Advair?

[Blondee15]

Originally Posted by wrin

I must say, and this is a very, very, personal thing.

It makes me want to tear my hair out when there's lovely wonderful drugs like Flovent and Pulmicort which are dosed one one-hundredth the dose of Prenidonse, that act locally, with minimal side effects, etc etc etc...

And then people start to rag on them and talk about how they're horrible immunosuppressant drugs that make people sicker and you should lower your dosage and everything and ...

I mean, yes, they work by stabilizing the end of your immune system that is haywire, they decrease the immune response that is inflammation and histamine release (in this sense, Zyrtec is an immunosuppressant too,) they increase your responsiveness to bronchodilator therapy, they have minimal side-effects, ... they work AWESOME for 99% of the people who they're indicated for.

So I will ask -- and I am meaning to be polite here, I apologize in advance -- that you please pardon the loud grinding of my teeth when I hear the word 'immunosuppressant' thrown around like a cuss word.

Even the dark demon Solu-Medrol has its place, if it is to keep you alive.

You couldn't be more right..asthma, if left untreated, has the potential 2 kill & make many things we take 4 granted "2 much, cuz we can't breathe". I know when i'm having a flare up walking up the stairs will be a chore. Personally i'll take a few illnesses that can be taken care of over a day to day ordeal, having daily attacks, nonstop flare ups, nonstop coughing & the fear that comes with the shortness of breath.
Nothing comes without side effects, I will admit that I, myself, have been much much more susceptible to illnesses & never have had more since being diagnosed but like I said asthma is much much more dangerous if left untreated.

[almondjoy]

I have used Advair for about 2 years..(or 3?). In my opinion, Advair is a wonder drug. I had no problems or complications other than my appetite increased. Advair is so expensive, however. So this week I began using Azmacort, instead of the Advair, to save money. I have had several side effects which include; restlessness, insomnia, exhaustion, and an itchy-watery eye...plus, I do not feel like I can breathe deeply using this drug. I will switch back to Advair.

[bluebanana]

Originally Posted by wrin

Bluebanana, have you ever thought of switching inhaled steroids?

Just because steroids like beclomethasone are actually absorbed faster than steroids like Flovent or Pulmicort, and may work better for you.

I'm guessing that is becotide? I get a bit confused with all the different names for stuff. If it is I've tried it! Tried most things. Waiting to be seen by the Royal Brompton Hospital back in England. Hopefully they will think of something new to try, all out of ideas at the moment!!! Have tried most of the inhaled steroids, seretide is definately the best of the bunch!
Cheers tho!
x x x

[wrin]

Yup, up here where I live it has three names besides beclomethasone -- beclovent (now defunct,) becloforte (the high-dose stuff,) and QVAR, the HFA-version.

[jp3892]

Wrin: nobody is knocking the beneficial effects of inhaled steroids but for people like me who only ever felt the effects of asthma once (maybe twice) a year when viral infections were caught, then i don't believe that suppressing your immune system every day for no reason is a good idea. Also I think doctors should think about doses being prescribed a little more than they do. theres no point having somebody on more then the maximum daily dose of steroids every day of their life for 20 years when it isn't doing anything.

So just to make it clear: I am not suggesting people should throw away their steroids! I am merely saying people should inform themselves on their own medication and symptoms because Doctors don't know u as well as u do yourself and they certainly don't have the same time for u as u would yourself.