effects of these meds in the last 8 months.

Okay... I have major joint stiffness(all over) especially neck and fingers, heart palpitations, nervousness, short patience, horrible memory, lack of motivation. Oh my God! The weight gain...Please!

Before this, I was completely healthy. After reading this I will reduce myself to my inhaler and Claritin. I notice they are cool. Otherwise, if I keep my stress level down my breathing does really well. It would probably help if I got rid of the cat. Shhhh...Don't tell anyone. LOL.

I have since put my self on a juice fast using a high powered juicer to cleanse my system of all the trash the doctors gave me.

God bless you all and I speak life and breath into each of our lives.

BreatheWrite.

I couldn't handle Advair for more that 3 weeks!

Had no problem with lower dose, other than voice changes, but prescription was not strong enough.

Higher dose: Couldn't sleep more than 3 hours per night; Indescribable Depression; Weight gain.

Stopped the Advair cold-turkey. Within 2 full days I was feeling almost human again, but still not my normal self.

In 4 full days feeling like myself and needing to use Albuterol inhaler again.
Advair was fantastic for my asthma, but mental health is equally important.

i'm 17. I have extremely bad asthma. and i've had it all my life. i remember being 3 taking nebulizers. i don't know it had gotten better, worse or stayed the same over the years. but i started taking asthma preventers medications because it was really out control. i have horrible allergies all together (which really is all asthma is) but little, tiny things will set asthma attack off instantly, like a short breath from under my bed or even steam from the dishwasher o_O. so i needed to go on preventers. i went from prevention inhalers, pills then finally advair.(and no doubt it works the Best) i was still kinda a kid at the time so it was 100/50, im to young to remember any side effects. but 100/50 wasn't cutting it, so i went to 250/50 , im still on it today. its hard to notice rashes, sinus, mental etc, problems because i have soooo many other allergies. plus im taking medications from them to.
i'd say im pretty healthy though, despite asthma i still play sports and i don't have to use my inhaler THAT much when i take advair it does work good, and i don't really notice all the symptoms/ side effects mentioned in the other comments, its a very good possibility some people are just allergic to advair, i was allergic to some meds i was on, plus, advair is a drug. Every drug Will have some kind of side effects unless its all natural. i question albuterol, i'll find myself reaching for puff when i don't even need it. O_O ! even with the new cfc free inhalers they have out.

I have been on advair for about 6 years. and im 18 years old. I am now just experiencing signs and symptoms of major ANXIETY!.... RESTLESSNESS, and MOOD SWINGS and im wondering what its from.. it just now started kicking in? I am a severe asthmatic and this is the best thing for me.. but now im starting to wonder???

I have taken 100/50 Advair off and on for several years and hadn't noticed any problems. Three weeks ago I was switched to 250/50 strength Advair following a bad cold which I believe had become bronchitis but my NEW doctor believed was an asthma attack. I don't have asthma "attacks". I just have asthma which is always under control except for when I am exposed to smoke. Even then it isn't that bad. I just use a puff or two on my inhaler and I am good to go. So, I don't think I even needed to be put on the 250/50 strength! Right away, even with careful rinsing, I started to develop a sore throat. I had a constant cough, had to constantly clear my throat to try to speak and it hurt to talk. Within two weeks, besides the throat and congestion problems, I felt miserable as if I had a severe case of influenza: major headache, sinus and teeth pain, joint pains, severe fatigue, chills, burning eyes and blurry vision. I also developed an itchy red rash on my buttock and felt as though I was beginning to get a UTI. Because I felt so lousy, I told myself I didn't have to take the Advair which I knew would just make my throat feel worse. So, I went a whole weekend without the Advair and I started to feel better. Then on Monday morning, I took the Advair (which immediately made my throat hurt) and later went to see the new doctor in the afternoon. (We didn't discuss Advair because I hadn't made the connection and, obviously, he didn't either.) The doctor said I was negative for a UTI and thought my rash was cellulitis. He prescribed an oral antibiotic. I haven't taken any Advair since Monday a.m. because I read about its side effects on the Internet on Monday evening. My throat feels better. It is so good not to be constantly coughing and clearing my throat! The rash didn't respond to the antibiotic, but it did respond to the anti-yeast infection skin cream I decided to use on it. Unfortunately, the antibiotics DID give me a vaginal yeast infection and now I am also treating that! I am wondering if there is a connection between my skin yeast infection and the 250/50 Advair or if Advair just causes thrush (a mouth yeast infection)? Also, my eyes still burn and I still get blurry vision. Could I have a yeast infection in my eyes? I'm wondering because I have read on the Internet that steroids--just like antibiotics--can cause yeast infections. If so, then maybe thrush is not the only type of yeast infection that 250/50 Advair could cause?

I was on Advair for 6 years and I had the painful cramps in my legs so bad i could hardly move and my legs and hands were always falling asleep.Although it helped with my asthma the pain was to much to handle the doctor who told me to take the advair told me i had tendinitis in my legs well as of 2005 i have stopped taking advair and as soon as i stopped i never felt the pain again and my hands and feet never feel asleep again I stopped cold turkey and I will never take it ever again. P.S my new doctor i got in 2005 told me to stop taking Advair and i didn't listen to him right away but I soon realized how bad the inhaler was.It has been 3 years now and i have never felt that pain again.

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?

March 9, 2008
I posted my reactions re: Advair HFA which I had tried as well as Advair Discus over the past 3 years in Feb. of this year. At that time I said I was going off Advair HFA and relying on Spring Forest Qigong for stabilizing my breathing. I also was pretty disgusted with my Allergist because I felt I was always getting the 'standard answer' from her.
About a week later I realized this plan wasn't working. So, I reread the Advair directions carefully on using the inhaler and started using it again.
Almost immediately my breathing stabilized w/use of Advair, and I use the SFQigong in tandem with it. The SFQ also helps w/calming me down since meditation is part of it; therefore, it calms down heart palpitations as well. I'm guessing any form of prayer, meditation, deep breathing techniques, 'time to slow down' during the day would do the same thing especially if done on a consistent, daily basis. This would help depression, anxiety, maintaining a state of well-being and probably other things I haven't thought about.
While I do not like meds of any sort, I will stay on Advair HFA until something tells me I should try getting off it again. In the meantime I will do more detective work on other symptoms I have that may/may not be caused by Advair.
Chronic problems such as asthma are so tough to work with; they change with the seasons, our personal make up, and also change as we get older.
I would like to hear from others who are finding natural solutions to these problems that many of us seem to be experiencing.
Good luck and better health to all of you who read this!
Pat, the wife, mother, grandma, teacher, and other hats I wear.

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.

I've had a case of Asthmatic Bronchitis for the last two months. Doctor prescribed the Z-pack (2 Rounds) and a ProAir inhaler (Albuterol). After 1 month of this I felt better...but still not 100%.

Then he gave me the wretched Advair. I took one puff...and 15 minutes later was in the emergency room. I completely couldn't breathe...lost all color in my face...heart was racing...nervousness...tremors...chills...etc. I took a couple puffs off the Albuterol and that helped open the airways so the ambulance ride wasn't necessary. But the ER visit was still necessary.

They gave me a nebulizer treatment and 60mg of Prednisone and after an about 2 hours I was released. Now today...exactly 12 hours later I have the dry mouth, hoarseness, and leg cramps others have mentioned. Hoping this will clear up soon...I mean common I only took 1 puff!

Long and short...stay away from this medication at all costs! Something must be wrong if so many people are having these types of effects.

While on Advair 50/250 for 9-10 years, I had increased mucus coming up my throat. Constantly having clear my throat or coughing. More and more the mucus was thickening up. I complained about this to my doctor and he took me off Advair.

I am on another inhaler now. Since being off Advair, the mucus has increased, but not as thick. My asthma seems to be worst and I am using my albuterol inhaler more often. My breathing is harder than ever before. I am now constantly coughing with no other cold or flu like symptoms. My lungs are constantly congested. There does not seem to be any other reason.

I've had asthma since I was a teenager, and about 9 years ago I went to an allergy and asthma specialist and had the whole gamet of tests run to find out why my allergies and asthma were worsening. I was prescribed Advair, Albuterol, Prednisone, & Servient. At the time, these were the only medications I was taking and never experienced any severe side effects. My asthma was much better and by my one year check up, I had almost completely stopped using the Albuterol for sudden attacks. Due to my graduation from college, I was no longer covered under my parents insurance and due to the cost of the medications, discontinued my treatments. I felt fine, hadn't had any attacks or breathing episodes, so I felt I could do this without any problems.

Fast forward to this summer. My asthma symptoms had returned and my PCP put me back on the Albuterol. It helped the sudden attacks, but I was blowing through an inhaler in a month. Last week I found myself in my local urgent care center, barely able to breathe, gasping for breath. I'm 31 years old with an almost one year old. They gave my 3 breathing treatments and prescribed Prednisone (only 5 days worth), Albuterol, and the Advair. After a week on the Advair, I feel so strange. I haven't had to use my fast acting inhaler since last week, but I feel like my heart is going to jump right out of my chest. I have a constant headache, a weird ache in my right arm, can't sleep even though I am exhausted, and my mind is constantly racing. It's like I can't slow down. After reading all these crazy side effects and comparing them with my own, I'm stopping the Advair. I have an apt. with my asthma specialist in 2 weeks and I will be sure that he doesn't put me back on this med. It's awful...can't imagine taking any drug with a side effect of death.

I was on advair 250/50 for six months initially with no problems. Started it again 6 months later and the side effects began. The first night I experienced a stabbing pain in one wrist.The wrist became painful and weakened. The pain subsided but then there was a throbbing pain in my breast bone. That went on for about 1 month. Stopped the advair and it went away. Unfortunately, I was relying heavily on my rescue inhaler again so I resumed the Advair. This time I experienced neck and shoulder pain. I quit Advair about a month ago. I still have some neck and shoulder pain and swelling. I bought a cleanse from the Garden of Life Company today in an effort to get rid of any Advair that may still be in my system. Hope it works.

My son was prescribed Advair for his asthma a week ago. He has been having leg cramps so bad, his legs buckle on him. Dr said it's not because of Advair, but after reading this site, I'm taking him off Advair immediately.

My husband is 24 and has been on Advair for about a month now since he started using it he has experienced horrible headaches,worse asthma symptoms then ever before,constant mucus buildup,severe stomach cramps,chest pains,cramps like a tightening sensation in his pinky,not able to sleep,tired all the time,bad mood swings,and worst of all he used to have 20/20 vision but within the last 2 weeks had to see an eye doctor for blurred vision now he has glasses.When he asked his doctor about side effects this drug may have he was told by the doctor none at all is that legal for your doctor to lie to you?THIS DRUG HAS BEEN A NIGHTMARE PLEASE PLEASE FOR YOUR SAKE AND YOUR LOVED ONES SAKE DO NOT TAKE THIS CRAP!!! If anyone knows if his eye sight will get better please post your experience and let us know.THIS MEDICATION IS DEATH IN A DISK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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 am in my second month of ADVAIR HFA 115/21 inhaler. Take two puffs twice a day. Great improvement in my lung capacity. I am 72 and enjoying senior aerobics twice a week, the treadmill, and senior tennis. Pulmonologist also wants me to take Xopenex, which I do about three times a week.

Tonight, I developed a vaginitis. The after-hours nurse and I think it's from these two steroids. I also wake up with leg cramps.

Any help to stop the cramping and the vaginitis.

For those with dry mouth, try Biotene products. They are marvelous. For sores in your mouth and on your tongue, get your doc to prescribe triamcinolone 0.1% paste. Fantastic.

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.

I have previously used Advair, on occasion, for bronchitis. After taking it for less than a week, my voice became hoarse. The scariest feeling was the flushing feeling I experienced immediately after using the inhaler. The flushing kept coming back and I almost passed out. Has anyone else experienced this feeling after using Advair?

I don't know if what I'm experiencing is side-effects or old age (55), but I thought I had arthritis in my left big-toe (taking aleeve to help inflammation), and the toe felt as if it was trying to 'turn' my foot. Now this morning my left calf-muscle felt that it was trying to 'turn' my leg inward. It still feels uncomfortable after getting out of bed, but very disturbing. Advair was first given to me when I was using my inhaler too many times and I felt wonderful relief at being able to breathe freely, but now I'm not so sure if this is the cause of the other problems. How can you know for sure what is causing what problem?

Update to my June 20th post.
I have mild asthma but got prescribed the evil Advair by my doc a couple of years back. Recently my asthma felt like it was the worst it's ever been. Like other people have mentioned I felt tired, rundown and anxious. If I didn't take the advair every few hours my chest became tight and I'd start the usual asthmatic downwards spiral of panic.
I stopped the advair 8 days ago, my chest was tight at first but is easing up. I've had the rescue inhaler at hand but have not had to use it yet. I bought 'Reversing Asthma' by Richard Firshein and a Microlife Peak Flow meter to monitor my progress. My peak flow dips a little at night and first thing in the morning but I'm still well above average. Interestingly the tighteness doesn't affect the peak flow that much, which is great ammunition for calming yourself down when it feels uncomfortable.
Like Spunky said below, it's hard to trust some Docs, and the pharmaceutical companies are going to be as crooked as oil and other big business. They're eager to treat the symptoms for a quick fix rather than find the underlying causes, And a good diet, vitamins supplements, a clean environment and an exercise program isn't going to keep them in the lifestyle they're accustomed to.

I'm 35 and I've have had mild asthma since I was about 10 year old. At times I've been able to go weeks without needing to take anything, then stress, envirnoment triggers etc fire it up. I started taking advair 100/50 a couple of years back, and right now my breathing feels just about the worst it ever has. Without the advair I feel an uncomfortable tightness that I've never had before, a whole lot worse that the wheezing. Over the past couple of years I've lacked energy, been a lot more anxious and I've been warned of potential heart issues. I have a very healthy lifestyle and I assumed I was just getting older and more fragile...after reading these posts I'm seeing a possible connection.
Like some other people have said I sometimes feel like something is stuck in my throat / top of my lungs, it almost feels like phlegm but I can't cough it up.
I've stopped the advair for 3 days as of today, so far the tightness is managable, and the rescue inhaler is at hand (although I haven't had to use it yet). I'm hoping I can get back to previous drug free times.

I have what's known as cough equivalent asthma--on set as an adult. this is my first attack in about 3 years. I'm very unhappy with the Advair--the heart beating so quickly, the nausea and to top it all off IT'S NOT WORKING and neither is the albuterol. Today is my last day for the Advair. It's not even controlling my cough for minutes let alone hours or days. I'm losing my voice and will lose my part-time job because I don't have a voice. I can't hold a conversation without coughing it's making me dizzy and I'm tired because I can't sleep.

Yeah i was taking advair, i hardley used to even have asthma. I might need 1 puff or 2 from inhaler each week. Then i got off advair. Now i need inhaler at least 4-5 times a day. I'm real pissed, i wish i could sue advair. Come to think about it, my sister was on advair a lot longer than me, and around Christmas 2005, she was in hospital in comma, because of advair. They should take it off the market, and pay out billions for the deaths they caused

After living with asthma and relying on a rescue inhaler for 28 years, I was prescribed advair 500/50 and it has changed my life. I have not used my rescue inhaler since. It is like a miracle cure. I know its not a cure but it really works great. Do you know what it feels like to leave the house without panicking because I couldn't find my rescue inhaler?

I've been taking Advair for 2 months and I literally can't live without it. If i inadvertantly miss a dose in the morning, by 8 in the evening I'm coughing and wheezing. It's a godsend that keeps me from having to take my rescue inhaler 4x day every single day. Now I don't even know where my rescue inhaler is! Perhaps the folks on here who are having continual problems shouldn't be taking it or are mis-diagnosed. I've had absolutely no side effects. I make sure to rinse my mouth and throat after every application so I don't swallow any that was left in my mouth.

I just heard that Advair causes weight gain. Is this true?

I have been taking advair 2x per day for about 2 1/2 weeks. I have experienced the hoarseness and difficulty singing. I have also been caughing up a LOT of phlem. I was put on advair because of a severe bronchial episode, caughing so hard I was bursting blood vessels in my lungs (just little spots of blood). In the past 2 days I have been caughing up solid masses of blood. I don't know if this is related to the advair, but I am worried. I am also on singulair, prednezone, and the albuterol rescue inhaler, and I have been taking claritin, so I don't know if that particular simptom was caused by the advair or one of my other meds.

I have used advair for about 5 months and it has significantly imporved my capacity to breathe without the usual symtoms of my asthma controlling my life. On occassion I still have to use an inhaler. I brush my teeth and rinse with Listerine after each enhalation and this seems to control the thrush. I have, however experienced some soreness in the right Kidney and my urine has a strong order to it. this comes and goes.

Posted: Fri, 17 Dec 2004 00:19:32 -0600

hello everybody,
i am one among you.one who silently suffered from the side effects of inhaler for asthma and one who prides on doing years of research in the internet about various issues concerning the disease.
i cant say i am a good researcher though coz i found this site after more than 2 yrs of active internet browsing.many things have changed in these years.i tried my hand at few alternatives.
to cut long story short, i am asthmatic since 8 yrs.used inhalers intermittently for most of that time.i used corticosteroids(initially budisonide and later Salmeterol+Fluticasone which is same as advair).i live in india.here the brand name for avair i seroflo.im 23 now.
ok i started getting side effects from year 2000.firstly i had rhinits.rhintis is another allergic disease.may not be a side effect but i have a very strange rhinitis.i just have a stubborn nose block 24 hrs a day and the nose block wud start immediatley after i take the inhaler.it happens the moment my lungs start feeling good from the inhaler.usually rhintis patients have itching runny nose or any other accompanying symptom and wud get releif from antihistamines.but i wudnt get.docs precribed a steroid spray for my nose.
then i had throat problem.frequent thraot infection and then narrowing of throat making it diificult to swallow.i reported it to the doc in 2001 and was sent to ent doctor for consultation.he sadi everythin is normal.
then i started having frequent urination,eye dryness and blurring vision sometimes,oral thrush,chronic diarrhoea,dizziness an light headed ness,diabetes like symptoms ,weakness,white patches on cheeks,hairloss,cramps in hands and legs,fluid retention etc.
all through this time i gained weight.i became a puffed up adult from a very thin guy.i have stretch marks near my neck and my face mooned up.well i also have a right bundle branch block in my heart .it many not be a direct symptom.and its normal in it that it has no known symptoms(its not a disease its present in healthy hearts too,it is nothing to be worried about)
when i went to th doctor with my side effects and the internet print out of cushings disease(which has same symptoms as my side effects) and candidiasis ,he made me undergo diabetis tests and hiv tests.from those results i was directed to a psychriatiast.
i decided to go big in the internet.i joined many groups ,read much and still i cudnot figure what i had.i still was taking medication for asthma.i thought all my symptoms are of asthma and rhintis.i decided to tkae allergy shots.in inida theres only 1 place to get them .i had to travel for 2 days in train to get them.this happened a year ago.and the shots so far did some good.
still i had the side effects i changed docotor.he wud write down my case as known asthmatic rhintis and depression.he was exactly like the previous one.i was ake to see psychriatist.i stopped him too.this happened 6 months before.
by this time i was using acidophilus to stop my diarrhoe and read a lot about homeopathy.
i didnt beleive in homeoapthy.but i tried it.its been 4 months so far.by this time i know what i have.i.e i know where from my symptoms have come.in homeopathy all these symptoms are actually well known.my homeo docotr said he had seen many lik me.but he said its a long proces atleast 6 months.until now i have seen that homeopathy will atleast stop those severe bouts of asthma attack and does some changes to most of the symptoms.well dizziness and head symptoms are firt to go away.yet i didnt have major releif from homeoapathy.but one thing is for sure,its not what i intially thought.
as of now i am able to control my asthma with homepathy and i am tkaing allergy shots.i do use the bronchilator inhaler soem times.but my stubborn nose nose block wudnt change much.

******
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that was a post i made in thsi forum 1 and 1/2 year ago.now i am happy to say,my asthma allergies and all the side effects from long term allopathic drugs have finaly been totaly cured.homeopathy is slow,but has permanent cure.the onyl challenge being finding a good homeopath.

I've had the same side effects as everyone else. I started with a terrible burning in my mouth, stomach. I told the Dr. and he took me off the Advair and prescribed Nystatin for 10 days. At that time I was using 250/50. Later when I couldn't breathe, I ask him to let me go back on it. I have leg cramps, problems sleeping and I too have gained a lot of weight. I feel very "full", it seems to be pressing on my sides and lungs preventing me from breathing well. I went back on 100/50. I have discussed all the side effects with my Dr., and I even called the
company. They were very nice, ask for my permission to contact my Dr. about it, and of course I said, "Sure". They did contact him, because I ask, so yes, they are aware of all the things. as the previous person who posted said, it seems to get worse every year and I would have to stop and use an
inhaler before making it 1 block. However, I was told by my previous Dr. some years ago that as the disease progresses there would be pressure on my sides, which in turn would put a strain on my heart which would eventually cause heart problems. So I was expecting that before Advair came along.
Even though Advair does help the breathing, I feel sure that
the complaints most of us have (since they are all about the same problems) that Advair is the cause. I was told that if you rinse your mouth well the burning would not happen. Not true! I rinse and gargle each time and I STILL have that problem.The cramps in my feet and legs are another problem that has been very bad for me. I suppose it would be helpful if everyone reported the problems. I was told by the Company that each complaint they receive is put on record at FDA. They keep a record of all complaints that are reported (so I was told). I can tell you that they are very understanding and make every effort to be helpful.

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'm male 30, had asthma since i was 2, tried about every inhaler and pill you can think of. anyway march 2006, started taking advair, it helped alot,i was able to play sports again and even outlast alot of people, the only thing was it made weak in the strength department and my balance was off.

i also expreienced what alot of people here are saying, about weight gain, moon face, acid reflux, not wanting meat, acne, hoarsness, sinus infection, belly getting bigger.

i got off it about 2 months ago in june due to a back injury, i believe the advair caused me to get the back injury.

the back is better now, but since being off advair i can't walk up stairs without taking a break. but my skin is alot better and i lost 10-15 pounds just being off of advair.

right now i'm trying to find an alternative, so far vitamins are helping a little bit.

Posted: Fri, 17 Dec 2004 00:19:32 -0600

hello everybody,
i am one among you.one who silently suffered from the side effects of inhaler for asthma and one who prides on doing years of research in the internet about various issues concerning the disease.
i cant say i am a good researcher though coz i found this site after more than 2 yrs of active internet browsing.many things have changed in these years.i tried my hand at few alternatives.
to cut long story short, i am asthmatic since 8 yrs.used inhalers intermittently for most of that time.i used corticosteroids(initially budisonide and later Salmeterol+Fluticasone which is same as advair).i live in india.here the brand name for avair i seroflo.im 23 now.
ok i started getting side effects from year 2000.firstly i had rhinits.rhintis is another allergic disease.may not be a side effect but i have a very strange rhinitis.i just have a stubborn nose block 24 hrs a day and the nose block wud start immediatley after i take the inhaler.it happens the moment my lungs start feeling good from the inhaler.usually rhintis patients have itching runny nose or any other accompanying symptom and wud get releif from antihistamines.but i wudnt get.docs precribed a steroid spray for my nose.
then i had throat problem.frequent thraot infection and then narrowing of throat making it diificult to swallow.i reported it to the doc in 2001 and was sent to ent doctor for consultation.he sadi everythin is normal.
then i started having frequent urination,eye dryness and blurring vision sometimes,oral thrush,chronic diarrhoea,dizziness an light headed ness,diabetes like symptoms ,weakness,white patches on cheeks,hairloss,cramps in hands and legs,fluid retention etc.
all through this time i gained weight.i became a puffed up adult from a very thin guy.i have stretch marks near my neck and my face mooned up.well i also have a right bundle branch block in my heart .it many not be a direct symptom.and its normal in it that it has no known symptoms(its not a disease its present in healthy hearts too,it is nothing to be worried about)
when i went to th doctor with my side effects and the internet print out of cushings disease(which has same symptoms as my side effects) and candidiasis ,he made me undergo diabetis tests and hiv tests.from those results i was directed to a psychriatiast.
i decided to go big in the internet.i joined many groups ,read much and still i cudnot figure what i had.i still was taking medication for asthma.i thought all my symptoms are of asthma and rhintis.i decided to tkae allergy shots.in inida theres only 1 place to get them .i had to travel for 2 days in train to get them.this happened a year ago.and the shots so far did some good.
still i had the side effects i changed docotor.he wud write down my case as known asthmatic rhintis and depression.he was exactly like the previous one.i was ake to see psychriatist.i stopped him too.this happened 6 months before.
by this time i was using acidophilus to stop my diarrhoe and read a lot about homeopathy.
i didnt beleive in homeoapthy.but i tried it.its been 4 months so far.by this time i know what i have.i.e i know where from my symptoms have come.in homeopathy all these symptoms are actually well known.my homeo docotr said he had seen many lik me.but he said its a long proces atleast 6 months.until now i have seen that homeopathy will atleast stop those severe bouts of asthma attack and does some changes to most of the symptoms.well dizziness and head symptoms are firt to go away.yet i didnt have major releif from homeoapathy.but one thing is for sure,its not what i intially thought.
as of now i am able to control my asthma with homepathy and i am tkaing allergy shots.i do use the bronchilator inhaler soem times.but my stubborn nose nose block wudnt change much.

*******
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
that was a post i made in thsi forum 1 and 1/2 year ago.now i am happy to say,my asthma allergies and all the side effects from long term allopathic drugs have finaly been totaly cured.homeopathy is slow,but has permanent cure.the onyl challenge being finding a good homeopath.

i am 39, female and had been using combivent for years. i felt it was not working, and dr put me on advair. i was AMAZED at how well it worked. i could run w/ my dogs, swim the length of the pool with one deep breath. i began having problems with the glands in my neck. we finally figured out i had a huge yeast infection in them from the advair. the dr had me back off and use only once a day till the infection was gone. i began using it twice a day and i have been suffering from i thought was back pain. i've been going the chiropractor over and over and nothing he had done had helped. last night the pain was the worst it has been, and my lungs started to burn. the burning went around from my back, around to the front and i could not figure out what was going on. this morning i decided to not use advair, and i have NO pain! of course, i'm using my resuce inhaler alot, and getting a breath isn't always easy, but i don't really care. i am not taking it again. AND, i can't eat meat now either. my husband fried chicken tonight, and he looked at me like i was crazy when i said i just couldn't eat it.

Last Sunday, I had to go to the emergency room because I couldn't breathe. At times, it felt like my body didn't WANT to take a breath. Scary doesn't even begin to cover what I felt. Until that day, I had NEVER been hopsitalized for my asthma. It turned out to be a severe asthma attack. I am convinced that the only thing that saved me was that I am a classical singer and am used to controlling my breath. Had I panicked, I am not sure I would be here to write this. However, it wasn't until last night that I realized this was all from the Advair. Yesterday, I had a really good day. I only used my rescue inhaler a couple of times (since I still have a few residual breathing issues from the severe attack a week ago.) As I went to bed, I took my Advair, as usual, and within 30 minutes I was having trouble breathing again. Nothing as severe as before, but enough that I found this website and others and all of the comments about the side effects,as well as, the FDA warning about this "product". I immediately threw my diskus away. Thank you all for your posts!

Reduced sleep cycle: I am 31 and started on Advair 500/50 in 11/03. (I have been on 250/50 for over a year). Ever since initial use, I feel tired but my body does not permit me to over-sleep, (no more than 6-8 hours). There aren't any other significant factors, (for example, stress, caffeine, exercise, etc...), that have been as constant as the Advair. My asthma is very well maintained with the Advair. The use of my inhaler is limited to 3-5x/month.

I have horrific side effects from Advair but HAVE to take it or I am on my rescue inhaler 24/7. The worst being the side cramps/muscle cramps in my stomach side back etc. Then of course there is the fact that nothing tastes good. But again the cramps are the worst. Reminds me of my first asthma medication, brethine that also gave me muscle cramps. Complete nightmare.

I am a 34 year old male and have been using Advair for about four years. My (allergy/sport induced) asthma had never been what I would call "severe" but it certainly was limiting when running. And it was very annoying getting that deep whezzing. Since moving to the east coast the alergies became worse. My breathing curve was that of 64-year-old.

In addition to Advair (1 puff 2x daily) I also take Alegra-D in the morning and regular Alegra before bed - I also take rhinocort - one shot each nostril - morning and night.

Now my breathing curve is that of a 40 year old and I have not taken my "emergency inhaler" in years. In fact I just got a new prescription because the last inhaler had expired - though I never used it.

I regularly race triathlons and even cold water only occasionally makes me wheeze (salt water more so). I really hard workout of wind sprints will occasionally trigger wheezing - ususally if the humidity is high or the cold is really cold.

No problems with weight gain. I did have a bought of sinus infections last year, but had not had until this weekend for over 9 months.

I have had "head rushes" and dizzying - particularly after coffee - recently - over the last couple of weeks. I have not attributed it to the Advair, but will keep that as a possibility as I do more research into the side-effects of Advair.

-CF

It took 4-5 days, not 405 days, for symptoms to subside after I stopped the inhaler, but right now it feels like 405 days is what I'm facing. I try to pretend I'm feeling all right but I feel like a very sick person.