Advair HFA and steroids

About 2 and 1/2 months ago I went to an urgent care facility since I felt like I was suffocating. I am a long time smoker (30 years) and have not had any problems with breathing accept for the occasional morning cough. Long story short, the doctor after hearing my breathing and taking 2 xrays said "you have a pocket of infection in your lung and COPD". I didn't realize it was that quick and easy to diagnose COPD and thought there were more extensive tests to prove that, but I went along with the doctor. The doctor prescribed Advair, an antibiotic, ProAir HFA (albuterol pump rescue inhaler), a decongestant and prednisone. I thought that was an extreme amount of medication but the doctor said she was being proactive. After a couple albuterol breathing treatments and a shot of steroids at the urgent care center I was on my way.

I finished the treatments of antibiotics and steroids as prescribed, but I never took the decongestant (did not want to over-medicate myself). Immediately after starting Advair my joints ached and I felt over all like I had the flu. With my 1 weeks checkup with the doc I mentioned this and she just smiled. About a week after that the achy joints starting easing up, but I started cramping in different muscles. For instance one week I would have a dull cramping in my leg that was persistent during the day and worsened at night. Then the leg stopped cramping, then the lower part of my back started in to a point it was hard to get out of bed, walk or bend over. Then when that stopped something else started up. Then during the last two weeks that I was on Advair I was having periodic chest pains, tightness in my chest, (once again) difficulty breathing, and my vision started to go (blurring)...that with the lower back pain. I am almost 50 years old and have been in excellent health my whole life, and honestly I have never felt as bad as I did while on Advair.

I stopped taking Advair 6 days ago. No, I did not call and ask the doctor's advice because I knew what the doc would say. The first day after quitting Advair I had restricted breathing so I used the rescue inhaler once. The breathing issue became better during the remainder of the day. Slowly the cramping in my body and chest eased up. Today (6 days later) my vision is back to what it was, no chest pains, occasional restricted breathing and will use the rescue inhaler during those times.

I think it's too early to know the long lasting affects of Advair, but at this stage in my life (unless I am worse off with my breathing than I am right now) I don't care to use the medication.

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.

Hi - I was on advair for a couple of weeks after a horrible bout of asthmatic bronchitis. I now have this constant pressure under my rib cage that will not go away. I was wondering if any one else has experienced this while on or after stopping advair. Thanks and happy holidays!

I have used Advair 250 for a few years now and have noticed a few of the same symptoms as the other posters, but my main concern is whenever I go off the drug for too long my asthma gets drastically worse. I have become extremely dependent on this expensive drug that I can barely afford and I fear it is just weakening my health while only mildly suppressing my asthma. I feel stuck with this drug now. I feel like a slave to it. It's an awful feeling.

I'm 18 years old and I've been taking Advair (500) for about 4 years. I've had very persistant asthma my whole life and my Advair seems to save me from having to use my albuterol around 6 times a day. About 9 months ago i lost my voice for over 2 months. After that went away I had a break for about one month then around 6 months ago I developed what seems like a smokers cough yet I don't smoke. I just got a chest x-ray done and they said it was normal. They put me on steroids and antibiotics but it doesn't seem to be helping.

Could it be the Advair? I don't know that I can go without it even if it is. I want to get rid of this congestion in my lungs. I'm sick of coughing up mucus daily. Does anyone have any advice?

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?

Very prone to thrush mouth-even after brushing and gargling, weakness in muscles, Doctors do not know the affects of taking Advair for longer than 6 months

Tried to quit cold turkey but asthma flared up immediately. Doctor put me on Asthmanex and told me that I can't escape taking an inhaled steroid. However, since being off Advair my mood is much better and I feel hopeful again. Also back to using my nebulizer. But I at least I am starting to feel like my old self again. Going to see a nutritionist at end of month which will hopefully unlock the key to losing weight while on steroids!

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

I 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 have been taking Advair 500/50 for about two years ( I am now 60 years old,) to help control my allergy related asthma (that only presented itself when I had to take steroid eye drops for glaucoma.) While I had the hoarseness, dry mouth and occasional mouth sores, they seemed livable compared to uncontrolled asthma.

One morning about a month ago, when I was taking my normal AM puff, I suddenly felt as though a giant sledge hammer banged down on my head - pounding me into the floor - almost losing consciousness. Then, I experienced pounding, racing heart that felt as though it might jump out of my chest. I turned white and gray - my family and I thought I was having a heart attack.

I was terrified to take another puff - thinking it might be my last. Two days went by, when, I decided to experiment by taking a very light puff, barely taking any into my lungs. (I had been further scared by warning about suddenly going off steroids.) My doctor was out of the country and no one wanted the liability of advising me.

One hesitant puff of Advair caused the exact same pounding - heart jumping and racing reaction. I decided right then that I did not need further evidence to "pound into my head" that Advair was now toxic for me.

The odd thing is that my doctor seems to discount my experience by saying I am the only person this has ever happened to (implying there must be something wrong with me!) When I asked about the dangers and appropriate process for suddenly stopping steroids, she pooh-poohed my concern saying there are no side effects from inhalers with steroids. (Several nurses recently told me that was not necessarily true. Who knows what to believe!)

I have stopped Spiriva and Advair and have scheduled an appointment with a doctor and nurse practitioner who use diet, exercise and nutritional supplements to help treat asthma. A friend has gone to them for several years and is now off all asthma medication, has lost about 50 pounds, has improved health and looks 10 years younger! I can only hope this works for me!

I am also writing Advair manufacturer with my experience;copies to FDA. I can only wonder if there are others as 'rare' as me? If so, let it be known. thanks

I

My husband has been on Advair first for bronchitis, now they say he has asthma. He was better after taking Prednisone, with the Advair, but during that time he became extremely irritable. I thought it was from the steroids, but now he's been off Prednisone for 2 weeks, and the rage continues. The tiniest things make him so mad, and he used to be so mild and easy going. It is starting to really scare my daughter, and it makes me so sad to see the change in her. I can't see living like this forever. Aside from that, the coughing and excessive mucus in his throat continue. Has anyone else had these extreme personality changes?
Thanks.

I was a 2:42 marathoner. I used a synthetic varnish containing isocyanates, pentanedione, organic solvents, in one 7-hour session; the company-recommended respirator did not in fact prevent transmission: Severe chemically- induced asthma, plus neuropathy, plus, plus.

I've used Advair 500/50 for six years. There have been many diverse effects from the chemical exposure; I'd not questioned any being Advair side effects. But the raised blood pressure was not initial, and certainly not a priori. Diminished hearing, diminished eyesight, anxiety. Again, not to lump in, but these questions are new for me. But the point I'd like to bring before this group is this: In August I was diagnosed with ehlichiosis , and was prescribed 28 days on doxycycline. They recommend eliminating many possible antagonists to the doxycycline. My respiratory capacity had been continually diminishing. My ongoing physician said this was to be expected and recommended only the next more powerful steroid. Not a good solution. Before all this I was strong; repaired myself. In the absence of constructive answers, wondering if the Advair was weakening me, making me dependent, I quit the Advair as well on beginning the doxycycline. Today is eleven days post-doxycycline. Eight days ago there began with increasing severity, a terrible wracking deep cough producing dark yellow mucus. Painful. No fever. Grevious throat from the wracking, but I question whether this is a cold or infection. It's just in my lungs. Maybe it's as though I've thrown off an epithelial coating. These past two days the quantity of deep yellow mucus is not as ready, but the wracking and coughing is more severe. And my lung capacity, my respiratory capacity, is frighteningly diminished. Until these past two days I'd considered this an infection, especially post-doxy. But it doesn't feel like an infection. And I'm scared. Is this because I quit the Advair abruptly after long regular use? Have any of you had a similar experience. Can you discuss the effects of abruptly discontinuing Advair. Have you stayed off it. What's happened to your respiratory capacity. Have you any professional studies, trials or experience to recommend. Thanks.

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.

All,
I've been taking Advair for 1 year. I'm on the smallest dose version 100/50 which you have to take twice a day. After a month of taking it, I starting to experience loss of voice and a skin fungus (discolorations patches) on my back and chest.

Advair pushes a steroid into your lungs to relax the muscles. After futher research, I discovered that the steriods actually surpress your immune system, leaving you more exposed to ailments that might be applicable to your body type, living environment and family history.

So, I started taking about 3000 mg of Vitamin C everyday. 1000 at breakfast, 1000 at lunch, 1000 before I go to bed.

It has helped with the skin fungus other physical ailments that otherwise, without a strong immune system, I would be suspectible to.

As for the loss of voice, I got off the advair for 1 week. My voice completely came back. Then decided to only take the Advair once a day, and only at night (I know you are not supposed to do that as per the prescription requirements, but I did it anyway). Typically when you get horse naturally, it takes sleeping over night (since your are not talking) to gradually recover your voice. So, I only take the advair a night, so any damage it would cost, my voice could recover too overnight, versus, taking it in the morning, and having to go to work, where I have to talk alot in my job.

I recommend you increase you Vitamin C intake, and do some research on the benefits of Magnesium supplement and it's positive effect in managing Asthma.

As always, remember to consult with your doctor about the supplements you want to take BEFORE you take them.

Good luck to all.

I have Cystic Fibrosis and am age 54 in a few months. I have cataracts and detaching vitreous, opthalmic conditions which are common to people 20 years older. The opthalmologist suggested that use of steroids over the years could have caused it. My use of steroids was very limited until age 40 when I started Flovent/Serevent inhalers. I believe the Advair, which became continuous use 4 years ago caused my eyes to degrade within one year of use. Please bring back Serevent and Flovent, and please discontinue powdered inhalers. That is in conflict with reactive airway disease in my opinion!!!

have had asthma for as long as i can remember. i am now 35. i started taking ad-vair about 3 yrs ago. i have since gained alot weight and have tried dieting,exercising to no avail. i also have phlegm all the time, at first i thought that advair was the best thing since sliced bread but now not so sure. i have the " moon face" always sleepy, always coughing, gained weight, moody, tender skin, if i do skip a dose i get sore on my behind just like with prednisone. it has the same side effects as prednisone i don't care that the dr.'s say it has a low dose of steroids i can't tell it and neither can my body. also have noticed my spine curving, numbness in my hands, fingers and arm for no reason. it is like when you bump it in just the right place it has the numb feeling but i didn't bump into anything. if i had i would have had a bruise, because i can barely touch something and bruise. i have tried getting off of it but then i wheeze and can't hardly get out of bed because i can't breathe so i need decide if the side effects are worth having, or if i can get over the withdrawl effects. if anyone has any suggestions please let me know.

i have been on it for 3 years and i started working out. and to my suprise i have beconme stronger at surpising rates. i dont know if thats normal. just wondering if there are some sort steroids in it and if there mioght be lng term sideffects but other wise its great

Posting as a witness to the side effects in my mother who is on the drug. My mother has severe asthma and has tried many different drugs over the last few years to try to control it. Advair is the latest of the bunch. While it works incredibly well to control the asthma her personality is so altered that I wonder if its really a solution. She is high strung and repetative I don't know weither it effects short term memory but its not uncommon for her to repeat the same story three or four times in the space of an hour to me, even the way she talks is frantic and unorganised. To those who would say that it could be something other then advair doing it... While on advair she experianced heart palpatations (another side effect of the drug) so severe she thought she was having a heart attack and went to the emergency. after this experiance she decided to go off the drug. It was amazing I actually had my inteligent articulate relaxed mother back! However the thing about this drug and all steroids really is that once you are on them it is very hard to go off. I think that Advair should only be taken by the people with the most severe asthma and if thats not you... get off before its too late!!!!.

I am 32 years old. I have had asthma since age 8.
I was prescribed Advair by my obgyn 1 1/2 yrs ago when pregnant. It helped my asthma tremendously. I had been using my albuterol inhaler up to 5 times a day prior to starting the Advair. However, my side effects have been consistent weight gain since having the baby - I weigh almost as much as when I was 9 months pregnant. And it's all in my mid section like many other people. I have always had a slim waist. My hair is also thinning on the top.
I have tried unsuccessfully to quit the Advair. I currently take the 100/50 and have cut back to once a day.
Is there any other long term asthma medication out there without the steroids?

I've been on it for about 4 months. It does seem to help but I've had problems with steriods (prednisone) taken as a result of colitis.
In the case of Advair I get the hoarse voice and sleeplessness.
I'm also concerned about the long term use of this drug on my lungs. It is a steroid. I have diffuctly in breathing, especially taking a deep breath.
Does anyone know of any studies on how safe Advair is for your lungs or the rest of your body.We have had very bad experiences with Steroids.

my 17 year old son needed a hip replacement as a result of steroids (not Advair) this summer.
BEWARE OF STEROIDS.
lets find out about Advair.
Does it have any adverse steroid Affects??
please let me know.

Thank you

Peter W
******

28 y/o male. I have used advair on and off for three years. I started on 100/50 twice a day and eventually reduced to once a day. Right now I am trying to wean myself off it completely; I haven't had a dose in 48 hours. I have been on some kind of inhaled corticosteroids for asthma since early childhood. I never had any issue with weight gain. The side effects I noticed with Advair have occasional heart palpitations and dizzyness, and loosing my voice. Since I have to speak publicly because of my job, the voice loss has been the worst. I wouldn't describe it as horseness, but rather a sort of vocal weakness or wateryness. I normally have a fairly deep, loud voice, and it comes back within 48 hours of discontinuing the advair. I tried every method of rinsing out my throat and mouth to avoid the voice loss, to no avial. As I said above, I have been 48 hours without a dose, and I feel fine. Wish me luck. I'm interested to see if I can make it without the steroids...its been over 20 years.

I am hearing that a lot of people are experiancing weight gain while taking Advair and your doctors are telling you that there isn't enough steriods to do this to your body; well I would like to say that I have had severe asthma since I was 12 years old. I went through puberty on steriods and yes they do make you gain weight. I took advair from about the age of 16 to 20. I was off all steriods altogether for about two years (turns out dry air is really good for asthma) I lost 55 pounds while off of advair. I didn't change my diet and I still exercised the same amount. I believe it was definelty the Advair. No I have been back on Advair for about a year and I have gained almost all of what I lost.

Ive gained about 30lbs in the last year since Ive been on Advair. Is it true that it has steroids similar to prednisone in it? Everytime Ive ever been on Pred for a short or extended period of time I always went through this weight gain, then dropped it. But now I cant live without Advair. If I go a day or 2 without it I have terrible asthma inflammation. These criminals have me hooked. So continue to take it and keep getting heavier, or stop and lose to asthma. What should I do? Is there an alternative? How come noone told me about this side effect? Why do drs think this is so safe but other sterroids are unsafe? Any answers would be greatly appreciated.

I had bronchitis, they gave me something called a "dosepack" which was steroids, it did terrible things to my voice... swollen throat, croaking, almost laryngitis.

With advair, it's just a swelling in the throat, but it's annoying enough that I want to reasearch alternatives.

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

I have suffered with aAsthma all my life. My brothers we all were premature and have bronchial issues. I have had allergies and shot along with acute asthma attacks that sent me to the hospital. One of my siblings almost died from his bronchial spasms. My mother was a smoker and she continued smoking while she was pregnant. We are living proof that smoking is devastating to your unborn child. Well, moving on foward I have taken Advair for about approxiamately three years. I was reluctant at first but my constant bronchial infections and asthma led my doctor to send me to an asthma specialist. I had taken steroid injections and steriod pills in the past when needed. Now this time it was different I had to follow the "program" according to my physcian.Now every day I would inhale into the purple disk my dosage was 500mg. and so started the drug induced trip of a lifetime ! The side effects for me were small at first but gradually they grew and even gained momentum! There was the hoarseness, weight gain, nervouseness, heart palpitations, depression, extreme bruising, asthma attacks, growths, complex endometrial cysts on my ovaries ( I attribute to the steriods my periods became irregular and light when I was taking the disk) . I also, developed sebacious cysts on my back and face. Three yars and it took a trip to Vegas over the summer to make me realize the connection!! I was leaving through photographs from the trip. I did not recognize my self. My face was round, my legs swollen and bruised. I am a health nut and even with the astma continued a regular routine to this day of runniong and weight training. I was irritable all the time, I had boughts of insomnia and woke up sometimes in a cold sweats. The steriod inhanced the hormonal changes. I am in my forties and expected some degree of flucuations but not to this degree. NONE of the woman in my family had ever experinced this before. I truley beleive the steriods interuppted my monthly cycle which effected the hormonal balance to a far higher degree than what should of happened to me. I stopped taking Advair approxiamtely 3 1/2 months ago. Since then my periods are back to normal ( I have not missed one yet ). Since, I stopped in August by October no more bruising, normal menstural flow, my face has go down, no more nervouseness..ect. I am currently taking Spivera with very few side affects..sometimes I develop a rash on face... big deal ( I will be closely watching side effects from now on) It still beats the harmful side effects of Advair. I will never take the purple disk again !!!

I have been Advair free for 8 weeks now.
I feel I am on the right track. My skin has improved greatly.
I am working on all natural remedies now and concentrating on losing the belly!
I'm starting a 6 week diet plan recommended for candiasis, which I'm sure a have this overgrown yeast, having been on steriods (the Advair)and antibiotics at least 3 times this year.
I'm recommending the following:
1) www.wholeapproach.com and look at symptoms of Candida and also their diet plan to kill the yeast.
2) www.earthclinic.com/CURES/candida.html and read about Jan's journey into curing her candida. It's very good.
3) I'm exploring the benefits of hydrogen peroxide therapy using a food grade 35% hydrogen peroxide. You might surf the web about this. I had to order the peroxide but am not going to start the suggested therapy until next week.

I'm hoping to report some good results in about 4-5 weeks; if you don't hear from me I overdid it!

my daughter and husband are both on advair she is 7years old i have notice a great amount of her gaining weight also her breast are starting to form she is only 7 yrs old could the steroids in the advair be causing her to develope much quickly than she is supose to she is a child that is over 100 pounds at the age of 7. thanks, steve & nichole hunt.

I have been on Advai 250/50 since Spring. I have had some laryngitis which I believed was cause by a bad cold I had . Then in June I started losing my voice continously and cannot get it back. I have been to one ENT who put me on Steroids for a week( no results). I went back a month later, my vocal cords still swollen and still no voice. This ENT wanted to do surgery right away and shave down the vocal cords. I went to get a 2nd opinion and the other ENT told me to discontinue my ADvair, since on of the side effects is Disphonia ( loss of voice). So I have discontinued the Advair. We shall see if this is the cause of my chronic Laryngitis.

I began taking advair October 2003 after the first case of brochitus in 20 years. I also turned 50 that year. I was asthmatic as a child, but had few occurences of wheezing during adulthood that I could remember in years. Always kept an Albuteral inhaler on hand just in case as some animals, smoky rooms, too much laughing, etc. could trigger the wheezing. Nothing I couldn't control with an inhaler and had never been hospitalized. Have always had allergies, excema but conrolled with Zyrtec and topical steriods.
I was 117 lbs. I would always gain 5 to 10 lbs. but could always bring it down when it was getting out of control. Occasional walking was my only exercise.
Within months, I started bleeding under the skin on my forearms. Only the top side. A bump made a large bruise, more like a dark purple spot. But most of the spots now are from the size of a dime to 2 inches in diameter. They start out deep red or purple, then fade as it is absorbed, which took a couple of weeks. But by then, I would have more. If I scratched gently due to excema it was a mess. I would wake up in the morning with more patches. Recently, it has started moving up past my elbow.
It has puzzled my dermatologist. The GP who prescribed Advair was not too concerned - I think he figures I'm the result of domestic violence. However, when I went to see him 2 months ago, my blood pressure was high and he wanted me to take blood pressure medicine. I had also gained 20 lbs. My blood work was fine.
I didn't even question the Advair until a couple of days ago. Why should I? My GP said it is the way to treat asthma now, before you get an attack. I felt it was a wonder drug - I haven't used an inhaler in over a 1-1/2 years. Over the last year I have tried eliminating anything I could think of that was causing this abnormal underskin bleeding. No aspirin, vitamins, sulfites, it goes on and on. It is like you can almost tear my skin.
Last week I broke a blood vessel in the white of my eye. The body is absorbing , but is this just a conincidence? I feel like my capilaries are disolving.
I'm not happy with the professional care I'm receiving from 2 difference doctors.
Stopped Advair 2 days ago. Anyone have this strange skin problem?

I am a registered respiratory therapist and like to read about side effects of respiratory medications. For those of you who are suffering from these harsh side effects know that there are alternatives to steroids. Ask your doctors about mast cell stabilizers or leukotriene inhibitors...
Please remember to wash your mouths thoroughly after adminstering Advair to prevent what is called Candida (thrush) an oropharyngeal fungal infection.

Advair is a drug that is delivered in 100/250/500 microgram (1.0 x 10-1 g) doses to the lungs. Research has show that there is no systemic residual fluticisone (steriods) found in your circulation. Unlike prednisone it is delivered straight to the lungs, acting only on the lungs. As for the long acting bronchodialotor salmeterol, it is very similar to albuterol chemically but acts for a longer period of time. I don't think advair is causing all of these problems. Have been on this for over 2 years and significantly controls my asthma and the two components of advair have been used safetly for many years. They have been proven in clinical trials and have brought great relief to many.

Try working out and eating better. Stop worrying about yourselves and do something interesting. It will take your mind off your weird side effects, that are mainly created by your mind.

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.

all the people closely examining their symptoms and trying to figure the cause just check if they have used any setroid sprays for their nose(allergic rhintis)/cause an inhaled spray causes much greater side effects than a inhaled advair puff.its ironical that docs say advair doesnt enter ur system but what wud they say when they prescribe steroid sprays for nasal allergies?ok i am happy that i did find a way out of steroids and steroid side effects.i am using homeopath and its been 8 months now/i am not reacting to dust at all/the remed for dust allergy is bromine 1M in homeopahty/to the disbeleivers just tr the remedy/of course one shud alwas be under expert guidance/but there r no side effects here.

Asthma is under control. Allergens seem to have little effect anymore. Gained about 15% in before/after weight. I am a male, but have noticed increase in chest breast area. I have steady(daily) leg cramps. Have noticed vision change but maybe due to age. I am 47 on Advair for approx 9 months. Had previous C7 back injury. Thru exercise and stretching was symptom free for nearly 4 years, it came back within 1-2 months using advair. Dr. says coincidence on the back. He did admit advair to cause cramping like other steroids as they rob sodium from the muscles. I have noticed sore throat and bumps in throat also especially if I do not drink a glass of water after rinsing my mouth from usage. I am tempted to withdraw from it, but I hear it needs to be a gradual withdrawal. Want to talk to doc about it, anyone know about discontinuing it??

I have been on Advair since 2001 and it has been the miracle drug. I used to have to do nebs twice a day and was using my rescue inhaler constantly. When I would get a cold for flu I would end up in the hospital and would have to take steriods for a couple of weeks.

A couple of weeks ago, I began having heart palpatations. I went to my internal medicine doctor and she ran many tests to exclude any underlying heart problem. All tests came back normal except for the fact that I was running PVCs. At first, the doctor didn't want me to go off the Advair. I mentioned getting off of it and taking Singulair and she was fine with it, but wanted me to consult with my pulmonoloigst. After speaking with him, he decided that we could try taking me off the Advair.

It has been a week and I feel pretty good. I have used my rescue inhaler, but not excessively and I have not had to do any breathing treatments.

There are a couple things that I have noticed the most since I have stopped Advair - my knees are not hurting going up and down stairs and I am starting to feel as if I am not so swollen. I have also gained about 20 pounds since I started taking Advair.

Hopefully everything will work out.

I would be interested to know if anyone that has gone off Advair has actually lost weight?

Used it, in conjunction with a salmeterol reliever, to get off steroids. Inceased suddeness and severity of attacks, twice having to be ambulance driven to the ER. Absolutely unable to shed the 60 pounds put on with steroids- despite having been a healthy weight for 35 years, before taking these drugs. Have now given up all but the occaisional use of Salmeterol reliever, all symptoms gone.

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.

Hi. I have been on Advair for about 2 years. I started at 100 level, had a bad cold in Jan. and went to 250. Got another cold and laryngitis in April and went to 500 level. The laryngitis went on for 7 weeks. I still have a raspy, rough voice, always clearing my throat. By chance, I decided to look up side effects of Advair. My gosh, I can't believe what I've seen here! I've put on 10 pounds since spring, have been going to voice therapy weekly since June. I have pain in my hips so bad it wakes me up every night. I've been eating ibuprophen like candy, along with Tylenol PM every night just so I can get to sleep. So, I've gone back to the 250 level that I had. So far, so good. I'm going to try to get off of this. My brother, also an asthmatic, began running last year. He has increased his lung capacity to the point where he no longer needs his flovent, just albuterol before running. A co-worker told me about a book he has, How to become a Former Asthmatic, that helped him come off steroids by following a series of breathing exercises that also increase lung capacity. Anyway, that's my plan of attack to get off Advair. Unfortunately, like the others, my asthma has never been in better control. I can even be around cats for the first time in my life. Life is full of choices. I choose to live without the side effects of Advair.

I would like to Thank all of you for taking the time to inform others about your experience of side effects from advair. I have learned so much! And I'd like to thank Guest 4309 for making the connection between yeast infection and advair. After doing a google search for yeast infection, I found many reputable sites (Duke University, urology.org, etc.) that state that steroids and corticosteroids (that's what advair is) can and do cause yeast infections (Candida, thrush, skin infections, sinsus and ear infections/itching). I AM BLOWN AWAY THAT MY ALLERGIST TOLD ME FOR A YEAR THAT THE CONTAST ITCHY THROAT and EARS and LOSS of VOICE, among other problems, WERE NOT CAUSED BY ADVAIR! Like Guest 4309 I wish I had NEVER taken advair. I am off it now and I'm taking glucosamine and acidophilus and eating lots of plain yogurt. Let me tell you, I already feel better. ANd I have sent for the book "Conquering Candida" on www.half.com for $7.50. I'll let people know what happens to me. ANd, please let us all know what works for you!

I did not like the effects of the steriods that were prescribed to me for my asthma so I looked for a more natural way to ease my breathing difficulty. RespirActin is a liquid herbal treatment for when I am having difficulty and RespirActin Tea is what I consume a couple of times a week to maintain repiratory health. Ask your local health food store for what they would recommend. Getting rid of my two cats was not an option. It has been a year and I have not returned to the doctors for any reason.

I have been using Advair 500 for 11 days. It was prescribed for asthma, which I have never had before. I was diagnosed with walking pneumonia in April and then concurrent with the pneumonia - asthma. I have been to two asthma/allergy specialists recently. One wanted to keep treating me with antibiotics and I said no. The second specialist prescribed the Advair. I immediately felt better...wheezing was gone inside of a week - completely. I am supposed to use the 500 for a month and then go to the 250. While I haven't gained any weight, I am unable to sleep, feel warm all the time, and am experiencing migraine type headaches, and neck pain. I've read some of the posts here and I am concerned that I've read about people stopping the Advair. Shouldn't one be weaned off the Advair like other steroids such as prednisone??? This is all very new to me and I just haven't felt well in over 2 months...want to get over it and get on with life. Thank you!!!

I have been on Advair for 7 months. I started on 500, then went to 250 and now am trying 100. I have gained 30 lbs - even with going to the gym regularly and eating less than 1500 calories a day. When I tell my dtr I am gaining weight from Advair he laughs and tells me to eat less. And that any other symptoms I have are not from this medicine. I had also found a lump in my calf by my ankle and had to have an MRI. They said it is a 'limpoma', a lump attributable to steriods. So now I have to have that cut out and will not be able to run for quite some time, which means more weight gain. I don't know what to do. Since I have started taking it, I have never been able to breathe better. And I have had severe ashtma for years. When I try to wean myself off, I immediately have a bad attack. I want to stop taking it, but don't know how to get off. Even switching to the lower dosage this week has made me lethargic, dizzy and barely able to keep awake. What a nightmare. My body is so bloated and heavy, I can't fit into any clothes. And I can barely run more than 2 miles without my chest burning. This is from someone who has run a marathon before no problem. We need a new solution for asthma - Advair is NOT it.

I have been on this medication for the last 2 weeks .I never had asthma . I had a case of acute bronchitis with wheezing it required 2 day hospital stay/steriods and inhalers.I am off prednisone and suppose to take this inhaler for 12 weeks.
I am experiencing :
Hoarse voice/Bloating/nerverousness/dizziness very painful neck spasms that radiate down my left arm to my hand.
My gut is to quit. I go bac to work on Monday. I am an er case manager I will be seeking out the pulmonologist to have a heart to heart!!

I meant to puit this in my earlier post but had to leave, so here is a continuation... My eyes were also becoming involved. I was getting *blurred vision*. I suggested to my doctors that the Advair was causing my *labored breathing* but they both poo-pooed the idea. So, being the trusted soul that I am, I went on taking the Advair, continuing to suffer, when I wasn't having trouble breathing before I started taking it. The Advair dosage was raised twice to the full dosage. After six months of treaments and steroids that weren't helping, I gave up and took matters into my own hands and simply stopped taking it. I called my family doctor and told him I was doing so and he agreed. The symptoms eased up within a week. He told me that some patients can't tolerate Advair. There are alternatives, but please, I urge you to be careful as some of them are similar to Advair. I'm not sure if it was the kind of steroid or the fact that the combined medication is in powdered form that triggered my side effects.

There is also a discussion board here where everyone can talk to each other.

I wish you well.

I had been on advair since it came on the market. I have suffered from increased heart rate and increased blood pressure. I complained in Nov. to doctor who proceeded to decreae the dose. I continued to have the same symptoms and in addition was having bouts of tachycardia and possibly skipped beats that were very disturbing. I again went and this time was told that by decreasing the dose that it was only the steroid and that the salmeterol was the same in all. Duh, why did he decrease the dose when it had no affect on the salmeterol. Now he decided to stop it altogether. My heart rate is back in a normal range and my blood pressure has come down to a very good reading. I do not have the the increased heart rate. However what I am experiencing is an increase in pain due to arthritis in my joints. i am wondering if this is because I have stopped the advair and the steroid that is in it. Has anyone else had that reaction after long time use of advair and then stopping it.