Advair Diskus and joint pain

My 71 year old mother was put on Advair approximately two years ago after she was diagnosed with COPD. She has always been a tiny, petit woman her entire life, and after being placed on Advair she has nearly doubled in weight. This week she has broken out in shingles (herpes zoster) on her back and left breast. For a year she has had psoriasis on her right hand. Never before has she had so many rashes and skin issues since being on Advair. She has also experienced joint pain and numbness since being placed on Advair and began having panic/anxiety attacks as well - something she has never had in her life. Also, the hoarseness, or "lump in her throat" she is always trying to clear is nearly always present. Monday she is suggesting to her GP that she be weaned off of Advair altogether and we'll see what other options are available. Maybe this is the "miracle drug" for some; but for others it has been a nightmare.

What a Godsend this website is. I am a 48 year old female, and I have been taking Advair (the lowest dose) for about 2 months now, with steadily worstening side effects. Although I have to admit, my first dose of Advair was like a much need "breath of fresh air", the side effects are not worth it. In fact, I just got off the phone with my doctor, telling her I will no longer be taking the Advair. These were the side effects I have experienced: rapid heartbeat, rib pain, joint pain in my legs and fingers, loose bowels, and a noticeable change in weight / body shape. I have always been complimented on my tiny waist and flat stomach, but as of late I have noticed my waist size increasing, despite my usual exercise. In addition, the most serious and most disturbing side effects are insomnia and the onset of severe depression / anxiety / paranoia. I had issues with depression as a young woman in my 20's with anorexia, with no relapse until I began this medication. Yesterday, I had to pull over to a store parking lot to cry for no reason! If it were not for this website, I would have blamed myself for some sort of mental weakness or unhealthy thinking. Also, I have never experienced anxiety in my life, and while on this medication I have had several episodes of intense panic, where I was convinced I should immediately draft a last will and testament. My vision has been blurring in and out considerably, my voice sounds as if I have larynxitis daily, and I have also experienced profoundly increased thirst and urination. I have not had my blood pressure checked, but I feel like what must be an increase in this, as well. Lastly, the past few days I have noticed severe hair loss, which, until I read this website, I attributed to my recent dieting. (I have been desperately dieting and increasing exercise to try to regain my figure that this medication is apparently ruining. Until this time, I have weighed the same and had the same or stronger body than high school school (5'4'', 115 - 120 lbs.) God bless everyone who has contributed to this website to educate others about the horrors of this medication. My doctor wants to see me to "give me something else", but I am going look into alternative therapies (yoga, breathing exercises, teas, etc.) The comment that made the most sense on this website was the person who wrote "break up with your asthma...begin by taking a deep breath and telling yourself you no longer have asthma." Also, I have seen that God / Jesus can heal anything, so I am going to turn to Him in prayer instead of the doctors. After all, Who created our bodies to begin with? I will add you all to my prayers, and that God will help us all heal from this... both the asthma and the suffering created by Advair.

I am a 36 year old male in very good physical condition (except for the asthma) and have been on advair 50/100 for 3 months.

I have since experienced:
Decreased asthma- from using my albuterol inhaler nightly to never.
Increased coughing, congestion, and hoarseness from rarely to daily.
Muscle tightness and joint pain from rarely to daily.
Two pulled muscles in my calf, one in my groin compared to zero in the past five years
One severe abdominal cramp resulting in fainting compared to never before in my life.

It appears that doctors are prescribing this without adequate understanding of the the side effects. Pay attention to your body's response to the medicine. Advair may not be for you.

I started on Advair 250/50 6/28/07 for continued wheezing, bronchitis problems even though I quit smoking 12/25/06. In mid July I began to have Lt knee pain, the dx from the Dr was "arthritis--you are getting older you know" I was 46 yrs old. I got a cortisone shot 7/24 since the pain was so terrible, the shot gave we 1 week pain free, then 8/10 I had #2 shot, same knee, again this shot only lasted 1 week, then pain returned with a vengenance. End of August I had an MRI done on Lt knee due to continued knee pain---this showed a menescal tear. So we are in the 1st week of Sept and the pain continues to worsen, now I have pain in Rt knee also. Grasping at various straws I re-read the Side Effects and Adverse Reactions to Advair. Imagine my surprise/shock to read under Musculoskeletal: arthralgia (Severe arthritic joint pain), bone and cartilaage disorders, muscle pain, muscle stiffness. Also wt gain.
Needless to say I quit the Advair..Even tho I had been on Advair for less than 1 month before my knee problems started . Next week I go in for surgical repair on torn menesci Lt knee, and so far so good with my breathing, but tomarrow I tell my Dr that "I quit the Advair, and the reason why I quit."

I started using Advair 2 months ago. I developed a serious and stubborn case of mouth Candida, joint pain and dizzy spells. My doctor just shrugged so I fired him and weaned myself off the drug. I just received an rx for Spiriva but after reading the fine print it appears to also cause mouth Candida as well as other problems. Any suggestions from anyone what I can replace the drug with would be helpful. I have COPD.