Fluticasone / salmeterol for Asthma, Maintenance User Reviews (Page 3)

• Mer...
• December 25, 2014

"Age 59, male. After having allergy asthma probably for decades, a wet spring after an ugly winter, and removing moldy insulation, ended me up at the doctors. Started on 100/50. It helped but not enough. Ended up getting 250/50 and have been on since (4 years). It didn't stop the fairly constant post-nasal drip, which was almost constant at night. Got Singulair for that and have taken it ever since (4 years). I'm fine and dandy ever since and can do heavy workouts, etc. Problems: leg cramps, foot cramps, hand cramps. I've always had a few, but they can get ugly. I find drinking water, taking daily multivitamins, and magnesium keeps them at bay. Dry, sensitive mouth = no more medium or hot salsa, etc. Watch your teeth."

• lad...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 14, 2019

"I'm a 48 years old - never had asthma. Multiple respiratory infections left me wheezing daily. Doc prescribed Albuterol plus Advair. I was scared to start meds and didn't for a few weeks. Wheezing got bad enough I went back to doc, talked about concerns, and they explained the importance of use. I started it in the office 3 weeks ago - I feel so much better now. I didn't realize how bad my breathing was. I haven't needed the Albuterol since. (knocking on wood!) Side effects for me = nervousness for ~ hour after use; intermittent mild throat irritation; increased # of heart palpitations (have had for years). I wish I would have started it sooner."

• SKB...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 20, 2013

"Prescribed Advair Diskus (250/50) twice a day. My blood pressure was 130/80 when I started the medicine, which is about the highest it has ever been. I was not supposed to go back to the doctor for 30 days. But luckily, last night I had my blood pressure checked, it was 151/98-I was shocked! I have only been on the medicine 15 days. Advair probably helped me through my upper respiratory problems, but I think I should have been warned about this side effect."

• Wen...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 23, 2021

"I ended up going to the ER after taking my first dose due to an adverse reaction. I had trouble swallowing, felt short of breath, tightness in my chest, face flushed, fast heart rate, and numbness and tingling in my fingers."

• AJa...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 28, 2021

"I was on Breo for about 3 years and was breathing normally. I never had to use my albuterol inhaler. At the beginning of the year, the price of Breo skyrocketed for me, so I decided to try Wixela. It never worked. It started with a sore throat (I am very careful to rinse my mouth and spit out the water after each use). After a few days, the coughing started. I tolerated that only because it was a weekend and I couldn’t call my doctor. I am going back to Breo. I’m so angry that this drug was approved. My scenario was mild compared to what others are going through. Scary stuff."

• Sag...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• September 5, 2016

"Asthma since 26, year-round allergies, Advair and montelukast for years. Feel I'm alive in my 70s because of some smart, caring doctors. Biggest problems-no generic and super expensive now that prices have been raised. Donut hole every year! Used to be more reasonable. Not advised to change since Advair and montelukast work. But can't afford to use 2 times a day as doctor recommends. I think it is Mylan also that raised prices out of seniors' reach. Please help bring the price down again. Thanks. Insurance covers part reasonably than too high in the donut hole."

• eri...
• July 8, 2014

"I was prescribed this inhaler for my asthma, and I found it did a good job of bringing my breathing back to normal. However, I also experienced numerous side effects from the medicine, such as very painful leg cramps/spasms that kept me from sleep and, at times, work/school and recurrent bacterial sinus infections (i.e., facial/ear pain, ringing in ears, headache), which I had never had prior to using Advair. I also had a sore throat at times while on this medication, which to me is very minor, and I would have continued use if this was the only side effect. Although it was not a good fit for me, I would recommend this medicine to others who are struggling to control their asthma."

• VLN...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• March 5, 2015

"I had been on Advair for ten years and enjoyed not having asthma attacks, being able to exercise without using a rescue inhaler all of the time. Unfortunately, due to the cost of Advair, my insurance has dropped it from the list of medications they will cover, and I have been switched to another brand. The new one does not work as well."

• ast...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• October 18, 2021

"Wixela is awful. Like many other folks here, my asthma was well controlled with another medication - in my case, a very low-dose Advair. When my insurance forced me to switch to Wixela, it didn't work at all. My doctor increased dosage a couple of times, and still no relief. In these days of Covid, every time I cough, which is all day long, people around me look terrified. (I've tested negative for Covid many times. This is just my asthma.) Why is this Wixela garbage even still on the market? I'd give it a zero rating if that were an option. It does not work."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 10 years or more
• July 17, 2019

"I have suffered with asthma my entire life, so I am familiar with many drugs used to treat this disease. Advair was prescribed to me 30 years ago, and I have loved it from the beginning. I no longer had to suffer with the jitters and hyper behavior, like all of my prior medications. I take this daily, as prescribed, and have no complaints or awful side effects. Sometimes my breath smells bad as a result, but I can breathe, so I can't really complain. Thank you-now if only I could get my insurance provider to cover it."

• Doo...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 17, 2021

"Using Wixela 500 for 4 months. Inferior product - shocking that it passed FDA. Mechanism is terribly awkward - difficult to open and hold while pressing down on 'release' handle, particularly with arthritic hands and fingers. Should be redesigned or taken off the market. Not even close in comparison to Advair."

• Mrs...
• April 8, 2013

"Been on 250/50 Advair for just over a year. It does great at preventing asthma attacks. I still have congestion and coughing. Despite rinsing my mouth and brushing my teeth after the use of Advair, my voice has become quite hoarse within the last 2 weeks. I'm thinking of switching back to Symbicort. I took Asmanex before taking Symbicort, but it wasn't sufficient to control my asthma."

• Ell...
• March 3, 2010

"I have been using Advair for about 5 years. When I first noticed my wheezing and coughing, I thought I had a cold, but the doctor said it is bronchial asthma. He started with Prednisone and Advair. I soon felt better. I stopped the Prednisone, and I am on Advair 250/50 since. Recently, I was advised to see a chiropractor. He promised to help take me off all medications and I would be okay. What a mistake? In order for him to do this, I had to stop my Advair, because he said he can't fight with it, I must first stop taking it. The end result was that I spent about $400.00 for twice-a-week visits. I saw no results, on the contrary, my wheezing came back full force, with the tightness of my chest. I had to start all over again with the medications."

• Sha...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 4, 2021

"Due to my insurance not wanting to pay for the Advair I’ve been taking for years, I was given Wixela. With Advair, it worked perfectly. With Wixela, I couldn’t walk to my kitchen without being out of breath. I had such a hard time going up a flight of stairs. It didn’t control my COPD at all. I couldn’t function at work, and everyone could hear me breathe. On Advair, no one could suspect I had any breathing issues. Scientifically, it should work, clinically, it did not. Thankfully, my pulmonologist reached out to my insurance company, and I was given Advair again. Wish it worked, it is cheaper."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 21, 2021

"I have COPD and asthma. Wixela makes me cough. When you can't breathe well, trying to breathe in powder is ridiculous. It does not work as well as my Advair HFA did. Walking to the mailbox, maybe 60 feet, I shouldn't have to use my rescue inhaler."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 2, 2022

"Previously shared my experience with Wixela on 1 Oct 2022 and wanted to share this update to help others. Had been using Advair for 23 years, and then I was switched to Wixela, which had horrible side effects. Although it is therapeutically equivalent to Advair Diskus, I discovered that it was the fillers used in Wixela that I had a bad allergic reaction to, which actually induced asthma (among other things). I had reported my experience with Wixela to the FDA; they did contact me, and I then gave them an update about the fillers as being the culprit. Tricare/Express Scripts did originally deny a prior authorization for Advair as prescribed, no generic; however, my doctor's office kept up the fight and finally gained approval. I now have my Advair back and am doing well, and I have prior authorization approved for a lifetime."

• Brk...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 5, 2021

"I’ve only been on this inhaler for a week, and I had to stop immediately. It makes me extremely jittery - I feel like I’ve consumed 1000 cokes and coffees. It also gave me muscle spasms in my fingers and made my voice extremely hoarse. That being said, I do feel like my breathing got better, but I cannot deal with the side effects at all. I’ve since switched to another inhaler. Hopefully, that will work out better for me."

• Ner...
• April 30, 2016

"I had told my Dr. how, when I walk up my stairs in my house, how I'm out of breath and how my chest had been feeling tight over the last few months. I just use my nebulizer or my Ventolin pump, and it helps me feel better. But then she suggested Advair Diskus, and within the 2nd day, I felt the tightness in my chest like I was having an asthma attack, and then my throat started to feel swollen, so I stopped the medicine. Since using this medication, my throat is sore, swollen glands, hurts when I swallow. I'm very nervous and will not use it anymore."

• MLU...
• December 5, 2016

"Was using Pulmicort for years for asthma maintenance; I found it made a difference but would stop working for periods of time. I asked my physician to switch me to something else, and she put me on this. A marked difference. This has a steroid as well as a stimulant (to open your lungs upon inhalation, much like a rescue inhaler, which Pulmicort did not have). I forgot to refill my Advair this month (I mail order three months at a time with my insurance, WAY cheaper) and have been without for about four days. I can definitely tell the difference. My rescue inhaler use has gone up and subsequently goes way down (to almost nonexistent) when I'm on Advair. Highly recommended."

• Lif...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• May 14, 2020

"I’ve been using Advair for 5 years. Works great for asthma. First time asthma felt controlled, but side effects of a tight throat and change in voice are concerning. Now I had to stop this medicine, as throat issues have become worse. The occasional sore throat is now at least once a week, and my throat feels like it’s working so hard, like the muscles in the neck are actually sore from the tightness. Not really sure what is happening and not sure what to do with an asthma prevention alternative now. Also had a major asthma attack and took about a month to recover, so if your throat starts feeling funny and your voice box and larynx feel sore, beware and talk to your doctor. It just came on so fast."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 3, 2022

"Please read this. I used Advair for years, then the pharmacy substituted Wixela. It did nothing. Went back on Advair, and it was great. Then the doctor asked if I could try the generic made by Prasco. It was very good and have used it for a couple of years now. Turned out it’s Advair's own generic. Give it a try. I have been very happy with it. It even comes in the same dispenser as Advair. I don’t know what the deal is with Wixela because it’s supposed to be the same medication, but I agree with what I’ve read here. It has a problem!"

• Mar...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• February 9, 2016

"I've been using Advair 250/50 for about 7 years. I developed asthma after several respiratory infections. After months of having no energy and wheezing and coughing, the doctor finally confirmed asthma. I started on 4 puffs per day for a week, and then went down to 2 per day. In the summer, I can often get away with only 1 puff per day. In the winter, I usually need 2. The main symptom I get if my asthma is not fully controlled is a gurgling sensation in my lungs. With Advair, my asthma symptoms have mostly disappeared. It's a really effective medication."

• Bar...
• September 2, 2017

"This medication has helped my cough, made breathing easier, and decreased mucus tremendously, however, I did have side effects: blurred vision, confusion, numbness in legs, dizziness, nausea, and sore throat."

• Ton...
• January 8, 2012

"I don't know about others, but this is a godsend to me. I have very, very bad asthma. Walking up a few stairs can wind me, as can walks (which I love doing), and exercising is extremely difficult. The pains from asthma problems can hurt quite a bit. I got on Advair, and my dependency on my albuterol inhaler dropped from 2-3 times a day to maybe once a week. I was off of it for years because of insurance companies dropping it, and then not having insurance. I'm back on it now (after Primatene Mist went off the market), and I'm doing great again. It hasn't kicked in to effect fully, but I can already feel its effects. The side effects can be bad for some people, but I'm a testament to how awesome it is."

• Liv...
• February 11, 2016

"I have been on Advair for over 10 years. I have never breathed better. Before, I couldn't even walk without being out of breath. I do experience a lot of side effects, such as oral thrush and headaches; however, being able to breathe outweighs the side effects. I would recommend this medication to anyone with asthma."