Is Seretide causing more problems than the asthma?

Hi everyone, I'm interested to hear your views on Seretide. After some great advice from this forum, I am on my way to getting my acid reflux a bit better controlled. I changed a lot of my diet and find that I can now keep a lot of the acid away with Rennies. I always wondered if there was a link to the acid reflux and seretide, as it started a few weeks after I began taking the inhaler.

Anyway, I decided to try to drop my seretide dose to once a day (instead of twice) and see if having less acid has had a positive effect on my asthma. After just a couple of days, many of my problems were improving. I actually found that my breathing was easier and chest less constrained. My seemingly permanent sinus swelling went down and I could breathe normally through my nose for the first time in months. The acid reflux pretty much disappeared (although burping increased). My stomach pain went. My cramps were gone. My rib pain and armpit pain went....... I was overjoyed.....

Unfortunately, this morning I woke up coughing on mucus, so decided to go back to taking the seretide twice a day. I took the second dose a couple of hours ago and within minutes, I found my lungs feel like they're too big for my chest and breathing is harder. The rib pain and muscle cramps are back. I've had a couple of painful acid reflux incidents and my sinuses are beginning to swell.

If these are side effects, then ironically, it's the medicine that is causing most of my troubles.

Has anybody else had these experiences with seretide? If so, how did you overcome them? Is there an alternative to ask the doctor to prescribe? 

[freefaller]

I would talk to your GP and consultant and try and get changed to another inhaler.

[Beth_19]

I would definitely speak to your GP about alternative inhalers.

I'm on seretide but haven't really noticed any side effects, but I'm also on steroids and such so it would be hard to know if it is specifically the seretide causing anything until I'm off steroids.

hope you get sorted

[Polzovatel]

Hi, I also think that my shortness of breath/ possible reflux  started after I started taking seretide for chronic cough - I asked 2 consultants but they both said that it's not possible and also keep reiterating that I cannot stop taking it!

[Hidden in reply to Polzovatel]

All these things are on the list of side effects that comes with the inhaler, so it's certainly possible! I don't find my doctors to be very knowledgeable on asthma. I feel they don't really take it seriously. 

[Hidden]

Hi FatherJack

Im on Seretide 250 3 times 2 puffs a day. It is a good inhaler which keeps me mucus free. I believe all steroids based inhalers will give you side effects. We talked about rinsing and brushing teeth before. Above 800 mcg a day inhaled steroids get systemic and will give you worse side effects especially if you have taken them for a while.

I am on Omeprazole 20mg daily to protect me from acid reflux caused by steroids. I wash my nose after inttake with those seewater sprays to make sure I clean my sinuses of the product. I did the same when I was on Fostair 8 puffs a day and kept of having chest infections so was upgraded to seretide. 

For the muscle cramps etc I seem to be over those with added exercises and get my blood moving. Diet is important no inflammatory substances like dairy just keep to live yoghurt, have portidge and stewed apples to help with acidity in the gut, adding a vitamin D from Solgar is good and a complex vitamin B told me the physio. That seems to help in the long run. Ask for respiratory physio. 

I had to seek these alternatives to help me deal with those side effects but I can't stand a repeat of infections and flare ups. 

Good luck and take care xxx

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

Yes, I'm on 1000mcg a day, which barely keeps me controlled, but it's hard to tell if my breathlessness is caused by the meds. When I lowered my dose to 500 a day, the asthma crept back with a vengeance though, so I think I do need the higher dose. Maybe vitamin D supplements are worth looking into. I spend half the year in Ireland and we don't get a lot of sun!  I will look up respiratory physio online, thanks  

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

You're welcome. If I may don't lower your own dosage without prescribed alternative meds infections come back with a vengeance..I did it and had the same reaction you had😉 ..

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

Vitamin D is a must

 I had it confirmed by the specialist a calcium Vitamin D complex because of bad bone density for me. :)))

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

Finally another call to the help line, hospital referral and check up to review your treatment and get you stabilised seems appropriate.

Let us know how you are getting on :)))

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

Yes, I have never actually visited an asthma clinic. I spend all my time travelling from place to place and don't get many chances to visit my registered doctor. Drop in clinics are happy to prescribe inhalers, but little else. When I do visit my own doctor, he doesn't seem very helpful and spends most of the time pointing out how expensive my medicine is, as if having asthma is something of a personal choice! I will certainly let you know, thanks for al your help  

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

😊😊🌺

[lindmat]

I had a problem but not the ones you mention. Mine was severe joint pain. My friend also had the same problem. Thinking back however I do remember having more sinus congestion 

[Nanny1086]

There are alternative inhalers you could try ,,,,I've been on seratide for 10 years plus ,,,,I take it after my ventolin inhaler ,morning  after breakfast  and last thing at  night ,,

[Hidden]

Seretide and other preventers can't be stopped and started as the effects will wear off (unlike reliever inhalers such as ventolin which can taken as needed). It is important to be on the lowest dose that gives relief (for example, I was on 4 puffs a day but between me and the nurse have got it down to half that with my asthma remaining well controlled). As an inhaled drug I'd doubt it should contribute to digestive issues (particularly if you are rinsing/gargling after) but I personally have never got on with Rennies. Have you tried Ranitidine which you need to take only once a day (can buy as a generic from the pharmacy) as that usually gets rid of all the symptoms. If you are sure it's the inhaler definitely go back and talk to your GP/asthma nurse and see if you can try something else.

[Ttansformer in reply to Hidden]

Does anyone know how how long to get rid of rxhsustion and bloating after stopping seratide or flixotide,

[RASHDANMS]

hi fatherjack, actually your symptoms was 100% very similar to me..as i reduce the use of seretide conditions improved a lot.

[Ttansformer in reply to RASHDANMS]

Hi Rashdanms ,I'm currently on flixotide think similar to seratide,I am bloated on stomach exhausted all the time,I'm going to try cutting back to 1 dose a day instead of 2 ,I'm so exhausted can't do anything all started about 3 mths ago when I started the flixotide ,my GP says no way but I disagree ,any info appreciated thanks

[Leedale]

I've just realised that seretide is causing the following: horseness in voice, swelling of throat, rib pain and painful reflux .... yes after tonight I will cease taking this medication. I wish I'd realised sooner what this treatment was doing to me. FatherJack, I've been suffering from the same symptoms as you but the worse is the swelling of the throat which frightens me. I feel like I'm going to suffocate.