I've been taking Advair 100/50 for about a week now and the results are astounding. I literally do not require my abuterol for everyday normal activities. However, I have noticed some annoying minor muscle and joints aches. I am aware of the potential side-effects of Advair, but I would like to know if the effects are temporary or permanent? Does the body require some sort of an adjustment period? How long? Also, I understand that many Advair users take calcium supplements in order to avoid long term bone loss. Is there any information out there or does anyone know how much of a calcium supplement and/or additional mineral/vitamins would be necessary? 200, 300 or 600% of normal daily requirements? Also does anybody know anything about Xolair? FDA approved? I heard that this is particular medication targets the asthmatic condition with less side-effects. Anyway, for perhaps the first time in as long as I can remember, I have unlabored breathing, and I am loath to give up this medication. Any info would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

When I first started on inhaled corticosteroids, I had muscle cramps at night. My legs would cramp up painfully, and it would wake me up several times at night. I kept taking the drugs until I could see my doctor, and as it turned out, the cramps stopped happening, and I never had to switch off my medication.

Most side-effects from inhaled drugs are your body's getting used to the new dose of a new drug. The typical line that the doctors or pharmacists give asthma patients on new drugs is that if the side-effects are really bothersome or they don't go away after a month or so of treatment, to consult your pharmacist. You're on a fairly low dose, so these muscle aches if they are from your advair, I doubt will last very long.

As for calcium requirements, you should talk to your doctor about taking extra supplements because of your advair (he will probably only recommend it if you aren't getting enough from your diet and you're also at risk for osteoporosis) because taking too much of a particular supplement can also be detrimental to your health, because it makes your liver and kidneys (In this case your kidneys) work a hell of a lot harder.

For anyone taking calcium supplements, it is recommended that they take a combo calcium/vitamin D/magnesium supplement, as these three minerals are required side-by-side for the calcium to be properly absorbed. The upside to this is that in our bestest source of dietary calcium, dairy products, contain all three of these in a more natural format than is found in supplements. Same goes for green, leafy vegetables. Before you even FATHOM taking supplements, try to eat dietary foods containing high amounts of these minerals, as they are far more readily absorbed than anything you'll find in a pill. It'll be about equivalent.

For people taking low-dose inhaled corticosteroids though, long-term bone loss shouldn't be a big problem for you unless you're not getting enough calcium in your diet, in which case you're just as bad off as someone who isn't taking advair. Those who are on oral steroids are the ones who should really be worrying about calcium supplements.

I couldn't find any information on rxlist or medlineplus about xolair. I'm curious about this drug. What is its active ingredient? It might have been approved already under a different brand name.

wrin,

Thank you very much for your quick response. In reference to your Xolair question. It was jointly created by Genentech, Inc. and Novartis Pharma. Your right, there is another name for it called, "Omalizumab". It apparently works by stopping the production of immunoglobulin-E, or IgE.



[This message has been edited by moderator2 (edited 12-02-2002).]

Do you know how often it's taken?

That would be SO awesome. That'd be like.. the antihistamine from HELL.

I'm very interested in doing my Pharmocology project on this, now. I think I've made a decision.

[This message has been edited by wrin (edited 11-30-2002).]

Apparently, this Xolair is some fairly potent stuff. An excerpt from the below web site says: " Xolair is administered every two to four weeks subcutaneously (i.e. by injection under the skin), at a dose depending on the patient's body weight and IgE level."

[This message has been edited by moderator2 (edited 12-02-2002).]

well, after reading that it was an antibody, I figured it wouldn't be administered any further apart than once a month, so that sounds about right.

That won't be too bad at all, subcutaneous injections are the least painful.

You'll have to e-mail me that url, 'ts in my profile, I didn't get to see that last one.