COPD

Hi I have just been diagnosed with severe COPD, the consultant has prescribed Seretide, but after the first three doses I am getting terrible cramp in my legs, feet and hands.nIs there any alternative that do not have these side affects, as I cannot put up with being woken 4 times a night, let alone the pain.

[Superzob]

Not a side effect I'm familiar with, but it's definitely worth reporting as my GP commented that asthma/COPD is big business and there's an enormous market for different inhalers, etc. I've tried 5 inhalers and settled on Symbicort and Ventolin, though I doubt if the latter would be much good for COPD. My advice would be to see your consultant and/or GP asap to suggest an alternative.

[Michael_AsthmaUK]

+1 for talk to your doctor! You might also want to check in the British Lung Foundation forum here - COPD is very much their thing.

[Jansjems]

I have low COPD and asthma.I have had bad experiences with 3 preventatives now. Firstly Breo Ellipta which I wish I had never heard of. A list of side effects too long to think about and when I realised what it was doing to me and came off it I believe my condition was much worse. I was then given Seretide and after only 15 puffs I had the most dreadful cramp/spasm across my lower back, hip to hip and couldn't move for about 5 mins until it eased a little. Rather embarrassing standing in a public carpark unable to move. At least I had made it to my car lol so didn't look quite as silly as I might of. I then felt as if my belly was on fire for the next 12 hrs. The doctor didn't really believe it was the Seretide but suggested I come off it and after a week or so try again. I did and this time after only 5 puffs I had horrific cramps in both legs and feet during the night. The pain was wicked and it was 15 minutes before it eased and I was able to flatten my feet.

Doctor still wasn't convinced but prescribed me Flixotide. After 2 weeks my feet started aching and then after another week they were so sore I could only hobble around. The left much worse than the right. I stopped using it and it took another 3 weeks for it to settle and to be able to walk normally. Doctor was unbelieving and told me I had had an arthritic flare. I don't have arthritis! Time for a new doctor who tells me that these 3 preventatives all have a common ingredient which obviously I was reacting to. Nice that he actually believed what I was telling him.

During this time between doctors I found a post on another blog about someone using Vit B 5 and had almost eliminated his asthma. I already take supplements such as calcium and magnesium so added this to my daily intake and voila in just a week I noticed an amazing difference, hardly needing the Ventolin at all. My COPD is still with me but nowhere near as bad. Hurrah for B5 I say. Nothing else in my lifestyle has changed to cause the improvement although I am blowing up a balloon 6 times a day. Edgar Cayce said that if everyone did this there would be no COPD. I thought it was worth a try. He was a wise man.

I used Symbicort many years ago but never all the time. I was given it to use when I was going to be around my daughters 2 dogs which aggravated my asthma. However I do know someone who has been on it for 18 yrs and swears by it for his asthma but he has severe leg and feet problems and one can't help wondering.

Be aware that these things can and do have side effects and some folks react worse than others and some may not react at all. Talk to your doctor but never believe you are imagining these things. Keep a diary of your symptoms too which is very helpful to look back on.

Good luck and I hope you find the right fit for you.

[Hidden in reply to Jansjems]

Thanks for your input, At least I know somebody else has had this problem.

Half the problem is the fact that I see a different consultant every time I go to the hospital, so it's difficult to build a rapport between us and i don't think that they understand just how savage these cramps can be.

[Jansjems in reply to Hidden]

I like that word savage. Describes them very well.