Just wondering what side effects others have had while on this medicine and how long you were taking it for? I do a lot of classical singing and am just worried about how it may affect my voice. Also, did it seem to help your symptoms? Thanks!
Seretide 250/25: Just wondering what... - Lung Conditions C...
Seretide 250/25
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Hi Hannah21
It affects me badly - very bad throat and gruff voice - and I won't have anything to do with it but many people are fine with it.
You should be able to find loads of information if you do a search as the subject comes up quite regularly on this site.
Good luck with it and look after yourself.
Jude
You should rinse your mouth with lots of water directly after taking Seretide. Make sure you take big intake of breath, otherwise drug will lie in upper part of throat. I'm on 50/500 with no problems, it really helps my condition.
Thanks for the tip, will look it up! I've heard some people have had some nasty side effects, so I'm a bit worried about what I'm putting into my body.
singsing1947 in reply to
hi you should allways drink a lot of water when taking this
Hi Hannah.
Gargle. Always. I don't and my voice has changed. I use it on a SMART regime so it is my rescue inhaler also and if I use it a lot in the day I get a very sore throat like qpjb.
No other side effects for me so as long as you look after your throat you will hopefully be fine. X
I used Seretide for several years. It definitely helped to alleviate my symptoms improving my breathing significantly. Side effects I had were increased mouth ulcers and a bit croaky voice. Worthwhile.
Thanks for the comments and tips! Hoping I can steer clear of the side effects. 
i was on seretide for a few weeks but suffered leg cramp in the night after about a week so.doctor took me off it.
I was on it for several yrs and had ulcers in mouth and sore throats often . Gargle after use everytime plus extra if can xxx
The worry would be if you had to have the500 one ,that's thick powder,land on your tonsils,effect your voice,,I'm allergic to it, I had swollen hands feet,runny nose,all the side effects going,so I'm on symbicort now,very good ,no problem, and salamol. You will find they are run of the mill,everyone gets tried on it,up to you if you want to accept it or not,we do have a choice,but believe me You fight for the right to choose.!like everything in society,nothing is easy.
Gargle, gargle, gargle and always rinse and spit.....It has deepend my voice and my skin is fragile, so bruise easily, but that is after 11 years of using Seretide twice a day. Practice Yoga for my bones, and think if I didn't have this medication I would be in a very poor state, so it is the lesser of two 'evils' wishing you well 
Husky voice and dry sore throat. But If I gargle after taking that has reduced a lot.
Forgot to tell you that I was on the 250seritide for about 20yrs. No problem. Mild ,no side effects, but the 500one so many side effects allergy to the powders,had to stop it too much to cope with.that could be a problem,not at the moment...very mild?
Hi Hannah21
I've been on Seretide 500 and Symbicort for years now. Its like most people say. You must gargle and spit it out. Unfortunately I don't follow my own advice very often but when I inhale in morning, I always brush my teeth and brush gently all round my mouth and tongue and have a drink. When I haven't I've had thrush and sore throat with it but respect the advice and you will be fine.
hello,I had thrush upstairs and down,my hair fell out more than a few times and leg cramps,i reduced myself to once a day i was on seritide 500,im now on Symbicort only been on it for a week so i will have to see,the dr knew i was having probs when my nose was dry and bleeding last year,i hope you will be all right
Hi ,it's time replying ,I started on sretide 250 ,was on it for 4 months with no side effects,moved onto seretide 500 5 months ago ,only get dry throat now and again but it has helped with the breathing ,couldn't sing before so don't know if it's made it worse or not lol,but if you have any side effects stop taking them and consult your gap till you find the right one ,mick
Thank you so much for all the helpful advice being given, it's so much appreciated and great to hear others' experiences with Seretide.
qbjb in reply to
Dear Hannah21
If you want to continue to sing, do NOT take Seretide!! I was singing at the time and it ruined my voice ... the band disbanded - that's how bad it was.
There are alternatives.
Thanks for letting me know qbjb! I have been VERY worried about how it would affect my voice, especially since I thought I'd already noticed a difference in my voice after being on the 125/25 strength but I'm not sure if it's the Seretide or not. Just out of curiosity and in your own experience, what sorts of alternatives are out there? Thanks
qbjb in reply to
I'm on Spiriva and Serevent, which is the same as Seretide but without any steroid content. I also have Salamol for instant relief, which I prefer to Ventolin.
There are now two or three new alternatives to Spiriva - sorry I can't remember the names offhand but they are easily found. (Just remembered one - Seebri!)
We have to make the right choices for our own bodies and I can only reiterate that, from my personal experience, your voice will be affected whether you gargle, rinse, or drink pints of water.
Sorry folks but that's how it was for me.
Hi Hannah
I'm now on the 500. Like other comments gargle. I had oral thrush, and the pharmacist advised gargling after taking the inhaler. I still get sore throats, however my breathing condition is better controlled.
Hi Hannah, I've been on Seretide for nearly 4 years now.
Apologies if I'm repeating a reply .... are you aware there are two types. The spray metered dose inhaler and the powdered individual capsules one called Accuhaler, flat disc shaped. 500 comes in Accuhaler only so there's no choice there.
The spray type inhaler can (and should be) used with a spacer.
I aim to take 125 spray when really well in the summer but in bad winter months the 500 powder.
I'm fine on it. I much prefer the spray. I did get throat thrush this winter after 2 months of the 500, easily cured though, even though I thoroughly gargle & rinse.
I'm pleased with it. Symbicort gave me a constant sore throat plus it didn't work as well. P
I am on seretide 500 and it does come in the spray metered dose which is what I use.
Hi Peeg, I have heard of the Accuhaler but have never tried it. Is it harder being a powder? I'm not sure I'd be able to breathe it in properly. 
helingmic in reply to
I have the Accuhaler 500. I used to take 2 puffs twice a day. My pulmonary nurse told me that it was too high a dose. The consultant diminished it to one puff twice a day. I haven't had a thrush with it. I don't think it matters if it's a powder, you breathe it in strongly and it reaches your lungs. Like others, rinse your mouth after using it.
peege in reply to
No it's fine to take, you get the whole dose as long as you breath in well. I was annoyed at first (if it ain't broke etc) but the consultant changed it from inhaler to Accuhaler. I think he said it's more efficient.
I believe there's lactose in the powder so no good for those who are lactose intolerant. (Or do I mean lactulose)?
Given a choice though, I think I'd rather have the inhaler
in reply to peege
Thank-you! 
I've been on the seretide 500 for quite a few years now without the slightest side-effect... apart from the fact that it helps my breathing!!
Do remember to have a drink & gargle after taking it though
I've used Seretide 250 for about 8 years now. I used to get oral thrush and a sore mouth. Now I use a spacer, it helps a lot.
I was on Seretide 500/5 but that gave mea really bad throat I am now on 250/25 which I find to be much better.
500 for a year, 1 puff twice daily.
Night leg cramps, given Quinine
Thrush round naughty bits, given Canesten
Used to get dry throat but found about gargling etc from their website.
Singing voice has changed.
Songs I used to do in C major more comfortable to do in D major.
Forgot to mention as regards efficacy, I've not noticed any significant difference to my breathing while using it
hI. Hannah, i take seritide 500 twice a day, if i forget to" wash" my mouth out, i get very tiny, but very sore ulcers on my toungue. these off course can be prevented with gargling,with" corsidol." mouthwash, i also take spiriva 18mcgms, once a day, i believe they have helped me greatly with my copd.
it hasnt made my singing any worse, as it really cant get much worse:),,, i was never lucky enough to have a singing voice Hanah,lol..kind regards jimmy xxx
I take Seratide 50/500 and it really helps stop infections.
They changed it to Seritdie 250 and in January I had 3 chest infections so back on the 500. Still get a deeper voice with it but I don't seem to have to many problems. Good luck.
I have taken this drug in the strength you stated for over a year now like most steroid inhalers it may at first cause unexplained bruising sudden growth of body hair and the occasional croaky voice as this is a steroid inhaler you should have been instructed to gargle and rinse the mouth out after taking each dose as this may also cause oral thrush (which is easily treated with nystatin) as with all drugs you should have been supplied with the mandatory PIL which is usuallly in the box
Hiya, this has been an interesting thread to read. I'm on Seretide 250 and was accidentally put on Seretide 500 for 6 months (don't ask!). I'm currently seeing a speech and language therapist because of my voice. The inhaler, mixed with coughing and acid reflux really hasn't helped! I try to rinse my mouth/gargle as much as I can after inhaling but even with a spacer I often find that I get oral thrush too. So not great but not sure if it's all down to the medicine...x
Thank you all so much for your honesty and advice!!
I have been on Seretide for many years, and I too sing, and run a choir. My range has deteriorated over this time, and I often croak. The crucial thing is to use a spacer, and gargle afterwards. Having said that, my voice is not good any more. It does help my breathing though, and I do notice when I have not taken it... a rock and a hard place, I'm afraid. Perhaps others have more useful advice? Take care.
I have copd with emphysimia - I smoke too much for too long. Wish I could turn the clock back. While I don't cough much, certain times of the year when pollen is out, boy do I hate myself. I use advair and spirivia and that works for me. I also use a saline pump as I needed one side of my sinuses rebuilt. Central sleep apnea interefers with my sleep time. I gotta loose weight, but midnight snacks is my devil. Wish I had greater will power.
Thanks for all the information + the links to different pages etc, as well as the sense of humour a lot of you seem to have hehe, it made me smile. Another question, especially to those who's voices have been affected by Seretide..if you stop taking it, does your voice return to normal? I really would like to avoid losing my range with my singing, but I've definitely already noticed a difference. 
Looks like I'll be talking to my doctor about some other options! Once again, thanks for all the wonderful replies.
I use it but to be honest don't feel any better for it. Always gargle with peppermint infused water afterwards, touch wood not had thrush yet.
Hi Kad21, sorry to hear the Seretide isn't really helping you. - Hopefully you're able to find something that does the trick for you. Thanks for the tip!
Make sure you have an alternative to the 500 seri tide when you need more,as I was completely allergic to it so much powder ,landed on my tonsils and a horse voice,but at moment the 250 will be fine I used it for many years ,I don't think it's powder.so it's all down to the inhalor you use,there are some great combi ones.i do one a day,symbicort ..no side effects.
After two or three years taking Seretide 250/25 it has finally occurred to me that maybe it is causing my awful leg and foot cramps at night. I am also much huskier than I used to be and sometimes I get cramps in my hands too. It's like the tendons sieze up. I am going to discontinue it and see what happens. I am not asthmatic; I just have a rare lung disease which affects mainly my lung tissue and my airways just a little. I don't feel any noticeable difference if I take Seretide or not. Perhaps I should have started a new thread because this one is quite old.
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