Has anybody been able to wean off of their inhaled meds (like Advair) and just u!
Question: I have had mild persistent asthma and have been on Advair for 5 years, as well as albuterol rescue and Singulair. Have minor breathing issues, but would like to wean of of the inhaled steroids.....any one try this? Any withdrawal symptoms, or rebound attacks?? Thanks! My pulmonologist pushes the Advair and does not even want to hear of me stopping the Advair.......
Answers: I have had mild persistent asthma and have been on Advair for 5 years, as well as albuterol rescue and Singulair. Have minor breathing issues, but would like to wean of of the inhaled steroids.....any one try this? Any withdrawal symptoms, or rebound attacks?? Thanks! My pulmonologist pushes the Advair and does not even want to hear of me stopping the Advair.......
I have mild-moderate asthma and was on flovent (fluticasone like part of yours) and a similar one for years before that hoping to 'outgrow' my asthma as my doctor put it. I took myself off of it about two years ago (mainly out of concern for my bones) and I thought it would be scary, but it hasn't been. I slowly increased my exercise and built up my lung capacity (I love to hike and mountain climb) and I rely solely on my trusty salbutamol blue inhaler. I'm definitely not saying you should try it, just that it worked for me.
Find out why exactly your doctor doesn't recommend you go off it. Do you take your emergency inhaler every day, or even every other day? Do you have difficulty breathing at night and often wake up wheezing etc? You really should stick to the advice of your doctor.
I deffinately would NOT wean myself off with out the ok from your pulmo. I'm also on Advair and Singulair and Spiriva to boot. I actually have stopped taking them before, not because I didn't want to or felt I didn't need them, but because of insurance issues. I can tell you I could tell a distinct difference in the way I felt and the frequency of attacks without it.
I sound about the same as you, but I don't need mine in the winter very often...have you had to use the albuterol? if so, I don't think you should give up the advair...it works to prevent any irritation.........if, if , if you feel you have to stop, I would keep taking the singulair and keep the albuterol handy. I don't have any symptoms when I stop, but you really are going against doctor's orders...why stop if it works? If it is the money, you can submit paperwork to the manufacturer and show your income and they can send you some for free- that is what my next door neighbor is doing. so the answer is, I am able to wean off seasonally, but if you need it, I don't think you should do it. good luck
I am on the same meds as you. I have thought about weening off them also. I asked my doctor and he said some people go down to once a day if there are feeling under control. He also said that you shouldn't be fooled into thinking you are better. Once the drugs are doing their job you feel well but when you go off you can have rebound attacks. He probably doesn't want you to go off them because he knows how they are helping you. Asthma doesn't go away you just keep it in check. I know its a pain to keep up with medications and you feel like you should be able to control something like breathing but in reality we need help. Minor breathing problems can turn into major ones fast. I know. I never really thought I had asthma even after they told me I did because I didn't feel THAT BAD. Until I ended up in the ER after a bout with a cold that flared up the asthma. Tell your doctor your not comfortable taking it and ask him if you can take it before allergy season starts. Sometimes they will let you do that. Don't wean off of it by yourself. It could end up worse than you know. Good Luck
It sounds ridiculous, but I had the same meds as you did (with pretty severe asthma) and then I stopped eating dairy products and now I only use my medication in an emergency.
Not kidding.