Question:
I have adult onset asthma (come from family where childhood asthma was
frequent, usually outgrown) diagnosed 15 years ago. I am 61 and have been
on a variety of medications over the years. Right now I am on Uniphyl,
singular and about a year ago I switched from two different inhaled
medicines (one steroid) to Advair Discus -- which is a combined medicine,
definitely including an inhaled steroid. It has controlled the asthma very
well. However I started gaining weight and am now 35 lbs heavier -- all in
my stomach, neck and face (funny pouches of fat on the sides of my neck) --
definitely cushingoid effects (I have no official diagnosis, only read
about it on the internet) Also bruising red easily. I was on 500/50
dosage until about a month ago. I was on a pretty rigorous exercise/diet
program for 6 weeks and lost not a lb. I finally determined that the
steroids were the cause -- though I have been told that the inhaled steroids
did not have side effects.
About a month ago I asked my doctor to reduce the dosage and went down to
the 250/50 About 10 days ago I went to the 100 and do not have any
significant changes. Two days ago I decided to skip several days to see if I
could do without. I can tell no difference (I expected to wake up wheezing
in the middle of the night and have to use my Ventolin). I am calling my
allergist tomorrow to make an appointment with him. Maybe my pretty serious
asthma is better (have been doing a lot of breath work and yoga) and maybe I
can stop the steroids. I feel like I have a bowling ball instead of a
stomach and my waistline has disappeared. On the otherhand I have pretty
serious asthma -- had to be hospitalized 4 years ago with an attack and have
had pneumonia twice in the last 3 years. I surely don't want to lose
control of the asthma, but am hoping there is some alternative to the daily
use of inhaled steroids.
Answer:
If your other medications control your asthma well - and please do check
with your doctor to see that your symptoms are under control to his/her
satisfaction as well - then the fact that you can do without an inhaled
steroid is good news, indeed.
If I were you, I would spend a month or two on the 100/50 Advair before
getting off it completely, just to ease the transition, or at least be
prepared to go back on it if the need arises.
Singulair is a miracle medicine, in my opinion. My son, who suffers
from mild asthma, takes Singulair every day of his life now but no other
asthma medication on a regular basis. He does use a Serevent diskus
beforehand when he knows he'll have an active day and that does seem to
help, and you might consider that option as well. Although I have
noticed it is a distinctly unpopular opinion to hold on this website,
there are some people, my son among them, for whom the Serevent
component without the Flovent steroid provides effect treatment. (For
what it's worth, I, too, tried Serevent without Flovent but I seem to
need them both.)
