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I am 28 yrs. old, a long time asthmatic and I have ...
Sent to Health Experts June 13 02:58 PM

I am 28 yrs. old, a long time asthmatic and I have been on advair 250/50 for about 5 yrs. now. I am also an RN. Advair works well for me but I have some concerns about long term use, especially since it contains steroids. First of all, for a few years now my hair has been coming out in clumps in the shower. I have recently began to think that there may be a connection with the advair. Also, I have gained about 30 lbs. over the past 5 years, I am currently 5ft tall and 150 lbs. I think that I have developed a fatty hump at the base of my neck on my back. It could be just fat, but it sounds familiar, like over- use of steroids; people get the moon face and a hump on the back, hair loss and so on. This may not be connected but, my husband and I have been trying to have a baby for 2 yrs. without success. If I am to become pregnant, should I stop advair as soon as I find out? And are any of my symptoms connected to long term use of this medication, or am I just being a hypercondriac?

 

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Female , Age: 28

Customer (name blocked for privacy)
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June 13 3:14 PM (15 minutes and 49 seconds later)
         
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I would say that your symptoms do sound very much like a Cushings syndrome problem. At the moment, the current advice is to reach a steroid dose which controls symptoms then at 3 month intervals reduce the dose to one where symptoms are still controlled. This reduces risk of systemic side effects to a minimum.

As a RN, you will be aware that if your doctor does decide that the symptoms are related, or you need to stop for other reasons then you need to be taken off the steroid gradually. Usually by titrating the dose then going onto lower strengths.

In terms of inhaler use during pregnancy then doctors look at a benefit : risk analysis. Is the baby more at risk from poor oxygen supply or the side effects of inhaler therapy? There has been some work done which suggests that natural steroid production in pregnacy means that asthmatics don't actually need a steroid inhaler in pregnancy but theis has to be controlled under supervison.

I have found no evidence that the inhalers interfere with fertility however if you are experiencing some systemic side effects then it is possible that your female hormones may be affected in some way.

The thing to do now is see your doctor and arrange some blood tests to understand whether the problem with fertility is with yourself or your husband. Once that has been identified, and your hormone levels are known then it may be a case that you need something to 'kick start' your cycle into ovulating.

Does this information help?




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