Wixela Inhub and Shortness Of Breath: What Users Say

• Sho...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 27, 2021

For Asthma, Maintenance "I was recently taken off Symbicort and it was replaced with Wixela. The VA changed to this medication most likely due to cost-effectiveness. I gave it two weeks to work and a couple of times after using it, within one and a half hours, I was actually gasping for air. This never happened on Symbicort. My physical activity has been reduced to almost nothing where before I could get in at least 6 hours of light physical activity daily. I have used my rescue inhaler more times in the last two weeks than I did for the first eight months of 2021. It is so sad when your quality of life is robbed because it's too expensive to give it to you."

• 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."

• Bel...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 8, 2021

For Asthma, Maintenance "I have used Advair for many, many years - it works great! Now they have switched me to Wixela, and I am constantly out of breath and using my rescue inhaler all the time. It is a miserable substitute!!!!"

• Jen...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 12, 2021

For Asthma, Maintenance "This is the worst inhaler I've ever used. I was forced to switch to this due to insurance not covering name brand. I've had nothing but problems breathing since I started taking it. I've been fighting constantly with the insurance to cover the name brand, even at a higher price, but it's super difficult. How can they still sell this stuff? It's horrible."

• ars...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 24, 2022

For Asthma, Maintenance "I copied the review just below, as it is exactly what I have dealt with since the VA switched me from Symbicort a few months ago. My stamina and ability to breathe have gone way down, and I figured out it started within a month after the switch to this garbage. arsailman 'Short of Breath Taken for less than 1 month September 27, 2021 “I was recently taken off Symbicort and it was replaced with Wixela. The VA changed to this medication most likely due to cost-effectiveness. I gave it two weeks to work, and a couple of times after doing it within one hour and a half I was actually gasping for air. This never happened on Symbicort. My physical activity has been reduced to almost nothing, where before I could get in at least 6 hours of light physical activity daily. I have used my rescue inhaler more times in the last two weeks than I have for the first eight months of 2021. It is so sad when your quality of life is robbed because it’s too expensive to give it to you.'"

• ars...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 24, 2022

For Asthma, Maintenance "I copied the review just below, as it is exactly what I have dealt with since the VA switched me from Symbicort a few months ago. My stamina and ability to breathe have gone way down, and I figured out it started within a month after the switch to this garbage. arsailman 'Short of Breath Taken for less than 1 month September 27, 2021 “I was recently taken off Symbicort and it was replaced with Wixela. The VA changed to this medication most likely due to cost-effectiveness. I gave it two weeks to work, and a couple of times after doing it within one hour and a half I was actually gasping for air. This never happened on Symbicort. My physical activity has been reduced to almost nothing, where before I could get in at least 6 hours of light physical activity daily. I have used my rescue inhaler more times in the last two weeks than I have for the first eight months of 2021. It is so sad when your quality of life is robbed because it’s too expensive to give it to you.'"

• 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."

• OR ...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 22, 2023

For Asthma, Maintenance "Like many comments on this site, I was switched in early 2022 from Symbicort to Wixela. Symbicort, and before that, Advair Discus, had been doing a fine job of managing my asthma, but within a week of using Wixela, my asthma was no longer under control. My breathing was becoming labored, and I would wake up in the night gasping for air. For over a year now, I have had to use my albuterol rescue med daily, whereas before Wixela, I used albuterol about 3-4 times per month. Even more, I have now suffered from extreme, chronic dryness in my nasal passages, which have also become constricted, to the point of me having to consider a surgical procedure to address the difficulty in breathing through my nose. Wixela is supposedly (from the FDA) a generic equivalent to Advair, but something about it is so different for it to cause such negative side effects in so many people. It should be removed from the marketplace by the FDA."

• Wix...
• January 31, 2022

For Asthma, Maintenance "To my fellow veterans: the VA switched me from Symbicort to Wixela. Now I can’t breathe. I have to use two other inhalers. Went to the emergency room, they put me on steroids to breathe better. I thought I had COVID, the nurse even said the Wixela is rubbish. I kept trying to get my doctor to change me back to Symbicort. It takes an act of God to put in a request to the pharmacy. Then I got a letter with a box of a higher strength of the rubbish, so I tried the higher dose for about two weeks, and it’s even worse. Before, I was only using Symbicort and rarely a rescue inhaler. So I went to patient advocate, and thank God after five days, I got Symbicort in the mail. So just tell your doctor to put in a request for Symbicort, and then when you get denied or if he doesn’t put the request in, go to patient advocate at your VA, and I guarantee you’ll get back on Symbicort. Hope this helps."

• 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."

• 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."

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

For Asthma, Maintenance "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."

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

For Asthma, Maintenance "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."

• Do...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 11, 2023

For Asthma, Maintenance "I, like many of you, had been switched to this horrible drug for the same reason: insurance not covering Advair. I have been sick for a month and had two trips to the emergency room and two trips to urgent care. It took me a bit to figure out what the heck was going on, I did not make the connection as soon as I should have. My vision was blurred and declined, I had unexplained bruises, numbness in my legs and arms, fuzziness and dizziness, horrible indigestion, shortness of breath, and horrible pain in my upper back. One of the trips to the ER found a mass on my lung, not cancer, unsure at this point where it came from. Since I have stopped using it, in only two days I feel human again. I really thought I was dying, it was the scariest thing I have ever been through."

• Jam...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 25, 2021

For Asthma, Maintenance "Was told I was being put on Wixela for my COPD. Tried for 2 days and noticed more shortness of breath, and within a day or so had swelling and sensitive red rash in my whole groin area. I finally got rid of most of that after maybe 1 1/2 weeks, but did not suspect Wixela. This was replacing my Symbicort. After my feedback, I had to explain exactly how I used it and insisted I try again for 2 days. The same happened with everything, and the rash and swelling were worse than ever. It was discontinued, but the rash persisted for more than 3 weeks."

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

For Asthma, Maintenance "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."

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

For Asthma, Maintenance "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!"

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

For Asthma, Maintenance "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!"

• 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."

• Jan...
• September 23, 2022

For Asthma, Maintenance "I have been on Advair for about 20+ years and have had very good control. Insurance replaced with Wixela. I assumed that it would be equivalent to Advair and started using it. After 3 days, I was very short of breath. After 4 days, I was struggling to breathe and could not move without getting so short of breath that I thought I was going to pass out. I was about to go to the hospital, but had some Advair left and went back to it. Within 2 days, I was able to breathe again. The doctor ordered the Advair brand name, as Wixela was ineffective. Tricare denied, saying it was not medically necessary. So when did breathing become not medically necessary?"

• Jan...
• September 23, 2022

For Asthma, Maintenance "I have been on Advair for about 20+ years and have had very good control. Insurance replaced with Wixela. I assumed that it would be equivalent to Advair and started using it. After 3 days, I was very short of breath. After 4 days, I was struggling to breathe and could not move without getting so short of breath that I thought I was going to pass out. I was about to go to the hospital, but had some Advair left and went back to it. Within 2 days, I was able to breathe again. The doctor ordered the Advair brand name, as Wixela was ineffective. Tricare denied, saying it was not medically necessary. So when did breathing become not medically necessary?"

• Din...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 15, 2022

For Asthma, Maintenance "They want me to replace Advair with Wixela Inhub. Theoretically, it is the same medicine. Well, maybe, but it GAVE me such terrible breathing problems I had to stop in three days. It’s not just that it did not work, it had an adverse effect of making me shorter of breath."

• Dis...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 14, 2022

For Asthma, Maintenance "Started on Advair as a kid, switched to Breo as an adult because Advair costs increased as I switched insurance providers. Five years after that, I had to switch back to Advair because Breo was no longer covered under my new employer-based insurance, but Advair was. Both Breo and Advair were great for my asthma maintenance. Fast-forward a couple of years to last December when I, once again, switched insurance carriers due to a career change-Advair is no longer covered, so I was put on Wixela. I have been using it for about three months now, and it is a joke. I may as well not be using anything at all. Shortness of breath, rapid heart rate, wheezing, and having to use my rescue inhaler just so I can walk a mile. I questioned whether I was using it correctly, so I re-read the instructions and made sure to follow everything precisely-no change. Maybe the inhaler construction is limiting the delivery of the medication, but it is not worth it. Wixela was a mistake."

• Dis...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 14, 2022

For Asthma, Maintenance "Started on Advair as a kid, switched to Breo as an adult because Advair costs increased as I switched insurance providers. Five years after that, I had to switch back to Advair because Breo was no longer covered under my new employer-based insurance, but Advair was. Both Breo and Advair were great for my asthma maintenance. Fast-forward a couple of years to last December when I, once again, switched insurance carriers due to a career change-Advair is no longer covered, so I was put on Wixela. I have been using it for about three months now, and it is a joke. I may as well not be using anything at all. Shortness of breath, rapid heart rate, wheezing, and having to use my rescue inhaler just so I can walk a mile. I questioned whether I was using it correctly, so I re-read the instructions and made sure to follow everything precisely-no change. Maybe the inhaler construction is limiting the delivery of the medication, but it is not worth it. Wixela was a mistake."

• mof...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 2, 2021

For Asthma, Maintenance "Awful! Doesn't belong on the market. I am new to this condition of COPD maintenance, and I am short of breath. Symbicort wasn't quite enough. This was the replacement to give me an extra boost. I was back on the emergency inhaler 4-6 times a day within 36 hours. This instrument is a 30-supply, not! I started this on Oct 5 with 60 puffs; a dose of 2 puffs daily. October 19th, the counter reflected 17! 2 times 14 equals 28; 28 from 60 equals 32. What happened to the remaining 15 doses? Am I getting the correct dose, or is the counter defective? Also, the medication comes out in the form of small pellets that cause you to choke when they hit the back of your throat! Not for me!"