Advair HFA and little bit

Hi All -

I hate to read how Advair has affected all of your lives negatively however, after reading the information on this site, I feel so much better about what I have been experiencing.

I have had asthma all of my life. I was taking Albuterol (as everyone does) to control it when I had an attack, Singulair and Serevent (only prior to exercising to help stop an attack from happening). I went to a new pulmonary doctor with a bought of severe bronchitis and he told me that I was "not controlling my asthma properly" and that I should have been on Advair a long time ago. I trusted him and started taking it twice a day.

I have been on it for 17 days and over the past five days I started having severe anxiety over my breathing functions. I was monitoring every breath I took and wasn't breathing unless I told myself to. This started causing severe panic attacks...I HAVE NEVER DONE THIS BEFORE IN MY LIFE!!!!! I am not prone to anxiety or anything like that and I have had asthma ALL MY LIFE!!! This was an entirely new behavior. I thought I was going crazy...I couldn't stop thinking about breathing.....I analyzed what was new in my life and what I have been doing differently that could cause this change in my life and the only new thing was Advair. My husband had to give me a Xanax (something that I have never taken in my life) just so that I could function and go to work. So I went on line and I found at least 50 web sites like this one devoted to Advair and a link to panic attacks, anxiety, depression, etc...I STOPPED TAKING IT!!!!! I don't care what my doctor has to say...the benefits are not worth this drug taking over my life and changing me as a person. I am done. I will deal with my asthma as I have always done so and I don't care if he thinks that I am "not controlling it". I left a message for the doctor and I am still waiting to hear back. I haven't taken the Advair since yesterday morning and the panic attacks have started to get milder. I am still a little bit focused on the breathing but only if I am alone and not preoccupied. I have to believe that these side effects will go away in time and when the drug is out of my system. I learned a valuable lesson. I will only take a drug if I research it first.

Thank you all for your comments....you have helped me to preserve my sanity. We all can't be feeling the same thing and not attribute it to the culprit..ADVAIR!!!!

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.

Hi all,

i am glad to see this site. may god bless us with good health. i am talking a deep breath for every 10 -15 mins. i went physician he referred a pulmonary specialist. after testing every thing he told that i am WHEEZING little bit and he suggested me to take ADVAIR after having this medicine like a WEEK my joint (hand) paining some times it is hurting my whole hand i think better to stop it and to approach a homeopathic doctor this worst we are talking this drug for cure but it is giving some other problems oh my god it is "BETTER TO STOP" ....THANKS ALLOT FOR U ALL ....

I stopped Advair just over two weeks ago. I skipped a day and had a little trouble breathing - so I took it again. Then I skipped two days and took it again. Then I was able to quit for good. I'm off of it now.

I am using Albuterol just a little bit more than I did while on Advair -- but nothing extreme. I feel better. I've lost 6 pounds without really changing anything (I did quit drinking diet soda also). My ankle swelling has subsided a lot. No more pain.

I hope things get even better with time.