I’ve been blowing money on my Advair Diskus for years. That was my first thought when I saw how many CFers were on Advair 250/50 from reading their blogs. So I asked when I went to clinic last time. I’ve been on Xopenex puffers, but those darn things are a $50 co-pay!
“Why the heck am I on 150/50 when everyone else is on such a higher dose?”
The doctor left the room and brought me a sample of 500/50 and a puffer of Advair HFA 230/21 with a big grin. “That should do.”
I’ve been wanting to go on a low dose of Prednisone because of how good it makes my lungs feel, but (in his words) “we don’t want you breaking every rib when you cough after a transplant.” This is his steroid compromise for me, so I’ll take it, especially since the increases dosage does seem to be doing the job.
I read the inserts with the Advairs, and it sure seems to improve function tests, though I doubt they were using low-end CFers in the study – most likely just asthmatics – but the numbers were impressive and the co-pay for the diskus was only $35. We also got a $50 rebate from the clinic when we fill them, so every little bit helps when the bills keep coming in until we reach our out-of-pocket maximum for the year on non-Rx items.
You know me well enough that I don't give advice. So, with that I am in no way giving you advice. I was once on Advair and am now on Symbicort. I'm not advocating one over the other. What I can say is that both these drugs are a little controversial with some cf docs. You may want to do some reading on them. I've found them to be very beneficial, but one of my docs was against it because he said it would potentially open me up to more infections. The best advice I got from the allergist was that they always start with the high dose, the opposite of your situation, and work down. So, perhaps, after a month of 500, you might want to try 250 to see if that works for you. The key is to find the lowest dose possible that helps they told me. Just sharing my experience with you, as I consider you a friend. Again, this is the challenge we face – trying to sort out the truth and how if affects us.
hmmm… I take the 250/50, also – albuterol, colistin, cayston, and honestly – I don't feel anything from any of them – WHAT's WRONG WITH ME!!!!
Thanks – perhaps 250 will be the next dose I try, but that is the sample I
was given and it's not quite the power of the 500 that got prescribed. The
150 didn't touch it and I felt like I was wasting my money filling that Rx,
though. It's this week that I finally feel tops. I may get a Symbicort
sample next time to try, too.
Do you exercise? Unless your lungs are flexible, you might not even notice
your airways opening up… because they might not be.
If you read online, some people love Advair, some love Symbicort. It's all personal preference. For me, Symbicort has worked much better. There may even be a third combi inhaler out there now. I haven't checked in a long time.
I'll take them all!
I'll take them all!