Advair is a preventative medication for those people suffering from asthma and COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.) This medication is said to help patients with those lung problems from experiencing asthma attacks; Advair is not a rescue inhaler. Many doctors prescribe it as a daily-used medication to their asthma/COPD patients. But, along with the possible positive affects that Advair may give to its users, there is a long list of side effects that may cause several discomforts for patients.
I was on Advair for three years as a daily, preventative medication to “treat” (not cure, but help to decrease issues and attacks) asthma. Although it has been four years since my (ex) doctor put me on Advair, I can still remember him sitting down and discussing the long list of possible side effects. These side effects included panic attacks, dry mouth, headaches (sometimes caused by blurred vision), and quickened pulses. My initial thoughts were well, fine. I have been warned of those side effects from every asthma related medication I have ever taken; any one who has used some type of steroid inhaler (whether it be preventative, such as Advair, or a rescue inhaler during an attack) knows that those side effects are common. I would assume that most people would realize that putting a medication that contains a steroid in to your body is going to have some sort of varrying results and side effects, depending on each individual patient’s reaction. So, I took my Advair inhaler sample with me and went on my way.
I dealt with the basic side effects using very common treatments. My mouth was constantly dry; so, I carried a bottle of water with me no matter where I was. (It is a big plus to keep a glass of water by your bed at night to save you from stumbling to your kitchen during the night.)
I also experienced dry patches on the inside of my nose; I tried many facial moisturizers to try and solve this issue, but the only thing that worked for me in the long run was Vasoline. I’d put a pen tip sized amount on a q-tip and rub the q-tip on the very inside of my nostrils. This can be an uncomfortable feeling at first, but once you are used to the slight greasy feel, you will much rather deal with that then the dry, red, and burning skin patches that can develop.
As with any other steroid medication I have been on, my heartbeat was always above normal. For many people, this can lead to a feeling of panic and cause an anxiety attack. I dealt with this Advair side effect for nearly a year until I randomly signed up for a yoga class at my university. I missed a few days of class due to a bad asthma episode and had to explain to my instructor why I was out; instead of being upset and counting attendance (well, my lack thereof) against me, he sat down with me and taught me several yoga exercises that helped me to calm down when I felt that panic from a quickened heartbeat coming on.
The exercises were simple; he’d basically have me sit Indian style (cross-legged) on the floor, relax, close my eyes, and work on breathing deeply and steady. Throughout the semester, he continued to work with me on breathing exercises; to this day, I still use the techniques he taught me to deal with that horrible, panic feeling side effect. So, if you suffer from that same side effect due to Advair, I would invest in a local yoga class. Speak with your instructor before you register for the class and ask if he/she will be able to work with you on your breathing techniques. Although the exercises you will learn in yoga will not actually slow down your heartbeat, they will help you to remain calm instead of feeling overwhelmed and panicked.
During my time using Advair, I also noticed a significant change in my vision. Many people typically disregard this side effect and do not always take it seriously. But, when taking Advair, you need to realize that this medication does include a steroid. This steroid can cause many negative side effects that can cause you problems for the rest of your life. If you do experience blurred vision, head to your local eye doctor. Your doctor will be able to help make sure your eyes are taken care of with a new glasses/contact prescription.
Now, for the major side effect and entire reason that I no longer use Advair. I noticed during the first year of being on this medication that my asthma seemed to be getting worse, not better. I went to my asthma specialist repeatedly and complained, but he said I was just having more asthma attacks and gave me an at-home nebulizer and liquid steroid. For over a year, I basically lived on that nebulizer and constant visits to my doctor for steroid shots to help my lungs function.
Shortly after that first year on Advair, I was admitted to the hospital (for the first time in my life) due to severe asthma attacks. I spent almost four days there hooked up to oxygen and living on steroids. When I left the hospital, I felt better for a while and believed my doctor when he told me that my asthma had just gotten worse as I’d gotten older.
Almost exactly a year later, I was put in to the hospital again for the same amount of time. Afterwards, my doctor had me chase around to multiple specialists to run tests on my lung and heart functions. I was obviously having asthma issues, and these steroids they kept putting me on were not working. I was a nervous mess; my heartbeat was nearly double the average person’s heartbeat, and I was not allowed to be left alone even when I slept in case I had a major attack.
After two months of various testing and being told my heart and actual lung functions were fine, I picked up my files from my (ex) asthma specialist and went to a new specialist. The moment I (breathlessly) sat down in her exam room for the first time, she asked me what preventative inhaler I was using, which I quickly replied “Advair.”
At that point, I was told that one of the major side effects of Advair is that it can do the opposite of what it is supposed to do for some people. So, in my case, instead of making my asthma better, it was literally making it ten times worse. She quickly took me off of Advair and put me on another preventative inhaler (Symbicort.)
That was over a year ago, and I have not had a single asthma attack since then. Of course, my breathing is not perfect, but it is a great deal better than when I was taking Advair. My main advice for anyone using this medication is to be sure that your doctor explain to you the side effects in great detail from the beginning; mine had never told me that Advair could make me worse, which ended up causing me much pain and suffering with my health.
If you notice any major side effects or have any questions, call your doctor’s office. Speak with a nurse or directly with the doctor; every medication is going to affect everyone differently, but stay aware of how Advair is affecting you. Keep in mind that this steroid inhaler may actually cause your asthma to get worse; so, if you do experience problems, speak with your doctor about a new prescription. Take care of these side effects as they occur instead of letting them get gradually worse.
