8 Drugs your Dr. wouldn't take but will give you???

[Rena705]

I was just reading that article about 8 Drugs your Dr. wouldn't take and holy cow...what a story I have now!!!

My lying gp was prescribing me Advair since last January when I began having trouble breathing and was asking to be referred to the Lung Specialist.  How the heck was I to know that this drug can cause LEG CRAMPS!!!  She said that I have COPD and that this Advair is what is used to control COPD!

When I was finally referred to the Lung Specialist 7 MONTHS LATER and the Lung Specialist diagnosed me with Asthma, not COPD, he immediately took me off of the Advair and put me on Spireva and Symbicort and Ventolin (as required).  Of course when I went to the lung dr. he asked me my symptoms that I am having which I believe are due to MS and of course I told him about the pain in my legs...hmmm...did he KNOW that some of the pain might be due to the Advair but just refrained from telling me so????  Geez...I am so sick of secrets and all the b.s. involved in this falacy called healthcare!  Has anyone else had the leg cramping symptom of Advair?

Lots of Hugs,

Rena

[Lulu54]

Hi Rena,
I read that article as well and posted the link to my womenheart friends.  It scares me that 6 of the 8 also have serious heart side effect possibilities.  My husband is on Advair, but sees he pulmonologist on Monday - time for him to have a serious discussion.

Here's an interesting interview with a former drug company rep  on manipulating doctors

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kOW8LNU2hFE&NR=1

In a related post, one of the women there put up this link - even if it is only half true the stats on bad medicine killing or injuring us are frightening.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FPI7zdGdqo4&feature=related

Be well,
Laura

[Sarahsmom46]

Welcome back from your trip.  I looked at your pictures and how I envy you.  Looks like you all had a great time.

How long were you on the Advair before you noticed leg cramps?  What dosage were you on?  I ask because I had a mishap with an asthma drug called Foradil which my lung doc thought for sure was the cause of an episode of leg weakness, pain, and stumbling.  That happened 2 years ago and eventually ran its course in a month or so.  But, now after I got sick in May, the new doctor said it was not likely caused by the drug.  First of all he said that it is a rare side effect and 2nd you would have needed to be on it awhile for this to happen.  The doctors are now considering that this is some type of exacerbation either like MS or MS.  I mention this to you because its possible that this is an MS symptom as you are already diagnosed.  What do you think?  No one knows your body better than you do.  Good topic.

Julie

[Sunnytoday]

Rena,
Yes leg cramp come from these type of inhaled drugs used to control asthma....
I can only say that because I've been on and off of Advair for years now, and my mom also take another type Q-var.

The cramps primarily strike the legs, and cause you to lurch out of bed at night to stand on your leg to stretch them out.

I was warned of this by a dear doc, and a pharmacy tech, and have dealt with it.... usually it only occurs during dosage changes, or the first few months on or off of the drug.

Becuase my asthma is more tempermental now, I am not on it all the time so I have them a lot more... and have learned to never point my toes or I will end up in a ball pulling out that terrible foot cramp or stretching that leg cramp.

If this is from the meds, these cramps should disapear completely after being off the ADVAIR for  a little while.

((hugs)))
~Sunnytoday~