Fluticasone / salmeterol and Cough: What Users Say

• Chu...
• October 17, 2020

For Asthma, Maintenance "Absolute garbage! I was switched over from Advair a week ago. My asthma has been completely under control for years with Advair. After one week of using this, my chest gets tight a couple of hours after using it, and I have mucus building up in my lungs that causes me to cough and hack all day. I’m actually better off just not taking any medicine at all. How did this drug get approved?"

• Leh...
• January 2, 2020

For Asthma, Maintenance "So first off, check your expiration dates. I noticed my inhalers were only good for 5 or 6 months from the pharmacy pick up to expiration. Advair was always a year. Something's wrong with that. Next, I switched to Wixela due to Advair being over $400.00 to fill. The medication delivery was poor. I never felt much relief. I started getting tighter, coughing more, had frequent exacerbations, and was put on prednisone, nebulizer treatments, etc. I have not had to do that in close to 10 years. This drug is worthless! Back to Advair even though I'll have to get a second job just to pay for it."

• Kaj...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 24, 2019

For Asthma, Maintenance "My asthma was well under control until I was forced by my insurance company to use Wixela three months ago. Now, I have a chronic cough again, it's affecting my vocal cords, and I feel like an elephant is sitting on my chest several times a day. I'm using my rescue inhaler all day long (I was using it MAYBE twice a month), cough medicine 24/7, sleeping practically sitting up, and buying/using cough drops like they're going out of style. But to go back to my original inhaler, I'll have to fork over $300 more per month (four months ago it was $40/month). The problem is 1) big pharma 2) insurance companies putting profits before health and 3) the device used to dispense the Wixela may be flawed. There is no way I am receiving the dosage I am prescribed."

• Dav...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 13, 2020

For Asthma, Maintenance "After reading bad reviews, I gave Wixela Inhub a chance for a couple of months, and I have to agree with the reviews. The dispenser itself is poor and causes the powder to get all over the back of my throat and tongue instead of into my lungs, and I’ve been coughing and wheezing a lot more on Wixela than I did on Advair. I’m not gambling with my health anymore so that my insurance company can save money, and I’m going back to Advair. You should too."

• Vic...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 5, 2021

For Asthma, Maintenance "I was switched to Wixela in the last three months and since then I have been getting sicker. I now have cold sweats, irregular heart rate, pounding heart, worsening asthma symptoms, three bouts with bronchitis, chronic cough, and having to use albuterol when my asthma was well controlled for 10 years. Wixela needs to be removed from the market."

• MBa...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 8, 2020

For Asthma, Maintenance "Wixela is the worst! I was given Wixela for asthma maintenance at the worst of times (Pandemic). Everything you fear about COVID-19 is just about the same side effects as Wixela. I couldn’t stop coughing and have never had so much phlegm in my throat. I was horrified! Suffice to say, after taking Wixela for 3 weeks in March, I stopped as it was the only new thing I introduced to my body, and 2 days after stopping, my cough and phlegm disappeared completely. If it wasn’t for my wife not getting sick, I would’ve thought I was infected with the virus."

• Sic...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• August 27, 2020

For Asthma, Maintenance "After using Advair for years, I was given a Wixela prescription. Within a month of using, I now sound like I did years ago before treatment began. Cough, irritation to the throat, and mucus. Had none of these with Advair. Insurance won’t pay for Advair since the generic is available, and the generic is making me more sick. There has to be something we can do!!"

• CCa...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 17, 2020

For Asthma, Maintenance "I had to switch to generic due to insurance. I started using this a month ago and found my symptoms have increased. I have a lot of phlegm and coughing a lot. Due to the cough, I am sleeping less and feel tired during the day and very little energy. I have a call into the doctors to send a script for Advair 250/50 and will have to pay the high cost."

• Kya...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 8, 2020

For Asthma, Maintenance "Very disappointed with Wixela, this new generic asthma medication. I was on Wixela Inhub for three months and finally had to go back to my doctor to get Advair. I had constant coughing followed by phlegm and chest congestion. I was using my emergency inhaler several times a week and several times on prednisone. I started using over-the-counter cough medication just to stop the coughing so I could sleep. During the day, I used throat lozenges to keep the cough from starting. I talked to the pharmacist about the differences between Wixela and Advair and was told that it had the same ingredients, except the fillers might be different. Some generics just don’t work, and pharmacies need to listen to the patients. The price difference is insane!"

• Moo...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 26, 2020

For Asthma, Maintenance "Inhub dispenser is awkward. Don't feel like I get the same dosage as Advair. Makes me tired, post-nasal drip, and on-and-off cough. Makes me anxious that I'm not getting enough med and fear an attack. Don't want to get sick, especially with Covid-19 about. I'd rather have Advair HFA."

• Dia...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 1, 2021

For Asthma, Maintenance "I had what would be considered well-controlled asthma; taking Singulair, Breo, and my rescue inhaler. Once my insurance changed to Kaiser, I was informed that they do not prescribe Breo, and I was placed on Wixela. That was approximately three months ago, and my health has been in a steady decline as far as the asthma. I now feel that I have small elephants sitting on my chest all the time, I'm wheezing almost 24 hours a day, and am coughing up phlegm. I had none of these issues prior to being switched over to Wixela. I will be calling the doctor this morning; this is a totally unacceptable level of care. I would give this drug a '0' if I could."

• ang...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 25, 2021

For Asthma, Maintenance "My daughter started Wixela 250/50 approximately 2 months ago due to insurance not paying for Advair. Her asthma on Advair was being well controlled. Since using Wixela, she has developed asthmatic lung and has coughing 'fits' so bad that she can't sleep, walk up stairs, and has barely left the house because she can't control the coughing. We've tried everything from caffeine drinks to honey to cough drops, but nothing worked. Her asthma doctor had to prescribe cough medicine and Tessalon Pearls to help with the cough. We are going back to Advair! This medicine is causing the same issues that we are trying to stop - difficulty breathing! It should be removed by the FDA."

• The...
• November 15, 2017

For COPD, Maintenance "I used to take the Advair in Diskus form. I couldn't breathe in fast to get enough meds, so they switched me to the aerosol type Advair. This one works well for me. The thing is, some doctors do not tell you you MUST rinse your entire mouth and gargle after every use. It can cause thrush, which is awful, and voice loss, hoarseness, coughing, and mouth sores too, if you leave residue within the mouth or throat. This has a corticosteroid in it, so please rinse well! Avoid side effects. It will help you breathe because it's a beta antagonist blocker or something, which relaxes the lung muscle. Take care of your mouth! I have dentures, so I must rinse even MORE, but never had thrush in 9 years over it and can breathe easier now."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 1, 2022

For Asthma, Maintenance "Female and a vet. Express Scripts (ES) substituted Wixela for Advair without notice. Gave it a go, and it gave me asthma! Had been using Advair for decades without issues and rarely had to use my ProAir inhaler. Wixela side effects: tightened chest, labored breathing, coughing, therefore, could not walk short distances, sore throat, headache, plus hives! Notified my doctor and quit taking Wixela. Side effects subsided, hives disappeared, yet I had to use my rescue inhaler several times a day. Doctor submitted a prior authorization (PA) and new script for Advair, as prescribed, no substitute or generic to ES. PA was denied without any rationale. Was told by ES that only the doctor could appeal. Submitted a letter to my State Senators through the American Medical Association - Improving Seniors' Access to a Timely Care Act (S.3018), explaining this all. Also submitted a grievance to Medwatch - FDA Safety Information and Adverse Event Reporting Program. Others should do the same."

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

For Asthma, Maintenance "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."

• Mrs...
• April 8, 2013

For Asthma, Maintenance "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."

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

For Asthma, Maintenance "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."

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

For Asthma, Maintenance "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."

• dan...
• September 9, 2009

For Asthma, Maintenance "I have used Advair 500/50 for a little over three years. It has helped control the asthma, but there are some side effects. I don't have much taste sensation anymore, my throat feels raw, and I cough from the throat, which I don't remember doing before, and I lose my voice. This dosage is too much after a while, I get the shakes and feel weak, sometimes have terrible headaches. I have tried using 500/50 in the mornings and 250/50 at night. That is only good for a short while. I need something between these two."

• Bar...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 11, 2023

For Asthma, Maintenance "Wixela has been a waking nightmare for me! I can't breathe, I can't sleep, non-stop profuse coughing to the point of aching ribs and sore lungs. The sleepless nights are the worst. The huge bags under my eyes tell it all! No energy, loss of appetite, irritability. You name it, I've got it. I wasn't surprised to see the horrible reviews that confirmed all I've been feeling. The Wixela mechanism itself is a joke. If I didn't know better, I would think they were just practicing on people for some low-level chemical warfare! Lord help us!"

• Ven...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 17, 2021

For COPD, Maintenance "I started taking this medicine for a COVID cough. After one week of taking it, I started having body aches. Another week passed, and I was having chest pressure. It did help with the cough, but then I started having heartburn and was coughing more than when I had COVID. I started to develop gastrointestinal issues. After eating, I would belch, and regurgitation would happen. Heartburn and chest pain were also common. A cough would happen after eating. I went to see a pulmonologist, and she told me that I can just stop taking it and that no withdrawal symptoms would happen. That was a lie. After stopping it, cold turkey, I started feeling like absolute rubbish. I started to have diarrhea, abdominal pain, insomnia, anxiety, depression, feeling dizzy and faint-like. She never told me about adrenal insufficiency that could happen after stopping a corticosteroid. It’s been almost 3 months since I stopped the medication, and I feel like the symptoms are only getting worse."

• Nan...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 12, 2022

For Asthma, Maintenance "I was on Advair, they switched me to Wixela 500 mg. I had many side effects and could not breathe. I could not stop coughing—bad headaches and nightmares. I ended up in the hospital six times, and finally, they told me to stop taking it and switch back. I ended up in bed for months with chest pain and weakness in the legs. I could not eat or swallow anything. My vision went many times. I had a rainbow lightning vision. This should not be given to anyone. It should be off the market right away. It is not right to switch a person's medication at the risk of someone's life."

• mia...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 27, 2021

For COPD, Maintenance "The worst inhaler I have ever used. It has caused side effects of a sore throat, bad cough, congestion, sleeping issues, muscle and bone pain, and doesn't work well as an inhaler. Do NOT recommend. My emergency inhaler works better and lasts longer."

• Lin...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 11, 2022

For Asthma, Maintenance "First of all, let me advise that if you are a young person, please be cautious of letting yourself be put on corticosteroid inhalers such as Symbicort and Advair. Once you have been on those inhalers, getting off of them is life-threatening. I never really believed that I had severe asthma but had been put on Advair many years ago. Recently, I was switched from Advair to Wixela as a generic replacement. After only two puffs of this, I began coughing. I researched Mylan Pharmaceuticals, and the reviews were very poor. I also read the reviews of people who had been switched to this generic, and people were really suffering. I told my doctor I would not take it. Her mistake was not looking into it to see why I was switched. If your doctor does not put on your prescription to give you only your name brand, the pharmacy will automatically switch you to the generic. But know that you do have the choice to ask not to be given a generic. People are suffering with this garbage medication."

• Anonymous
• April 21, 2022

For Asthma, Maintenance "My husband has adult asthma. He’s been on Symbicort for a few years, Breo worked best for him, but the VA does not pay for Breo because it’s very expensive. Symbicort worked fine. Now the VA has switched to Wixela, and my husband can’t do any activities without getting so short of breath. He has mucus draining all the time and that dry, hacking cough all day, and his sleep apnea is worse. His doctor contacted the VA to switch him back to Symbicort, but the VA would not because they said it was stronger than Symbicort. Wixela is worse than taking nothing at all. We are now getting his better inhaler through Kroger pharmacy and paying out of pocket, and he is doing better even after just a few days."