Fluticasone / vilanterol and Chest Pain: What Users Say

• Kar...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 30, 2019

For Asthma, Maintenance "I have had moderate asthma since age 13, now age 41. I have participated in multiple full marathons, cycling, swimming, rowing, yoga, walking ALL with only Singulair and a Ventolin inhaler before high-intensity exercise. I was prescribed Breo because taking Ventolin before exercise multiple times a week is considered 'uncontrollable asthma.' It has been roughly 20 days and my voice is always raspy, I have a tremor in my hands, always hungry, dry scalp, insomnia at night, pain in my chest, skipping heartbeats, and weight gain. I try going for just a brisk walk, and my lungs are immediately tight and irritated. I then try my rescue inhaler, which was my go-to and it is useless, like I never even took it. I am discontinuing my use of this inhaler and going back to the unacceptable method where I could breathe just fine normally and used only for exercise. It's much better than these side effects."

• CGH...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 17, 2019

For Asthma, Maintenance "Started using Breo after a severe asthma exacerbation. At first, it controlled my asthma very well, I barely had to use my rescue inhaler. But over months, it stopped working and actually made it very hard for me to breathe. It made me extremely irritable, mood swings, aggressive, weight gain, heart palpitations, severe anxiety attacks, spasms of my intercostal muscles, and made my chest very tight. This medicine caused me to also develop depression and a lack of motivation. Two days off of it, and I can finally take a deep breath, and my brain finally has clarity. I finally feel like myself again."

• Amy...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• September 4, 2019

For Asthma "I caught a cold, and it went from my head to my chest. Asthma flared up like crazy, and between prednisone, ProAir, nebulizer treatments, and Breo, I still couldn’t find relief. You are only supposed to use LABAs until your symptoms are controlled, then you should switch back to steroid/other preventer. I was hyperventilating and honestly scared for my life. I couldn’t control my breathing. I've been hospitalized once, but that was preventable (age 9). Prednisone helps. I think Breo is a dangerous drug and should only be used for a couple of months MAX. LABAs may reduce blood oxygen levels and cause adrenal suppression. Take vitamin D, calcium, and adrenal support. Breo worked wonderfully when my Advair (took from 9-23 years old) stopped working, but my gut is telling me this medication is dangerous long term. Also, I’ve noticed chest pains on this medication."

• CJa...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 1, 2018

For Asthma "COPD, asthma. Use of Breo 1x, I ended up in ER. Breo opened airways well, but hours after 1st use is when my 3 hr long ordeal began. With no warning, I began shaking, having SOB, chest pain, sweating, headache, my blood pressure jumped to 200/120. I literally felt like I was dying. It was like I drank 5 pots of caffeine that all kicked in at once. My heart was pounding, racing, and it was hard to breathe. Took nitro before going to ER, which lowered the high blood pressure some, but didn't stop the rest. ER tests negative for it being a heart attack, major respiratory problem, a stroke, a nervous breakdown, impeding death-(lol, which I swear is what it literally felt like at the time), or anything other than a very bad reaction to Breo. Back home, had muscle spasms in my legs. I feel horrible still today, totally drained of energy, hurt all over from the traumatic experience my body went through last night, but I'm still much better than I was last night. I won't take Breo again, EVER."

• isl...
• July 23, 2016

For COPD "I was excited to try the Breo Ellipta. I have severe emphysema and am 73 years old. At first, I found that I could breathe longer during the day without using my rescue Proair so much during the day. After 6 days, I found that when exerting myself for a longer period of time (grocery shopping), I would run out of air. My chest felt tight, and my Proair didn't seem to rescue me as before. It was a little frightening."

• Jan...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• October 13, 2019

For Asthma, Maintenance "Breo 200/25 worked great for about 6 months. Never used my rescue inhaler. Now I have a chronic sore throat and raspy voice, chest pain, muscle spasms in both hands, fatigue, and insomnia. I can still breathe deeply, but the side effects are getting worse the longer I continue to use Breo. I plan to return to using Symbicort, the only side effect from that was a raspy voice. I was put on Spiriva Respimat also last month, but the combination of Spiriva and Breo caused me to totally lose my voice. I had to quit the Spiriva, voice loss and terrible heartburn/stomach pain."

• Flu...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 28, 2018

For Asthma "My nebulizer and my rescue inhaler were working, but my pulmonologist wanted to wean me from both. Two days after starting Breo Ellipta, I started a wracking cough with ample sputum, sore throat, irritated sinuses, headache, nasal congestion, chest tightness, and unable to take a deep breath. I thought it was the flu or a bad cold and continued using it for a week while symptoms got worse. The doctor said I could also use the nebulizer if necessary, but I found out neither the nebulizer nor the rescue inhaler had any effect while using Breo. The doctor stopped the Breo, and in 36 hours all side effects disappeared except the cough, which is definitely better. Will not take again."

• Blu...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 1, 2019

For Asthma, Maintenance "Sad and relieved to see others here like me. The first week was great, and then tremors, headaches, dry hair, skin, eyes, sinuses, and mouth joint pain, and finally super high blood pressure and high cortisol in my body. Foggy head and fatigue. Chest tightness, rash, and moody. I took it for asthma, but the side effects are crazy. I took it for less than 2 months and quit."

• Pea...
• December 8, 2016

For Asthma, Maintenance "This medicine worked well in the beginning, but I quickly built up a tolerance to it. It is now not working so well after a month. Now I am getting severe tightness in the chest a few times a day while still using it. Not only that, I am cramped up now all the time with severe thigh and lower leg cramps, shoulder spasms, and neck terrible pain. The fatigue is crippling and intolerable. My life has become a misery. I will go back to the Dr. and ask to be put on something else. This is the cure? Ha!"

• Win...
• May 13, 2017

For Asthma, Maintenance "My allergist put me on Aerospan for a month, it wasn't working, I was still tight. The same day I started Breo, I felt relief. It will be 2 months on April 10th. Have not used my rescue inhaler more than twice in 2 months (used to use it 6 times a day). The only side effects I have are severe all-day chest pain and back pain. Fatigue. I feel super tired and unable to walk too much, but no exacerbation from my lungs. I feel shortness, but my lungs are clear. My pulse is over 120 resting and as high as 165 at times, had to take Ativan to relax the palpitations. I'm 29 years old. My dosage is 200/25 mg, along with montelukast 10 mg."

• cat...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 28, 2021

For Asthma "I was recently diagnosed with asthma after I started having shortness of breath and difficulty catching my breath. I had had these symptoms twice previously in 53 years. They started to go away after a couple of months. I started taking Breo Ellipta five days ago. At first, it caused rapid heartbeat that was very uncomfortable. The doctor said this was probably temporary. After that, I started having pain and tightness in my chest, especially when I raise my hands above my head. Last night, I had trouble sleeping, even with generic Xanax (Alprazolam). I've been able to breathe better, but I'm not sure the side effects are worth it."

• CRC...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 30, 2022

For Asthma, Maintenance "I started taking Breo Ellipta 200/25 five days ago. With the first puff, I felt medicine going through my lungs and thought it must be working. The last few days, though, I've been feeling worse day by day. Chest pain, anxious, crying, with extreme nausea. I went to the ED last night, they said it's just anxiety. Today, I woke up feeling better, but I gave it one last try to see if it's that medicine. As soon as I inhaled it, I began to feel EXTREMELY sick again. Now I'm just waiting for it to wear off. I will never take it again."

• Pho...
• January 8, 2021

For Asthma, Maintenance "45 years with asthma. 12-21-2020 I started Breo for asthma maintenance. Dec 31st, I noticed that my asthma symptoms returned, but not as strong. Jan 2, I had no symptoms (I forgot to use it). Jan 3 – 7. Jan 7 morning I realized I was feeling bad because of the Breo. During the past week, I'd had these symptoms, which turned out to be side effects of taking Breo: I threw up, coughing, headache (Jan 1 - 6), light-headedness, tightness in chest, labored breathing, change in voice, I could only talk for about 10 minutes without labored breathing. I realized it was the Breo because Jan 7, 2021, my symptoms returned about 10:00 am. Other days, I'd taken my dose around 8:00 am and I'd start feeling meh around 9/9:30 am. However, Jan 7, I didn't take the Breo until a little after 9:00 am. I was feeling fine prior to that. Jan 8, 2021, I did not take Breo. I have been feeling okay today. There's a little labored breathing, but not as labored as it was in the previous days."

• Chu...
• January 2, 2016

For Asthma "Body aches, fever, chest pain, heavy chest, problems breathing, stomach pain."

• Jay...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 21, 2017

For Asthma "Took exactly 4 weeks to start working. I was miserable that whole time of waiting. Nebulizer every day, tightness in chest, no energy. Bizarre how I woke up Sunday and I felt normal again! Yay!!!!"