My daughter is 8 years old and has been diagnosed with asthma since she was four. Her asthma is not bad, usually only when she is sick. She has been on Advair for about four years, and I am starting to see some side effects that greatly concern me. Before she started Advair she was a normal sized child, now, after four years she is about 20-30 pounds overweight. She is also irritable and sometimes depressed. I am not sure what to do, I have brought this to her pediatrician's attention but he told me to quit worrying and put her on a diet. This is not addressing the problem but I don't want to get tough with her doctor if he is right. Has anyone out there come across the same problems? I will change doctors if I have to, but my daughter likes him and I need to know it's the right thing to do. Help please!!!!

Are you seeing a pediatric pulmonologist? If not, you should. Asthma should not be treated by a general physician. She just may need a medication change.

My 13 y.o. daughter also started Advair around age 9, was actually underweight, and she immediately gained weight (30 lbs in under 2 months). It helped her asthma tremendously so she was on it for a couple years. She did not over eat. After stopping the medication, nothing she does will get the weight off. I know she burns more calories than she eats (swim team, figure skating, trampoline, etc.), but it doesn't matter. I have researched this drug for 4 years now, have gone from Pediatricians, Allergy/Asthma Specialists, Ped. Endocronologists, and only one dr. even admits that the Advair "may" have caused her problem. I have met other parents and children with this weight gain side effect. My daughter went through allergy shots, and is now almost drug-free (still needs Singulair - which is supposed to have other side effects). But like I said, she is now over-weight, and diet/exercise don't really help. Basic labwork was normal, and we have an appointment with another endo. next month to see if he can help her. It's a shame the quality of life of a child is ruined by a drug that she/he is obviously sensitive to, and the drs. out there thke it very lightly (needless to say the sleepless nights of the parents worrying about the dangers of being over-weight). There is no family history of obesity - mom & dad, aunts, uncles, cousins, grandparents, etc. are all normal or thin.

Is your daughter on any other meds beside rescue inhaler?

Feel free to ask me any questions - you have a long road ahead of you.