Hello Everyone,
I was diagnosed with asthma 2 years ago and used a total of 4 doses of Fostair inhaler per day. However, the hair on my body and face grew, darkened and increased. My hormones are normal and I have no other illness. I did not see any effect of reducing the dose. Is there anyone else experiencing this? Did changing the medication help? Thanks in advance
I went onto Fostair during the start of the menopause, so I assumed the extra hair growth was from changing hormones. Something to think about. xx
Hello! I am a 24 year old female. My doctor said that it can be seen in high doses, so we lowered my doses but I did not see any change. I was wondering if anyone else experienced this. Thank you.
I started Fostair at 37, so I shouldn't be nearing menopause, but the hairs on my chin have gone wild. Another commenter here said the same thing some time ago and I felt such relief! I hadn't considered the steroid inhaler aspect and honestly I'm relieved it's that rather than hormonal imbalance.
I started using Fostair with a spacer and I feel like the hair growth has slowed down but it's a difficult thing to judge.
It could easily be hormonal fluctuations at your age - they can start well before menopause. I got my first symptoms (including hairy chin!) at 35.
Hi! Thank you, Is your increased hair growth due to hormones? All my blood values and hormones look very good now, and also the ultrasound showed that I don't have any cysts and the increased hair growth seems to have occurred with the medication. There is no hirsutism even hairy genes background in my family. Can I get information about your increased hair growth? Did it increase a lot or did it get better over time?
I assume mine is due to the menopause as it's a very common symptom, but while you CAN go through early menopause in your 20s, it's very unusual, so it's more likely to be something else, especially if there is no other indication of hormone imbalance. I hope you get the answers you are looking for soon x
Thank you so much, For me my doctor told me It might be but with low dose It wont be a problem. I just don’t see any improvement and wanted to ask.
I've had a hairy chin since I was 16 lol. It just got much much worse. I'll bear it in mind! I wish it was easier to get a doctor to check these things out.
Yes, it’s very bad. I wish there was a better health system and I wish doctors would take the issues a little more seriously.
Thank you for your reply, Yes my doctor told me that It can cause this side effect, I will tru spacer too.
I have always used a spacer holding chamber with Fostair, it’s called Aero chamber with mouthpiece not mask. Remember to always wash out your mouth after use because it’s a steroid inhaler and it reduces the chance of some other unwanted side effects like infections, sore throat etc.
Thank you so much! I haven't been rinsing my mouth for a long time, I think that may have affected it. I will start using a spacer.
I was on Fostair at least 4 doses daily. This isn’t something I particularly experienced although my hair did appear to grow slightly quicker but I assumed this was due to shaving the hair. I have always had dark facial, leg and underarm hair so I didn’t really think anything of it to be honest.
On the internet it says that for Fostair steroid inhaler the hirsutism is more marked in female patients who usually note an increase in fine downy hair on the sides of the face, as well as over the upper lip and chin areas. The mechanism of action is likely to be the same as hirsutism associated with oral corticosteroids. It could possibly be due to the high cortisol levels
Thank you for sharing, Is it just for Fostair or another corticostreoid inhaler give the same side effect?
That particular section I found referred to all inhaled corticosteroids, but I imagine it will all be dependent on strength, potency of the inhaler e.g. Fostair comes in at least 2 strengths, your dosage, how it affects your bodies Adrenal Glands e.g. increasing cortisol levels and other hormones which contributes to hirsutism.
Often you can find 1 medication in a category of medications can have more side effects or be more or less effective than another because each persons physiology is different and will react differently to medications with it being dependent on so many factors. I think it will be a case of trial and error, to find which chemicals or ingredients or types of steroid used work best for you. I’ve been switched to a 24hr dry powder inhaler called Relvar Ellipta, you could always discuss with your medical team if something like this could be worth trialling to see if you notice any improvement. I definitely think if it’s safe to do so for your condition and you are stable enough medically, it would be definitely worth discussing if you could trial some different ones especially if hirsutism is something that’s really bothering you. I can definitely appreciate that it must be very unpleasant and difficult to manage but if you can’t change due to your condition or you find they all have the same affect there are lots of recommended strategies to maintain the excess hair growth and improve your quality of life. I really hope you find something that helps.
Thank you for all the information you wrote here. I will see you again in 1 month. I hope we can find a solution,
thank you for sharing!
quite simply yes, I now have downy hair on sides of my face and a hairy chin, I hate it x
I'm so sorry to hear that. How long have you been using it, which inhaler are you using and how long have you been using it? I'm trying to understand these because doctors don't seem to know much about anything and I'm afraid it will get worse.
Fostair 200/6 for about 4 years and since April, Spiolto
I hope that the medical world will soon start studies on women's diseases and side effects of drugs. If I can get information from the doctor, I will try to inform you. Please let me know if there is any development. I hope everything gets better.
yes I have had increased hair on my face since starting steroid medications, it’s not fun but to be honest I will take it as a symptom if it means I can breathe. I grow hair and nails at crazy rate naturally so it’s a daily hair check for me.
Hello, thank you very much for your answer. Is the rate of hair growth at a serious level? Or do you think it still increases or did it stabilize after a while? Also, were you genetically hairy before? Thanks in advance for your answers, I'm just trying to figure out the situation ✨
I am geneitcaly quick at growing hair but it’s not thick or dark. I have always had quick hair growth on my legs and armpits, literally I can shave my legs and afmpits and the next day there is new hair growth, but it’s quick light and fine but my face wasn’t much of a problem. Since being back of steroid medication is much thicker and darker hair on my face particularly my chin, the side of my face is more fair, fine downy and to be honest as long as it stays that way I’m okay with it. I check daily for the worst and to be honest do pluck the thicker darker ones once they are a decent length. I’m not at the stage of needing to shave my face yet, it seems to have settled to a level
I feel the same way, but to be honest, the idea of increasing it even more stresses me out a bit. How long have you been using the medication and can I ask how old you are?
Not a problem Im 39. I’ve been back on steroid inhalers since 2016 using symbiont and hair growth was minimal, but was changed to fostair a few months ago when I saw the asthma consultant and had an increase in facial hair. It doesn’t seem to be getting worse for me and is focused on the chin, I can almost predict where they are going to come in. If I need extra oral steroids steroids such as pred then it does get worse but will calm down once I’m off them.
Thank you so much, I hope that both our asthma and our general health will always get better. You have put my mind at ease, I hope everything goes well
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