Advair HFA and mood swings

I have been on Advair 250/50 for 5 years for asthma. I'm a 48 year old female. I have experienced severe hoarsness and my voice is rough sounding. Some days I am so hoarse that others have a hard time understanding me. I have had 5 kidney stones in the last 5 years, never had one before taking Advair. I had the last one a month ago and it was so large I had to have surgery. I experience nausea about once a day. I seem to always have a headache. I feel tired all of the time. Over the last year I have developed high blood pressure. I have gained 20 pounds. I have rashes on my upper arms that comes and goes. I experience mood swings. The Advair does control my asthma, but these side effects are too much anymore, especially the hoarseness. I am going to ask my doctor for other solutions.

69 year old beautiful grandmother, Yes, I stopped taking ADVAIR... After taking advair for two years, I just put a stop to the weight gain, emotion mood swings, headaches, poor circulation in my legs and arms companied by pain. Now my Doctor has me going through test to re- evaluate my condition... I am keeping it real and listening to my body as I questioning my Doctor..
Lady D

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 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!

Boy i thought i was the only one and my family thought i was just making this stuff up. I have asthma and have had it since i was 10 now age 23. Recently i went to the doctor because i was using my albuterol inhaler to much i was using one a week. The doctor told me i had bronchitis now even worse so he put my advair 250/50 ive been on it for about 2 months. One week after taking it i notice my voice changed and my troat was bothering me, i was having nose bleeds. This week i started having really bad headaches my hands fall asleep at night without my even sleeping on them, also bad back pains my legs get bad cramps at night. One bad thing i really hate is i know i have gained a good mount of weight about 30lbs in so little time. My husband notice my mood swings ive been having towards him getting mad at him for no reason. Thank goodness im not going crazy seeing that im not alone. IM GONNA STOP TAKING THIS MEDICINCE AND CALLING MY DOC MONDAY MORNING!!!!1

26/f on Advair for 1 year, 3 mos. Diagnosed with asthma when I was 17. Was overusing my Albuterol and my symptoms got worse so pulmonologist prescribed Advair 250/50. After the first week of taking 2 puffs a day, I didn't need Albuterol inhaler and was able to exercise for the first time in YEARS without needing emergency inhaler. Advair was my life saver. Also prescribed to me was Protonix- the doctor thought I had acid reflux which contributed to my asthma symptoms. I take that seasonally now, when I notice a hoarseness in speech. I do get headaches every so often, they have been occurring more frequently as with mood swings so I am researching medications. I have no idea if this is tied into my Advair use since I've been on it over a year now. I might try going off Advair to see if it is related. I've also had a weird muscle cramp in my left armpit area which I NEVER would have thought was related to Advair but several people here have reported it.

In short, the headaches, mood swings, etc. do NOT outweigh my ability to exercise and breathe normal. I will most likely try to lower my dose of Advair or ween myself off to see how I do, but if my asthma worsens, I'd rather stay on Advair

Two weeks ago my Doctor put me back on Advair 500/50, My voice went hoarse immeditialy (still that way), I also started having headachs, unable to sleep, muscle pain, my blood pressure has increased and I have a rapid heart rate. The problem that drives me crazy is I have difficultly swallowing and I feel like someone is strangling me. I also have a bad cough and thick mucus that doesn't seem to end...not to mention mood swings and problems thinking.
I was previously on advair for years, stopped taking it cause I did not feel right. My Doctor remains firm in her option "advair has no side effects" and thinks I make this up...Wish I never started back on it and stopping using it today.

I'm a 38 year old female who was prescribed Advair after a severe bout of bronchitis one year ago. While at first I thought that it was helping my lungs my family members noticed that I was getting more headaches, mood swings and I went from a soprano singer to sounding like Harry Belafonte. I have stopped and now I have cramping pains in my chest and upper back. I call it my traveling pain as it is not always in the same spot. I would much rather have tried a homeopathic remedy than subject myself to Advair every again. I have learned through a nutritionist and chiropractor how to manage the pain in my lungs that this crap has left behind. Please research this carefully before you start sucking in that dust!!

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'm not sure what to think about Advair. My 16 yr old son has asthma & has been on Advair for a few years & did well for the most part. While on vacation last summer he came down w/2 ear infections & quickly went downhill. He had an attack & was nearly closed up completely; went to the ER & received several breathing treatments, a steroid shot & was released w/oral steroid prescription/antibiotics. The next afternoon he had another attck & went back to the ER. He was given breathing treatments & then an IV steroid treatment. He immediately got a raging headache & got morphine for the pain, started severely hallucinating & violently flipped for hours. He eventually was well enough to leave & woke up the next morn as a vegetable. Didn't know where he was...was hallucinating, couldn't walk etc. We went back home to his family doctor. It turned out the steroids was the culprit. I didn't know Advair was a form of steroid, & the IV steroids caused his psychosis, & he just had too much steroids in his system overall. A few days later he came out of it. My mother had said she heard Advair can cause severe infections & actually worsen asthma. I asked his DR & he said there were other reasons for those problems which didn't pertain to my son, so he's still taking Advair.

Ever since that episode, he is much more susceptible to EVERYTHING. First semester of school he missed a total of 10 days. He'd also been having horrible mood swings, could not sleep at night & then went into a depression. So he was precribed a low dosage of Elavil. This was about 10 weeks ago. 12 days ago he started wheezing & coughing, so we did his at home nebulizer treatments. He went to the DR & was diagnosed w/bronchitus & was given a Z-pak. Last weekend he worsened, took him back to the DR Monday & was diagnosed w/walking pnemonia. He was given another Z-pak & oral steroids. He's slowly getting better, but has missed 9 days of school & I don't know when he'll be well enough to return.

My mom researched Advair again & found that you shouldn't take it w/Elavil, which he is still taking. She also found that side effects from Advair are eveything my son is dealing with. My husband thinks she's nuts, but I have to wonder can Advair actually be making my son worse?

I am 30 years old and have been on advair 125 for a few years. I've had symptoms for years now and dont recall having them before taking advair. Here are some signs that finally got me to search the web

Co-workers and girlfriend constantly commenting on my shaking legs. My legs always sway back and forth and I dont even notice, but people around me tell me to stop.

Heart Pinchings, I call them, tight chest, feels like someone is in my chest pinching my heart. I saw the doctor about it, took tests, all was ok, went to the heart institute, took tests, all was ok. This symptom has been extremely anoying for about a year.

Numbness in my arm, sometimes i loose sensation in parts of my arm, i can pinch it and dont feel anything. This one comes and goes.

Severe pain in my buttox cheek for no reason. No injury, same lifestyle pattern, but a severe pain came a while back, felt like my buttox was bruised from an injury.

Irritable, mood swings, paranoia, anxiety. This is the worst, again, I dont notice this much but the people around me tell me to relax.

Sleep deprevation, I wake up so many times during the night it's awful, this is ruining my life.

My eyes, within the past year, my eyesight has gotten much worse, sometimes my eyes will just water, like im crying for no reason. I had to get new glases and can no longer watch television without them on. Last year I could watch tv with no glasses.

I am stoping advair today and contacting the doctor or hospital to make sure it's safe and perhaps try an alternative. Hopefully it helps, hopefully I remember to update this forum on my results.

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.

I've been on it for 3 months. I am suffering, anxiety attacts, sharp pain in bottom of lung (even when I'm breathing well). Sharp pain in middle of back and lower back, extreme fatigue atttacks. Mood swings (extreme depression and euphoria).

Drug was working at first, and I no longer needed to use my Ibuterol inhauler, but now I'm back to using it every day.

I've found rinsing mouth well and brushing teeths and tounge gets rid of the dry mouth symptom.

I HAVE COPD AND MILD ASTHMA AND HAVE BEEN ON ADVAIR 250/50 FOR ABOUT 4MONTHS I HAVE HAD THE ACNE, WEIGHT GAIN, HEADACHES, VOMITING, STOMACH CRAMPS, MOOD SWINGS, RESTLESSNESS, AND JUST FOUND OUT TODAY THAT I SHOULD HAVE ALREADY BEEN BACK TO THE DR AND WILL BE GOING TODAY FOR ITCHING AND HIVES WHICH I HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING DAILY. IF YOU DO EXPERIENCE HIVES YOU ARE SUPPOSED TO CONTACT YOUR DOCTOR IMMEDIATELY.

Been on Advair for 10 months, and have gained 20 lbs since then!! Also experience sharp head pains, foot & leg cramps, short term memory loss, irritability and mood swings, increased menstrual flow, slow healing of wounds, etc. Main concern is rapid weight gain! I went to my dr today to discuss...she claims to be unaware of any of these side effects being related to Advair....she can't imagine weight gain as Advair is a powder that goes into just the lungs. My mid section is where I have gained mostly. After reading all the boards on different websites, I am surprised to see how many are experiencing the same side effects with Advair, & I am convinced that it is the cause. I asked dr to prescribe something else, & she did...asmanex & serevent....haven't tried it yet...but I now read that asmanex is also linked to weight gain. I feel so frustrated that I can't rely on my dr for this, & feel like I have to fiure it all out on my own. I'm scared to continue with these meds but I need something to keep my mild asthma under control....everyday. Can anyone recommend anything to me? Should I switch to non-steroid? Any feedback on Singulaire somethin similar? Any information will be helpful. Thanks!

Mona

Wondering why I can't get into any of my jeans, I decided to Google "Advair and Weight Gain". WOW !! Not only do I now attribute my 20 lb. weight gain to Advair (100/500), I also know why I have leg cramps, insomnia, mood swings, and no improvement of my asthma symptoms.
Trashing my Advair !!

I have a 6 1/2 year old that has been taking Advair for a few
months. She has been very depressed and not able to sleep
well. She has been very,very emotional. I read on this
site that someone had a daughter who was growing breasts
at 7-well my daughter is also I had to go and get a training bra I asked the doctor about it and he did not have an answer
and never suggested that it could be the advair. Now that I know someone else had this reaction I blame it on the Advair
and it makes me wonder with her mood swings if it has done something to her hormones. That is kind of scary. If anyone else has had these kind of problems with a small child please email me******

I thought that I was going crazy, but after reading other people's side affects from inhaling Advair, I now know what my health problems can be attributed to. I have been on Advair for 3 months, and my health has deteriorated dramatically. I would get a burning sensation throughout my chest & stomach area, headaches, backaches, disoriented, mood swings, lack of concentration, loss of taste & smell and some depression problems. I would go to bed exhausted, and wake up exhausted. My whole day was a mass of confusion, and irritations. I quit taking Advair just a few days ago, and I feel great now. I no longer have any of the health problems that I listed above. I do fine on Flovent, Albuterol, & Singulair. Its shocking to find out how many people have actually suffered from a drug that was supposed to bring relief.

My asthma started with my first pregnancy, 9 years ago. I've tried every drug on the market with no results. I can easily exhaust a 200 inhalation rescue inhaler in 2 to 3 days. I've been on Advair for almost 2 years. It was like a miracle at first! I thought my troubles were over! Lately, the Advair is not helping. I sleep with an inhaler under my pillow at night because I wake up 8 to 10 times a night gasping for breath. It takes 10 to 12 puffs to recover. Anyway, I was hospitalized recently for extreme stomach discomfort. The doctors thought it was my gall bladder, intestinal blockage, blah blah blah...they couldn't diagnose my severe bloating, burning and discomfort. THANKS to all of you who took the time to post symptoms. I thought I had stomach cancer or something. Now I'm sure its the Advair. Also, I have terrible short term memory problems, mood swings, weight gain, and no sense of smell. I'm 33 and my OB/GYN put me on hormone therapy for menapause. After what I've read tonight...I'm convinced the Advair is the culprit. I'm terrified that if I stop taking it, I will die from the Asthma. Any suggesstions?

I thought I was losing my mind. Now I know after reading entries on this site what the problem has been. I am a 43 year old male who has suffered with asthma since being a small child. During my early years, I was more less raised in an oxygen tent. I have been taking Advair for the last six months. After the first month, I starting getting horrific cramps in my calves and toes during the night, constant headaches, tightness in the chest, constant stomach pains on both sides, joint pains, sneezing, runny nose, diarrhea, thrush, difficulty in speaking after 2-4 minutes, depression, fatigue, tired all the time, mood swings, pain in my shoulders, neck & back, short term memory, weight gain around the stomach, and tingling sensations down the arms to the fingertips. I just looked at the long, extensive insert that comes with the Advair Diskus, and NOWHERE does it mention anything about side effects, nor did my doctor mention that there were potential side effects. As of today, I have stopped Advair cold turkey! I just spoke to my brother who is a Pharmacist, and he said it would take less than a week for this poison eliminated from my bloodstream. I plan on just going back to my old faithful albuterol. At least this way, I will regain my life back. We as a society have become victimized by the television drenched marketing scam of the drug entities. I have come to the conclusion that there will be a special place in HELL for them. So, say a prayer for them, cuz they're gonna need it!

I am 19 years old and started Advair only 2 weeks ago, and already I'm feeling the symptoms other posters have mentioned. My back pain is unbearable, I can't even get comfortable long enough to fall asleep. I'm having extreme irratibility and mood swings. I have such muscle weakness that I can barely open a jar of peanut butter. On top of all of this, Advair is just barely doing anything to aid with my asthma symptoms. The side effects of this medication are not worth any of the help it provides.

My 11 yr. old daughter does not have asthma yet was put on advair 250/50 because she wheezes everytime she gets a respiratory infection. She is now recovering from the sinus infection that put her on this medicine. She has been on this medicine for 1 week and a day, her last day. Her side effects include...

1. fatigue
2. heartburn
3. mood swings
4. depression
5. acne and red splotches on her face
6. headaches
7. bloody noses (both nostrils at same time)

All this after only one week. She has taken her last dose.
By the way, 2 days after her doc put her on an antibiotic for the sinus infection, no wheezing. She only wheezes when she is sick.... How does advair prevent that? Does it stop her from contracting viruses, I don't think so. New doctor? I think so!

I am 23 years old and was diagnosed with asthma when I was 2 years old. I beleive I have taken every medication out there. I was on and off steroids since I was 6. I take my albuterol inhaler when needed and advair diskus 250/50. I began taking advair about 3 or 4 years ago and have seen an increase in weight gain over the past 2 years. I work out obsessively and still no weight loss. I joined weight watchers and eat under the points I am suppose to and still no results. I tired taking singular and broke out with lumps all over my body, so I had to immediatley get off of that. After reading everyone else's reactions to advair, i feel that I am not alone in the asthma world. I as well have really bad mood swings, headaches, trouble sleeping. After reading this website, i am going to get off Advair immediatley.

Wow... stumbling on this site is a breath of relief so far. I've only been on Advair a little less than a month but my anxiety and mood swings seem to have shot through the roof and I've been waking up from less and less sleep every day with no explanation for my sudden bout with insomnia. I'm a 29 year old smoker that quit and started taking 100/50 Advair for an allergy asthma compounded with chronic bronchitis but I think this morning's dose will have been my last. Too bad I relapsed on the cigs before I found this site :/

Hi Everyone,

It is a blessing that I found this site.
I have been on Advair 250 now for almost three years and it has only done the one good thing it is supose to do ( keep my air waves opened. ) The side effects have been hell for me. I am 38yrs old now and in three years I have gained 52 lbs., swelling in the legs, arms, and face. I get really bad cramping in my feet and legs alot at night as well.
My mood swings are are very depressing. I am feeling like I do not belong here on the earth and that it would be better for my husband and kids if I weren't here for them to see me.
I went to my Doctor to talk to him about how I feel but he say's I could be going through the change of life. He also say's that thre is not enough steroids in the med. to have that much of a side effect. I couldn't even pee more then once a day it was that bad for me. I was litterly hold my water well.
He put me on fluid pills to help with the fluid retention and they didn't work. First he said to take one a day. So I did for a month. Nothing happened. So I asked him if I could up it to 2 a day? He said yes. So for a month I tried 2 a day and again that did n't work. So I turned around and upped them again without his permission thinking it won't hurt me to 3 a day. Well I started to have more problems so my Dr. sent me to a specialist and he sent me for blood work. When they came back I was called to come back to the Dr.'s office. He has his chat with me told me it was a no no for that amount of pills to be taken. I told him that it was the only way I could get rid of the fluid in my arms and legs. He said that if I were to have continued on these pills I could have suffered Cardiac Heart failure.
Now in Dec.2002 I went and had Abdominalplasty done where they cut the fat off your stomach and do some liposuction in some areas. Well I went in at 213lbs and in one hour I left at 206lbs. Now after 8 days. I managed to put the weight back on me and I started to cry. My husband and I spent almost $ 8000.00 on my procedure because my Dr. told me that I was gaing to much weight and if I were to continue down this path I am going to kill myself slowly.
I tried the Atkins, weight watchers, and now I am going to CURVES and have done the 6 week loss challenge with 3 other ladies and by the end of the challange they lost weight and inches and I gained in my waist , belly, arms , thighs, and boobs. I was so depressed that I gave up exersising altogether. Why bother I feel that if I'm going to go I might as well be heavy.
I have taken myself off the advair now for 4 days and it has been hell for me but I'm not going back on it. So if anyone has any ideas on what we can use as a replacement without the steroids let us all know.

PS; Before going on the Advair I was on 40mg. of Prednisone ( steroids )a day for 10 days on and 7 days off for 3 months. I was a nightmare to live with. I looked and felt the same way as I did 3 yrs ago. So they can't tell us that there isn't enough steroids in it to have this effect I think theyare not getting the picture clearly.

Thanks, Dorothy

Hi Everyone,

It is a blessing that I found this site.
I have been on Advair 250 now for almost three years and it has only done the one good thing it is supose to do ( keep my air waves opened. ) The side effects have been hell for me. I am 38yrs old now and in three years I have gained 52 lbs., swelling in the legs, arms, and face. I get really bad cramping in my feet and legs alot at night as well.
My mood swings are are very depressing. I am feeling like I do not belong here on the earth and that it would be better for my husband and kids if I weren't here for them to see me.
I went to my Doctor to talk to him about how I feel but he say's I could be going through the change of life. He also say's that thre is not enough steroids in the med. to have that much of a side effect. I couldn't even pee more then once a day it was that bad for me. I was litterly hold my water well.
He put me on fluid pills to help with the fluid retention and they didn't work. First he said to take one a day. So I did for a month. Nothing happened. So I asked him if I could up it to 2 a day? He said yes. So for a month I tried 2 a day and again that did n't work. So I turned around and upped them again without his permission thinking it won't hurt me to 3 a day. Well I started to have more problems so my Dr. sent me to a specialist and he sent me for blood work. When they came back I was called to come back to the Dr.'s office. He has his chat with me told me it was a no no for that amount of pills to be taken. I told him that it was the only way I could get rid of the fluid in my arms and legs. He said that if I were to have continued on these pills I could have suffered Cardiac Heart failure.
Now in Dec.2002 I went and had Abdominalplasty done where they cut the fat off your stomach and do some liposuction in some areas. Well I went in at 213lbs and in one hour I left at 206lbs. Now after 8 days. I managed to put the weight back on me and I started to cry. My husband and I spent almost $ 8000.00 on my procedure because my Dr. told me that I was gaing to much weight and if I were to continue down this path I am going to kill myself slowly.
I tried the Atkins, weight watchers, and now I am going to CURVES and have done the 6 week loss challenge with 3 other ladies and by the end of the challange they lost weight and inches and I gained in my waist , belly, arms , thighs, and boobs. I was so depressed that I gave up exersising altogether. Why bother I feel that if I'm going to go I might as well be heavy.
I have taken myself off the advair now for 4 days and it has been hell for me but I'm not going back on it. So if anyone has any ideas on what we can use as a replacement without the steroids let us all know.

PS; Before going on the Advair I was on 40mg. of Prednisone ( steroids )a day for 10 days on and 7 days off for 3 months. I was a nightmare to live with. I looked and felt the same way as I did 3 yrs ago. So they can't tell us that there isn't enough steroids in it to have this effect I think theyare not getting the picture clearly.

Thank you all from the bottom of my heart.

2 weeks on Advair and had SVT with heart rate of 220 bpm. Also mood swings.

I have been on advair for just over 2 months, i too have had all the symptoms that all of you have experianced , and stopped taking the advair as well. My symptoms are severe muscle weakness, pneumonia, thrush, major phlem, hoarness, neck pain, mood swings, aggression, excitability, weight gain (25lbs. in 2 months), i was givin advair for COPD, and i told my dr. of my change in symptoms, and they said it could not possibally be the advair millions of people are taking it . So i took it upon myself to stop taking it its only been 2 days without it, and i have yet to start feeling better.

I have been on Advair for about a year now. I am a very happy, polite, well mannered person at heart. Yet now, after taking Advair, I have been very moody. I feel like I am Bi-Polar!! My mood swings are very dramatic. Sometimes I have a very short fuse and I tend to lash out in angry fits. I have become very impatient and my heart feels like it is going a mile a minute. I told my doctor this, and he lowered my dosage to 100mg and I only take it once a day. I am still suffering the same symptoms. I am scared to go off of Advair for fear of being worse off then I was in the first place! I am having trouble sleeping every night and I have become extremely depressed. I feel like Advair is ruining my life. I have decided to get off of this stuff starting today. I just hope its not to late..

my 9 yr old son has been on singulair and advair for about a year now. he has mood swings all the time. he gets so angry sometimes that he scares the heck out of me. i spoke to the doctor about this problem and he informed me that this was a side effect to the advair. i had no idea that this drug was not approved for children under the age of 12. he has acute asthma, and i`m afraid to take him off this medication.(his attacks hit him really,really hard) does anyone know of a possible alternative that i can mention to my doctor?

Even though it works amazingly to control my asthma I have suffered from insomnia, exhaustion, acne, mood swings,and a significant weight gain. I work out like a crazy person and live on lettuce and am still gaining. I was never told by my Dr of these side effects. I am at least relieved to know that I am not alone. I have been off Advair for only a couple days now and already feel a shift for the better in my health.