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Respiratory Disorders (Expert Forum)
stopping Advair
Answered by
This forum is for questions and support regarding lung and respiratory issues such as: Allergies, Asthma, Bronchitis, Colds - Flu, Chronic Cough, COPD, Cystic Fibrosis, Emphysema, Fibrosis, Lung Abscess, Nasal Polyps, Pleurisy, Pneumonia, Sarcoidosis, Sinusitis, Tuberculosis.
stopping Advair
by ccctalks, May 20, 2003 12:00AM
Hello - I was diagnosed with asthma for the first time in my life a year ago, age 50. No allergies, no reason for the sudden 'asthma'. My doctor has never been 100% sure it was true asthma but put me on Advair while I was sick. Advair is the only thing I use - 100/50 - and have had no symptoms whatsoever for several months now. I should also mention that the rescue inhalers I was given never really worked for me.
I went to a new internist a couple of months ago and he too was a little skeptical of the asthma diagnosis, especially since there is no family history and my age. He went on to tell me that he has had patients who were treated for asthma when what they really had was a bronchospasm, that these people would be put on Advair for awhile, taken off the Advair when they were better, and never had another problem and were fine. Now, both this doctor and my pulmonologist have suggested eventually taking me off the Advair to see how I do but up until now I've been a little scared to so that, for obvious reasons. Well, after seeing this internist, I decided to go ahead and try as I decided I would never know if I could go without it until I actually do.
I have now gone without it for a week with no problems. Would it be safe to assume that this is not asthma then? If it was, would I have experienced a return of symptoms before now?
Thank-you so much....
I went to a new internist a couple of months ago and he too was a little skeptical of the asthma diagnosis, especially since there is no family history and my age. He went on to tell me that he has had patients who were treated for asthma when what they really had was a bronchospasm, that these people would be put on Advair for awhile, taken off the Advair when they were better, and never had another problem and were fine. Now, both this doctor and my pulmonologist have suggested eventually taking me off the Advair to see how I do but up until now I've been a little scared to so that, for obvious reasons. Well, after seeing this internist, I decided to go ahead and try as I decided I would never know if I could go without it until I actually do.
I have now gone without it for a week with no problems. Would it be safe to assume that this is not asthma then? If it was, would I have experienced a return of symptoms before now?
Thank-you so much....
Doctor's Answer
by National Jewish, May 23, 2003 12:00AM
, May 23, 2003 12:00AM
Asthma can start at any age even when there is no family history of asthma. Not everyone with asthma has allergies. Asthma is an ongoing lung problem with
· Inflammation or swelling of the airways. Some long-term control medicines, like Advair™ Diskus® (fluticasone/salmeterol), decrease and prevent the swelling.
· Increased sensitivity of the airways to a variety of things that make asthma worse. These things are called triggers. Infections are a common trigger.
· Obstruction of airflow due to the tightening of the muscles that surround the airways. This is called bronchospasm. Quick-relief medicines relieve the bronchospasm by relaxing the tight muscles around the airways. Sometimes the mucus glands in the airways make lots of thick mucus that decrease the opening of the airway more.
Medicines that are used to prevent asthma can be separated into 2 types. Long-term control medicines are taken every day, even when you do not have any asthma problems. This will keep your lungs working well and prevent asthma attacks. Quick-relief medicines are taken when asthma problems happen. A rescue inhaler is an inhaled quick-relief medicine. In addition asthma symptoms may be prevented during activity when a rescue inhaler is used before the activity. This is called pre-treating. Most people with asthma need both types of medicines.
Reactive airway disease (RAD) is another term for asthma that is used when the problem is not clearly asthma. Inflammation in the airways can cause wheezing and/or coughing. Many viral infections, most notably the flu, can cause inflammation of the airways of the lungs. Even after the infection has cleared, it is possible for the inflammation to linger. This inflammation can last a couple of weeks. Sometimes this inflammation may linger for 3 to 6 months. The inflammation will eventually go away on it own. However using a long-term control medicine, like Advair™ Diskus® (fluticasone/salmeterol), will help clear it away quicker.
What I can say for sure is that the Advair™ Diskus® (fluticasone/salmeterol) has decreased the inflammation in the airways of your lungs so that you have had no symptoms whatsoever for several months now. It is difficult to say if the inflammation was due to asthma or RAD. If you experience a return of your symptoms you will need to see your doctor to learn the nature of the problem. To know for sure if your symptoms are due to asthma you will need to have testing done. Generally testing starts with a simple breathing test called spirometry. This test provides detailed information about how your lungs are working. It will show if there is obstruction in your airways. Sometimes this test is repeated after you have used a rescue inhaler. When there is a 20% increase the test is positive for asthma.
· Inflammation or swelling of the airways. Some long-term control medicines, like Advair™ Diskus® (fluticasone/salmeterol), decrease and prevent the swelling.
· Increased sensitivity of the airways to a variety of things that make asthma worse. These things are called triggers. Infections are a common trigger.
· Obstruction of airflow due to the tightening of the muscles that surround the airways. This is called bronchospasm. Quick-relief medicines relieve the bronchospasm by relaxing the tight muscles around the airways. Sometimes the mucus glands in the airways make lots of thick mucus that decrease the opening of the airway more.
Medicines that are used to prevent asthma can be separated into 2 types. Long-term control medicines are taken every day, even when you do not have any asthma problems. This will keep your lungs working well and prevent asthma attacks. Quick-relief medicines are taken when asthma problems happen. A rescue inhaler is an inhaled quick-relief medicine. In addition asthma symptoms may be prevented during activity when a rescue inhaler is used before the activity. This is called pre-treating. Most people with asthma need both types of medicines.
Reactive airway disease (RAD) is another term for asthma that is used when the problem is not clearly asthma. Inflammation in the airways can cause wheezing and/or coughing. Many viral infections, most notably the flu, can cause inflammation of the airways of the lungs. Even after the infection has cleared, it is possible for the inflammation to linger. This inflammation can last a couple of weeks. Sometimes this inflammation may linger for 3 to 6 months. The inflammation will eventually go away on it own. However using a long-term control medicine, like Advair™ Diskus® (fluticasone/salmeterol), will help clear it away quicker.
What I can say for sure is that the Advair™ Diskus® (fluticasone/salmeterol) has decreased the inflammation in the airways of your lungs so that you have had no symptoms whatsoever for several months now. It is difficult to say if the inflammation was due to asthma or RAD. If you experience a return of your symptoms you will need to see your doctor to learn the nature of the problem. To know for sure if your symptoms are due to asthma you will need to have testing done. Generally testing starts with a simple breathing test called spirometry. This test provides detailed information about how your lungs are working. It will show if there is obstruction in your airways. Sometimes this test is repeated after you have used a rescue inhaler. When there is a 20% increase the test is positive for asthma.
If you want a more definitive diagnosis as to whether or not you have asthma, you might ask your docs about a methacholine test; this would help establish whether or not you have asthma.
Starion