New Warnings for 3 Asthma Drugs

Can the use of Advair cause ulcers? I have had more trouble with my breathing since I started on Advair and now my stomach burns, feels swollen and rigid.

Diane Bernet wrote:

Can the use of Advair cause ulcers? I have had more trouble with my breathing since I started on Advair and now my stomach burns, feels swollen and rigid.

I've been on Advair for years and for the past 2 years I've had bad ulcer in the mouth, troat and sinus area. not sure about the stomach. I also think I've becaume photosensitive from it. doctor is checking this out right now. I had a very bad phototoxin reaction last week and I'm taking prednisone right now.

I love advair--I don't know what I'd do without it. However--- I have severe sore throat daily. And I rinse with salt water every day to clear the residue from inhaling. So I don't know what to do. Do I choose to breathe but have sore throat or not breathe. what a choice.

does prolonged use of Advair cause cataracts?

Des wrote:

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I've been on Advair for years and for the past 2 years I've had bad ulcer in the mouth, troat and sinus area. not sure about the stomach. I also think I've becaume photosensitive from it. doctor is checking this out right now. I had a very bad phototoxin reaction last week and I'm taking prednisone right now.

Any news from your doctor? I think I may have the same thing.

judy wrote:

does prolonged use of Advair cause cataracts?

If you are still listening...I too started advair in January, post pneumania. Sorry, that I started with the stuff...Now yes, I have been diagnosed with cataracts...besides being sick all the time, sore throats, post nasal drip,ear infections, upper resporatory...wheezing, bronchitis etc, etc. What exactly is it fixing? It has actually hurt me, especially finding out that I now have cataracts. My breathing was never so bad, that I complained about it. I'm really annoyed at my doctor for putting me on the stuff. I pulled the plug myself last week and stopped all the meds. Advair, Singulair, Nasonex, Zertec, Biaxin. I know you're not suppose to just stop...but I couldn't stand the bloating...headaches or any of the other symptoms that I ended up with. I think I must have known I wanted off and kept forgeting to take a dose here another one there. My blood pressure too, shot through the roof. Don't recommend quitting outright like I did(Please Do have more guts then me and tell your doctor--I'll be letting mine know in a few days..Oh boy!!!)...from the side effects I've had so far it has not been easy..and I have feared I'd land in the hospital a couple of times...It seems to be getting better now I am on day 6 off. Hope you didn't make the same mistake I did.

I have been on Advair for 3 days and noticed extreme anxiety, foot cramps and instant weight gain. I have called my doctor to get something else. It helped my asthma instantly but I can't live like this.

Are you getting the full benefit of your Advair disk? Try cracking the disk open when you are through and see if there are any doses left in the blister packet.

I have been an Advair user for several years. Within the last year or two, I have many times felt that the disk was empty....I couldn't seem to get the feel of anything coming out of the disk. I just assumed that maybe my breathing problems (asthma) were getting progressively worse. Never suspecting the disk, I threw them away when they were used up.

Recently, I became suspicious and cracked open the disk when I was through with the 60 doses for the month. Imagine my shock and surprise to see that I had gotten less than a THIRD of all the doses!!! The blister packet still showed the unused doses!!

I am on advair and I also take Relafin for pain.. everytime I am put on Levaquin antibiotics my pain gets worse.. then I found out that with the combination of all 3 makes people with arthrities worse.. anyone else have this problem..

I am only eighteen years old and my doctor told me a few years ago that I had developed asthma and began taking Advair. I developed a cataract shortly after, then stopped taking the medicine and just had eye surgery this week. I know that this is a side effect and it had to have been from this medicine because I am too young to have a cataract otherwise. Make sure that no one takes this and has to suffer with these problems!

advair works for me when i take it.. i tend to forget to take it.. but i know when i dont.. also, i have to rinse my mouth after each use because i have gotten throat infections and irritations - thrush.. and sore throats.

I was diagnosed w/asthma in 2005 and given Advair for low vital capacity. I was 62 then and have been treated almost continuously for severe allergies for 35 years.

I was given Advair. I took it and found it immediately calming, but only slightly helpful for the breathing. I suspected that it wasn't really asthma since I didn't have classic symptoms, only shortness of breath and bronchial spasm when I walked.

I took it for several months, but signs of adrenal insufficiency began to appear--kitchen nicks that would not heal for a week or two (added 60 mg. of zinc would heal them in 2 days). So, I got off of it w/only symptoms of depression, irritability for about a week.

I have gotten back on it off and on during heavy pollen seasons, most recently for 3 weeks after getting the flu.

I saw the eye doctor yesterday for the first time in 18 months since I notice some vision problems on the computer and when reading. My vision has not changed since the last visit, but he did see the beginnings of cataracts.

I have also had good teeth, but ended up w/an abcess and broken molar 9 months ago. I suspected the Advair. I had to have a root canal w/an endontist. I told him I suspected the Advair since I've always had good teeth, with problems only when under great physical and emotional stress (and I'm relaxed and retired now).

He said that dentists were seeing many problems with people who were taking Advair.

As soon as the eye doctor said cataract (however early it is), I suspected the Advair.

It's another scary drug. For me, I'll weigh the cost/benefit ratio to the inhaled corticosteroids and cycle off and on it when necessary.

Every time i take advair i bloat terribly. My hands and ankles swell up so much that i cant even move my rings and it hurts to walk. One week i went to an aunt's house for a small vacation and was forced to take my advair daily bc she smokes. I gained 10 lbs in that one week. when i stopped taking it, most of it came off immediately. What other drugs are out there that i can take that wont give me this side effect.

I started taking Advair in January and I was so excited to be able to breathe (although not about the $184 it cost me)! BUT I have always been an anxious person and about three weeks into the regiment I was really nervous, constantly. While on vacation I broke down into a panic attack...something that I've only had two other times in my life during incredibly tragic moments. In this case, I was simply driving to the airport and our flight was delayed 30 minutes. Nothing big! During the next month and a half, I become almost a complete recluse and became afraid of public places, driving in cars, and going to work. I had about 4-5 panic attacks a week! It never occurred to me what was happening because I was so out of my element. It was my boyfriend and best friend who forced me to go to my doctor. The doctor said not to worry about it, it'll pass! I immediately switched doctors and stopped Advair. I am currently in treatment for the anxiety disorder because although it diminished almost 60% after I quit the inhaler, I am now so afraid of having panic attacks I need to be on medication and go through cognitive behavioral therapy to retrain my mind. Now I can't blame all of my problems on Advair, as my parents both deal with depression. But I realize that I wasn't myself while I was on the inhaler and I was having a serious problem. I hope that if you chose to try this drug you are able to notice if something like this is happening to you and that you have a doctor who believes you. RESEARCH AND EXPLORE YOUR OPTIONS! Good luck to everyone!

advair 500/50 did not make my asthma settle completly. i finaly got off it and went to symbicort 160/4.5 , what a difference. I dont need to use my resuce in hailer. dont think i have used my resuce in hailer in over a month. SYMBICORT is great..

After several years of taking Advair, I developed cataracts in both eyes in my mid-40's.

Read thWall Street Journal on either the 11th or 12th of December. Talks about how the FDA panel voted on the use of Advair. Says benefits outweigh risks. I guess breathing is better than not breathing, but at what cost. Many side effects from the drug. After reading all posts from above, one would have to believe it causes cataracts. Build up of drug in system after years of use. Use something else. I used to work for Glaxo--they are a **** company. Wouldn't trust them or any other pharmaceutical company. Reps are ok--management are crooks.
People have to realize a 'drug is a drug' because it comes with 'side effects' and people react differently to the product.
These companies make the governer of Illinois look like a saint. That should say it all.

I have had sever asthma since childhood started at age 6 and worsened at are 12. I am 55 in Jan. and been on Advair for 10 years and not had any side affects. I had taken predisone for years even she I was pregnant in 1976 and 1977 as if was the only thing that would control my asthma and even then did not work that well. I had to take it every other day. I started taking Theophylline in 1977 after my daughter was born and it seemed to help but, I still had asthma attacks. Since I have been on Advair and singulair also still taking Uniphil I have not had any attacks or had to rush off to the Emergency room. I am active, ski in the winter and swim in the summer. I also ride a bike too. Although there is always a risk. These medicines have improved my quality of life. I missed out on so much when I was younger and felt like I was sick all the time. I get colds in the winter and have trouble getting rid of them usually turns into a Sinus infection. I wear reading glasses like most 50 year olds but, I guess I have been lucky after reading the posting above.

I stumbled onto this website by accident. I do not have asthma but sold Advair and Flovent years ago.(look at the post before the last) Good products--but you can develop 'tolerance' to the drug. This means that you may need more and it may not work. This affects real people and real lives. Do your own research on these products--get the package insert (or called 'prescribing informaion' online). Many doctors and pharmacists don't give you that when you receive product because people would just look at the side effects and bother the office and not take the drug. Most doctors are good, some are dunces. Don't believe everything you hear. Just like we were told to save and invest in the stock market.
Any problem with that advice at this time?

I am a respiratory therapist and find many COPD and asthma patients benefit from these drugs; however, they are "drugs" and should be treated as such.If you find the drug is not beneficial to you or you have an adverse reaction- you must talk with your doctor. These drugs should not be used as a "rescue" inhaler- they are strictly maintance drugs. You may have to try a different inhaler until you find one that works for you. My advise- RINSE your mouth after using any of the above(steriod)inhalers! As always, ask your physician and/or pharmacist when you obtain a new prescription/drug- that is part of their job!!