Advair

[Olddrum]

My husband has been on the Advair 100/50 Diskus twice per day for about four months. He is having severe fatigue in his arms, has difficulty lifting them. The doctor said this was a side effect of the medication. Is this reversable once he is off the disk? is this a common side effect? what is next? thank-you for your help, I'm very worried

[National Jewish]

I can understand your concern.  Advair™ Diskus® (fluticasone/salmeterol) is a combination of an inhaled steroid called Flovent® (fluticasone propionate) and an inhaled long-acting bronchodilator called Serevent® (salmeterol xinafoate).  Muscle fatigue is a common side effect of steroids.  It is less likely to happen with inhaled steroids, but is certainly possible.  The muscle fatigue is reversible.  Usually it goes away within days of being off the diskus.  It may not be completely gone, but should continue to gradually improve over time.  Generally Advair™ Diskus® (fluticasone/salmeterol) is used indefinitely to treat a breathing problem.  Check with your husband’s doctor to see what options would work for him.  Also routine exercise may be recommended to prevent or decrease muscle fatigue.

[Bean66]

I find that very interesting since I have been on Advair for a couple years.  I have also had problems with my arms but no doctor has ever suggested Advair as a cause to me.  Hopefully someone will post further explanation for us.

[Concerned lady]

You can telephone the LUNG LINE nurses, by calling 1-800-222-LUNG(5864), between 8am & 4:30pm, Mountain time, to get more information about possible connections between your medication and your symptoms. If you can be seen at Nat'l Jewish, they could find out what's happening, and help you get better.

Also, here's a link that describes possible adverse (bad) side effects of Advair. Discuss this with your asthma doc, and with your pharmacist:

http://www.rxlist.com/cgi/generic/advair_ad.htm

Here's a link that describes a supposedly rare bad side effect of Advair, a type of "eosinophilia" condition, called Churg-Strauss Syndrome. Discuss this possibility also, with your asthma doc, and with your pharmacist:

http://www.emedicine.com/derm/topic78.htm

Good luck to you. Keep asking questions.

Concerned lady
<a href=http://cantbreathesuspectvcd.com>http://cantbreathesuspectvcd.com</a>

[skyhawk72]

Hi,
I had a temporary breathing difficulty, ( I do not have asthma) but my doctor prescribed ADVAIR. Immediately after inhaling it my
condition worsened, I felt a resistance at inspiration,
a cough started, and I feel irritation in my lungs when
I inspire. I feel fatigued, but most of all it feels I am
not getting air in my lungs.

I do not use ADVAIR and have discontinued it. I hope these
effects are reverisible. If anyone can comment on that.

Thanks