Advair HFA and lower back pain

I am a 61 year old male and I have COPD with 40% loss in lung function. My allergist started me on Advair 250/50 a couple of years ago. As I was still having trouble with shortness of breath, my internist put me on Spiriva, also. Breathing got easier, but I was experiencing a number of symptoms.

The one that clued me into knowing something in the medicine was bothering me was bright red eyes. Also focus problems and blurry vision. My ophthalmologist found no reason for the eye condition. So I also looked at some other symptoms I had: Severe muscle cramping if any muscle was contracted; severe lower back pain after walking only 5 minutes; hoarseness; loss of voice; Extreme weight gain (55 pound in 1-1/2 years), all in my middle; bloating and tooth/gum problems that were nonexistent 2 years ago; BPH symptoms (poor urine stream, difficulty emptying and many nighttime bathroom visits with normal prostate & PSA tests). E.D.

Whoa! What’s going on here? So I began stopping all my drugs one at a time for one week. Just got to the Advair yesterday and my eyes have already almost returned to white. My hoarseness is almost gone. Was it the power of autosuggestion? Somehow, I don’t think so. This drug works, but one has to balance the side effects with the help it provides. I’m going to try just using my albuterol inhaler and stay off these steroids.

Good luck to you all!

I suspect Advair is responsible for my having come down with pneumonia,stabbing chest pains( which the Dr. at the ER suggested was Pleurisy) and severe back pain in my lower back. I haven't been able to sleep in bed for at least 6 weeks and must sleep in a chair with my feet propped up on an ottoman.I have used Advair since July 2007, first 250/50 then 500/50 and now back to 250/50 in order to reduce hoarseness. The pneumonia is gone after 5 days hospitalization; the pleurisy pain has just subsided with pain killers and anti inflammatory meds . But the severe lower back pain is still there; my orthopedic Dr. has recommended physical therapy which I plan to initiate. However, stopping the use of Advair may be exactly what I need to end the back pain. I would like to mention that I did experience Thrush upon using Advair and I found that it completely went away when I started drinking pure Pomegranate juice.It doesn't taste great but it was recommended by friends during the time I had pneumonia, and lo and behold, it seems to have done away with Thrush. The Advair along with Siriva does seem to help my asma but these suspected side effects are very debilitating.

I am 46 years old and have been on Advair for 3 plus years. I have experienced severe joint pain in hands, toe cramping/pain, very bad lower back pain and overall back and body ache. Weight gain also. I feel that it has also made me very lethargic. I think it's time to get off this stuff, the side effects are worse than the benefits. I am also tired of complaining about how I feel!
Do I have to ween myself off of Advair or can I stop immediately?

Advair affected my heartbeat, made me feel every heartbeat as if something was wrong. I also had muscle cramps, even after hydrating before bike riding or weight lifting. the unusual heartbeat went away two weeks after stopping use of advair.
I also went through a peeriod of lower back pain, maybe from sore kidneys, although I tapered off of the advair slowly.
I feel better after getting off of this drug, I thought ageing was catching up with me I am 62 but after stopping use of the drug i feel 40% better than while on the drug.

I have been Advair 500/50 for 4 years with results so profound it enabled me to join a local volunteer fire department rescue squad where I am an EMT & officer . So much for the good news. The bruising, constant tiredness, sinus infections, earaches, mood swings and especially the excruciating joint pains I accepted as part of aging. The hip joint and lower back pain became part of my daily life. Drugs, steroid injections, chiropractic with electrical stimulation, exercise, hot tub soaks @ 2 in the morning were usless. I found this website 4 days ago and have been Advair free for 3 days. The asthma is ok, the pains are gone, I am energetic, and feel much calmer. I feel 10 yrs younger than my 53 years.