Fluticasone / salmeterol for Asthma, Maintenance User Reviews (Page 5)

• Hol...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• March 1, 2018

Fluticasone / salmeterol "I have been using Advair 250/50 for 17 years. It works for me. I rarely have to use my rescue inhaler. I have noticed a rapid heartbeat from time to time, and I am assuming it is from this. Right now, with my prescription insurance, it is $150.00 for a 90-day supply. I will be on Medicare next year, and I checked the prescription plan my husband is currently on, and it is going to cost me $415.00 for a 90-day supply. Seriously, how do these pharmaceutical companies get away with this? Also, why isn't it in a generic form yet? I really would love to stop taking this."

• Ins...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• August 23, 2015

Fluticasone / salmeterol "I was prescribed Advair in combination with Spiriva after a bad asthma-type attack in 2010 (1 of 3, the 1st in 2001; 2nd in 2007). I finally went to a pulmonary specialist in early 2010. The inhalers combined with a series of oral prednisone helped me to recover fully. At the advice of my new doctor, I continued using the Advair and Spiriva daily. In 2013, I developed vertigo and continuous bladder infections, determined that was related to the Spiriva, so I stopped that one. Several times during the 5 years, I have attempted to stop using Advair. I think it is addicting in nature; I am unable to breathe without it! That sucks... especially since I was doing fine without any inhalers prior to continued use of Advair."

• Lex...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 22, 2019

"I am a physician and asthma sufferer. My asthma was fully controlled on Advair 250/50. For my most recent refill, I was given the new generic, Wixela. 1) The dispenser is very user-unfriendly, and I can feel the powder landing on my tongue; 2) After one week, my asthma is out of control, and I am using my rescue inhaler several times a day; 3) I now have oral thrush and have to go in fluconazole. I am astounded that the FDA considers this inhaler a suitable substitute for Advair. Furthermore, although generic, it is not approved by my BCBS Medex plan. They filled it once with an $80 copay, and if I were to refill it — which obviously I will not do — my doctor would have to wade through the bureaucratic time sump of prior authorization."

• glz...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 28, 2022

Fluticasone / salmeterol "So far, horrible with Wixela. It does absolutely nothing for my asthma. VA changed my prescription from Symbicort to this, and now I can barely do any physical activity. Stuff is rubbish, gives me a hoarse throat, chest tightness, and rapid heartbeat! Please stop prescribing this!"

• S W...
• July 23, 2009

Fluticasone / salmeterol "Advair helped me breathe better for the first 2-3 days. Then my chest would start tightening within an hour of when I was to take it. It seemed that my dependence was growing. Between that and the panic attacks, I've discontinued Advair and gone back to Ventolin HFA."

• koo...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 4, 2016

Fluticasone / salmeterol "Extremely helpful in reducing my need for a nebulizer in the winter. I seem to have more energy, too. Took it years ago, now have made the switch back from another inhaled steroid that didn't work as well. The asthma-related death scares me. But I'm young and healthy for the most part."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 9, 2012

Fluticasone / salmeterol "Has helped control my asthma, recently started 500/50 since I had another flare-up. I don't need a rescue inhaler near as often. Do get thrush occasionally and a little sore throat. But it does keep my asthma attacks down a lot."

• C S...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 1, 2020

Fluticasone / salmeterol "I had a really bad asthma flare-up recently. Albuterol by itself was not cutting it. Since starting this daily medication, I've found that I don't need the Albuterol as much. It took some time for the complete benefits, but I'm satisfied!"

• cho...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 23, 2023

Fluticasone / salmeterol "In the past, I've used Symbicort, which was always very effective. I haven't been using Wixela for very long, but it's way different than using Symbicort. With Symbicort (and albuterol), it's a slow, deep inhale, but with Wixela, it's a fast, deep inhale. I'm not used to that at all. The dispenser is awkward, making the transition more difficult. I haven't needed controller medicines for a while, but my asthma went wild a few months ago, so medication needs adjusting. I'm going from coughing and being short of breath all the time, constantly using my rescue inhaler to Wixela. I prefer the Wixela."

• Doo...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 27, 2021

Fluticasone / salmeterol "Pharmacy switched out Advair without telling me. When used, the powder just coated the inside of my mouth and didn't get into my lungs, therefore, I went over two months without any medication. Now, four months later, I am extremely ill with my lungs clogged with inflammation and infection, and I will be a long time recovering. How can insurance companies not give the choice of staying on effective meds or paying the difference in cost."

• Bai...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• January 3, 2016

Fluticasone / salmeterol "I was a long-time advocate of this med (250/50) - as it was the only thing that prevented asthma issues from deteriorating into pneumonia. Had to use it only from October to January - and then asthma would subside. Grabbed the med the other day and with the first inhale, lips, mouth, and tongue immediately began to tingle and swell. Raced to the sink and rinsed out with the sprayer, hoping the same thing wasn't going to happen in my throat/lungs."

• bar...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 19, 2023

Fluticasone / salmeterol "I was just given Wixela instead of Alvesco, and was wondering what person in his or her right mind would breathe in this powder. I started using Wixela, and I had trouble breathing and had to use a rescue inhaler. I would give this medicine a thumbs down."

• Rak...
• November 19, 2015

Fluticasone / salmeterol "Advair is the only thing that has gotten my asthma under control. It gave me awful muscle cramps, but my nurse practitioner let me try a muscle relaxant for that (I take a small dose of Tizanidine) and it works wonderfully."

• Anonymous
• January 16, 2011

Fluticasone / salmeterol "This is my second experience using the Advair inhaler. The first time I used it, it was like a miracle. My asthma disappeared. After using the inhaler for about one year, my asthma returned and worsened. I visited a naturopath and was advised to change my diet. I stopped gluten, citrus, soy, and dairy foods. Once again, my asthma disappeared for about a year. When it returned to the point that my rescue inhaler was being used too frequently, the doctor recommended that I return to Advair. Once again, it worked. But here I am, three months later, and my asthma is worsening. What is one to do?"

• Non...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 27, 2020

"Symptom-free 10 years on Advair. BCBS forced change to generic last month. Had to use rescue inhaler 2-3 times daily and severe urinary incontinence (completely resolved 48 hours after generic stopped). Please take the time to report any adverse events to the FDA."

• Bre...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 11, 2022

Fluticasone / salmeterol "After years of Advair Discus 500/50 (for COPD) paying as much as $1500 a month but having breathing greatly helped, I went for the generic as advertised the “exact same ingredients,” FDA approved…!! From the first inhaled puff to now, after less than two weeks, my inability to breathe, along with extreme chest pressure, has made me a wreck, sleepless and in pain. Getting any score at all is CRIMINAL…1.9 out of 10? Who set that up? Now I need to go back to my primary doctor to say I can do without anything but need to breathe. Need the Advair Diskus 500/50. Desperately and apologize for asking for the generic…. Cannot count on sleeping as I wake up repeatedly breathless needing oxygen…with an elephant on my chest!"

• Mys...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 20, 2023

Fluticasone / salmeterol "Advair is the best. I've had a horrible chronic cough for several years. No one could figure out why. Finally, someone said asthma and gave me Advair, and the cough is almost totally gone. Blessings to the company that makes it. No side effects either."

• Art...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• March 24, 2022

Fluticasone / salmeterol "I've recently asked the VA hospital for a bone density scan, was told 2-3 days before I'd hear back from the results. After I got home, my pulmonary doctor called 30 minutes and said I've got abnormal bone thinning for a male of 59 years old."

• Kic...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 9, 2022

Fluticasone / salmeterol "VA removed Symbicort from my drugs after regular usage and put me on Wixela Inhub. Gradually, the change became evident, with my lungs' performance going downhill every day. I couldn't even keep my Drs. appt. due to colder weather and humidity. I rescheduled, hoping for nicer weather. No one seems to believe or care what the feeling is when you just can't breathe. FDA needs to look at this drug again and throw it out. It will take me many months to recover enough to be at all functional, if I ever get back to where I was... and that wasn't great."

• jon...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 2, 2023

Fluticasone / salmeterol "This medication has been a game-changer for me. I started to have breathing problems again (after many years of being free from asthma), so I used an inhaler. Long story short, I was using it 7-8 times a day. My doctor prescribed Wixela. I have used it twice a day for the last 3 months, and so far, so good. I am a singer and have had no problems yet."

• Lil...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• May 1, 2012

Fluticasone / salmeterol "I give Advair 8 stars because it does what it's supposed to do. I have only had two asthma attacks since starting Advair almost a year ago. One was running without my inhaler. The second time was smoking. I took off two stars for side effects and use. I hate having to remember to take this twice a day. I usually forget. I also hate when I forget to wash my mouth out with water and get a little bit of thrush in my mouth."

• Al ...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 27, 2022

Fluticasone / salmeterol "I had been on Symbicort for many years for emphysema, doing fairly well for a degenerative disease. A few months back, the VA switched to Wixela. This is the worst drug on the market and is primarily for asthma, not emphysema. How the VA could approve this is a good question, although the new VA administrator seems to be doing everything he can to cut costs, rather than to properly treat veterans' health. My breathing has gotten so bad I have had numerous X-rays and scans to see what's wrong, and I can hardly take a deep breath. I am now on home O2, as I can hardly breathe without it. I can hardly walk anywhere, limiting my ability to take care of myself. The VA has offered a replacement as a trial, rather than going back to Symbicort. Let's hope this works well enough to keep me alive."

• Cab...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• October 24, 2016

Fluticasone / salmeterol "Advair is effective in treating my asthma. Unfortunately, I often feel restless, agitated, and maybe anxious. I'm thinking of getting off of the drug, but am afraid my asthma will get worse. I'll probably try gradually weaning off and have an emergency inhaler nearby. I'm just growing tired of the side effects. I may also look into another drug if my asthma gets worse after quitting Advair."

• bub...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• January 12, 2023

Fluticasone / salmeterol "Absolute garbage! I was switched from Symbicort to Wixela by the VA like many others reviewing. I have COPD and never had any exacerbations before. I have had three since starting Wixela. And an endless case of thrush. I am going to stop taking it. My lungs are much worse since starting this garbage. I don't think it's the drug itself. It's the delivery method. Just a coarse powder that sticks in your mouth and throat. I don't even think any is even reaching my lungs."

• Nys...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 4, 2021

Fluticasone / salmeterol "This medication has been amazing for me. I don't have asthma but have had a chronic cough for over 18 months due to idiopathic inflammation in the lungs. I started using the Wixela Inhub twice a day, and within a week and a half, the cough was totally gone! I am so happy not to have everyone staring at me or angry at me because they think I'm going around in public when sick because I'm coughing all the time. I had to constantly explain to people that yes, I am coughing, but I promise I'm not sick! This medication has stopped the cough, and I didn't realize how frequently I was out of breath until suddenly I wasn't anymore. I can't say anything about how well this medication works for asthma, but it is a godsend for idiopathic lung inflammation! I haven't had any of the side effects others have mentioned. The only side effects I noticed have been a slight increase in my blood sugar (average of 80 before eating to an average of 90 before eating) and a mild funny taste after taking it."