Originally Posted by
Longfemur
I don't like Advair. I really don't like it. It's supposed to be a long-acting all day type of treatment. I prefer taking ventolin only when I need it. I was on Advair a few years ago. It eventually lost its effectiveness for me. I think that right now, the optimal treatment is still a steroid inhaler every day, and ventolin only when needed. Exercise-induced asthma especially is not all the time, so why take a drug that affects your body 24 hours a day?
As I mentioned way back in the thread I was on Pulmicort (a cortisteroid) and it was enough to keep my EIA in check without any Albuterol (Ventolin) before riding. Was that way for over 10 years. Once that became ineffective I tried the Albuterol before riding. While there was a definite improvement I was not where I should be. So the doctor prescribed Advair thinking/hoping that alone would be enough. Again eventhough there was improvement I still didn't feel as strong as I did 6 months ago when the troubles started. (I have a 53 mile set route with some tough hills, so I can compare how I'm doing) As mentioned I tried the Albuterol on my own before riding and with the daily Advair I have felt pretty good on 3 rides now. In fact maybe even better than I have felt in a few years. However all of this about the Advair being dangerous and probably since I have introduced a short acting broncho dialator scares the sh*t out of me.