weight gain

I was so happy to have lost 30 pounds - at great effort - and maintained the loss for 2 years. BUT when I had to change doctors six months ago, the new one took me off of Serevent and put me on Symbicort, telling me that was the best medication for my mild-moderate COPD (which was called asthma until I turned 60). I have now gained most of the weight back. I changed doctors again a week ago and switched from Symbicort. to Spiriva which is non-steroid, but I expect to have to put forth that great effort again to get back to what is normal weight for me. I've had weight gain from medications in the past, gone off the drug and lost the weight but only with great effort. Doctors make light of it, deny it's due to the drug they prescribed, etc etc. It's tiresome.

I have spoken with my endocrinologist/diabetic specialist who agrees that inhaled steroids do build up in the cells in a similar fashion to oral administration over a period of time.

I have input my experience with spiriva inhaler this morning but wondered if anyone also experienced heartburn whilst taking spiriva daily

I know this was posted a year ago but what reliefe for me to stumble accross it.  I have had ashthma from childhood and always relied on ventolin as didn't like the idea of inhaled steroids.  Following a heart attack aged 48 (4 years ago) years ago I was advised to use seretide which would have less interaction with with other meds/would be better for heart.  Year on year I proceeded to then put on a stone, until about a year ago when I really made an effort to reverse that process through diet and exercise.  But I couldn't shift more than about a stone. I too had a stomach like I was pregnant as well as a rash which developed on my neck.  I knew it had to do with the steroid but every time I tried to come off it my lungs felt like I was an old woman - worse than they had ever been.  Recently by accident I ran out of seretide and the health centre accidentally issued ventolin, coincidentally I had also just started using a herbal tablet called tylophora asmatica folium.  Using 4 tabs of these spread daily and around 4 x ventolin within a week my stomach as reduced to almost normal proportions and I feel more "normal" within myself.  Professionals and asthma support websites appear to be wrong on this one.  Don't let anyone tell you you are imagining symptoms from any prescribed medication.  I'm not sure how this will pan out for me in the long term, but as a normally slim person I am thrilled that my body appears to be returning to it's normal state.

i have been put back on seretide twice a day after a few months well 6 months of being on a nebulizer 4 times a day and im putting on loads of weight even after justa month and a half!!

 

Hi,

I read this thread and i was so relieved that all the symtoms i had had (past tense - i'm now off the drug) were not imagined, as implied by my GP.

I was prescribed Seretide 2 years ago following a particularly bad chast infection. After the antibiotics and course of prednisolone, my peak flow was still low, so it was suggested i try this.

Initially it was great - i was on Seretide 125 and my lungs felt great. Slowly over the 2 years i was on it, certain things changed with the rest of my health (even though my asthma was still good) and eventually i linked it to the drug.

The first odd symtom i developed was snoring. the only time i snored was when i had a cold and yet suddenly every night, my husband was digging me in the ribs and telling me to turn over.

Then the weight gaid started, but i still didn't twig at this point that it was anythign to do with my inhaler.

Finally, i started having the symtoms of anxiety attacks without actually being anxious about anything - when i say anxiety attacks, i means i'd get hot and then i'd get shortness of breath and my heart rate would increase, all whilst i was sat happily at my desk or when watching TV.

The anxiety attacks were initially why i went to the GP - I thought i was on early manopause at the age of 40! the GP sent me away and told me to monitor my symptoms and come back in a couplf of weeks. Which i did and went back and asked to try the lowest dose as my asthma was still under control. Also, when i'd run out of seretide around this time, i saw a difference in some of my symptoms. Going on the lower dose lessened my anxiety (although it didn't dissapear completely) and i started looking into my symptoms.

Anyway, 3 trips to the doctor to be fobbed off and advised my weight gain was due to the slowing down of my motabolism as it does when you get older (!), and other bits of verbal clap-trap (in my opinion) i strongly requested that i be put on my old inhaler. I was given it reluctantly and the difference was phenominal - i lost 7 lbs in the first week. I haven't changed my diet at all, but i don't geel hungry all the time like i used to.

Also the snoring has stopped, as have the anxiery attacks and generally i just feel more energetic.

I came off the seretide just over a month ago and the first couple of weeks my Asthma got worse and i was a bit worried i'd made the wrong choice to change inhalers, but after that i started feeling better.

My Asthma isn't as good as it was on the Seretide, but it's under control and the general feeling of well being i have now makes it worthwhile.

Hi all ,good morning ,,,,just want to say I've been on Seratide 500 for many years now ( over 10 years ) yes I have put on weight during this time ,,,,but I haven't put it down to Seratide,,,,,,I think it might be the 2 mcvities chocolate biscuits I gave with most cups of tea,,,,

so no complaints about the use of seratide from me ,but I wish those of you who are having problems with it ,,,

best wishes