Azmacort Substitute (Page 10) (Top voted first)

Azmacort has been taken off the market because of environmental concerns (they say). There really is NO substitute. All other steroids do not work. My wife could die because of it. No one seems to care. Do you?

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Hi Linda,

I am in Dayton OH. We are in the top 10 cities for allergies.

Why did the dr say 90 mcs was better than 180mg? is it because itis the most irritating stuff on earth to lungs?

I will call the jewish hospital. i googled them and saw they do alot with asthma. wish I was closer, I would go and let them test me.

i see my fam dr tommorrow. she may be brave enough to try the qvar or wait to see if the pulm neb does any better. i seem to have not gotten any better in regaurds to my upper chest getting tight after the treatment. i am on the .5 dose (highest). maybe i need the .25 so it is not as irritating.

i just dont think my pulm doc knows what else to do. i did have another pulm doc when i was younger. i may contact him.

my brain is always searching for answers!! its getting very tired.
J

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Hi Revolving the Sun (and everyone)
In Dayton, go to big teaching hospital - that what we do here-we go to Boston. See pulmonologist that is up on latest. Call Jewish National -just to talk to Lung Line nurse to run everything past her and make a plan. They are the top in the country for lung problems. I almost went there, but didn't. My pulm. dr. says that less is better with the Pulmicort and to take the 90mcg not the 180mcg. Thats what he told me anyway. I am thinking that your body needs a little help with anti-inflammatory response, but with steroids it best to have lower dose one. That is the one I am on and I am doing good (knock on wood) The Flovent made me get severe sore throat, hurt to take deep breathe, headache. Took it for almost 3 weeks, then switched and all the bad stuff disappeared. If you can do the saline spray in your nose to keep it cleaned out of allergens. Drink alot of water and hot tea and hot coffee. Sounds simplistic but works for me. When you have alot of coughing, if you are well hydrated body is cleaning out the lungs. I worked at Pulmologist for a year several years ago, then tried to learn on my own as much as possible, I got everything down, then Azmacort discontinued- then I had to re-look at things that help or hurt me. Now I need support for degenerative disc disease in my cervical spine- just found this out and I am depressed about it. Talk later
Linda

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has anyone had neck muscle pain side effects with Asmanex, Advair,Proventil. I've been having an awful time with it. Also, trying to obtain Azmacort from any drug companies is useless - they list the drug but don't have it. I have tried every company including Bermuda and Mexico - it doesn't exist anymore! I also called Abbotts 800 # - the are just phone messengers - no help there. They did give me an address and I have written to complain about the discontinuation of Azmacort - probably won't do any good.
In the meantime I suffer and wonder if I'll ever have a life again. I've had to cancel a foot surgery twice because my asthma wasn't under control. I've tried 14 different inhalers - can't tolerate any. Today I go to the pulmanologist.

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hi Filly
Yes I have had bad neck pain on my new inhaler- but had X-ray and its degenerative disc disease- getting MRI tonight and Phys.Therapy this afternoon. Pain is so bad it over-rides any other problems. Thank God asthma is calm right now. Pulmicort Flexhaler 90mcg is working for me. Its good you are going to specialist for your asthma. Good luck & let us know what preventative you end up on next.
Linda

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All:

I went to the pulmonary specialist yesterday who was useless. If you can't tolerate the drugs, too bad! That's the attitude they have. No help there what so ever. Someone on this site mentioned the salt pipe - I see it listed everywhere on-line - there are 2 different versions - the ceramic one looks very heavy to hold for 15 minutes. If anyone has used this with success please let me know which one you tried. Thanks

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Filly, I totally understand about the pulmonologist. The allergy and asthma doc did the same thing to me. I am basically on my own now trying to find something that works.

Did you try the med neb version of pulmicort? I am on the .5. It brought my peak flow from 450 up to 500 and sometimes better. But it makes my throat sore and my trachea tight. I am going to try several different things to help remedy this. I add normal saline (small amount) to help dilute. I am also going to try using 2 - .5's instead of one .5. Hoping that the extra fluid helps to calm down the irritation. The medicine no longer makes my lungs feels numb like it did at first. And I finally have more energy. I am only on 10mg of pred now. People say I look better so I must have looked pretty bad.

I use to think this would be a simple process but I am well beyond that now. This is going to take some time to get stabilized again.

I would like to know more about the saline pipe too.

Hello to all.

J

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Hello everyone,

We just sent an email out to those of you who previously responded to us about a pertinent press release.

If you have been an active part of this thread until now and would like access to a confidential copy of the draft (prior to the press release going live on June 29th), please reach us via the Contact Form.

Jack - I hope you received my email. Your wife's story was mentioned in the draft, and I hope that is okay with you. My main question for you at this point is whether you have or are considering setting up a fund in June's name following her loss? At the very least I'd like to put a link up or more information on here if such a thing exists.

Sincerely,

Nick Jabbour
Community Founder

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I am now using Q Var and it seems to be working okay. I don't think it's quite as good as Azmacort...but at least it doesn't make me hallucinate, like Advair and those other dual action inhalers. Thank God! I tried Triamcinolone in a nebulizer and that didn't work very well. I also notice I have intestinal upset/diarhea off and on...mostly on, since I started the Triamcinolone neb and also Q Var after that. Been going on 2 weeks now...may be a long time virus, don't know. Anyone have problems like this with Q Var? Also...in a couple of days I will get my helminthic therapy. It may be 4 months before I know if that works. I will let you know. Look it up. Helminthic Therapy...also Autoimmune Therapy. It's possible I could breathe normally again with no drugs!

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Dear All:
Dear Nick Jabbour :

Thank you for your continued concern for those who have breathing problems.

I have not thought about a setting up a fund in June's name, mostly because I have no idea how to do that nor do I have a clue as to how to manage such a thing. If such a thing would prove to be helpful to others, I do not object.

I do not object to anything done in my wife's name as long as it is honorable.

My grief is such that I am able to function fairly well outwardly for a while but at any time and any where I am blindsided with a tsunami of tears I cannot hold back.

Although I know a little about giving advice and help to those who are going through the grief process themselves, this one is one me and takes a personal tone. I am trying to understand it such that I can offer better help in the future.

One thing I have learned: if someone offers help, don't try to go it alone. Let them. It is a catharsis for the giver and the receiver. Let others in your world. Besides, it is Biblical (2 Corinthians 1:3-5).

Jack

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I agree with Jack. Jack, just go to your bank and ask to set up a fund in June's name. Maybe our editor has some good information as to exactly how this should be done. I already wrote to the editor and told him/her to go ahead and send the letter that was sent to me to look over. Maybe we will be heard through this intervention. I know your grief in a way Jack. I have just lost both of my parents in the last few years and am still in the grieving process. Many, many tears have been shed. I have a lot of good memories of both. May God bless you.

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Please keep us up to date on the fund. I would like to donate what I can.

Regarding the salt pipe, I am using the ceramic one. Its not that heavy. As far as the results, I am very happy, I made it through this allergy season with no major issues. I noticed a difference within a week of using it, and I continue to use it on a daily basis. The only side effects I had where when I first started using it, I felt a slight burning sensation in my sinus passages the first two days and after that it went away. I hope you have the same success I have had using it. Let me know if you have anymore questions.

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I have been using azmacort for 20 years. Since April I have been on various other inhalers, advair, azmanex, and now aerobid. None of them work, so at the present I am using combivent, albuterol, and aerobid, plus an antibiotic and prednizone. What a mess!!! If anyone hears that the azmacort is available again, I'd love to know about it.

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Hello everyone. As promised, the Azmacort press release is now live on the web. The main article can be read at:

http:/­/­www.prweb.com/­releases/­drugs/­azmacort/­prweb4149104.htm

It is our hope that it will also receive widespread syndication over the coming weeks. The more individuals are made aware of this, the better.

Wishing you all good health!

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Thank you for posting the article on the web for us. Hopefully someone will hear us.

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Thank You,

Jack

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I was taking Azmacort for years and suffered terrible side effects trying to start on another medication (extreme fatigue, confusion, joint pain, heart palpitations, chest pain, feeling faint, depression/anxiety, panic). Had to treat minor illness during that time (UTI) and reacted to all of those antibiotics as well. In fact, I was sure I had joint pain due to Cipro and started wondering if Azmacort withdrawal had caused me to be allergic to medications. Awful! Awful! This lasted for 90 days or so and got somewhat better except for joint pain, fatigue and some anxiety/panic. Then a new doctor thought the issue sounded like an autoimmune issue. At the time I thought she was CRAZY because my symptoms onset at the exact same time as my withdrawal and I could not see any other explanation other than Azmacort withdrawal. Then I got the startling news via blood tests and a review of life long symptoms: I have lupus. My flares to date have been “mild” compared to mostly highly published cases. Previously my treatment coming just for the most obvious symptoms from physician is who were not able to put the pieces for the puzzle together (in other words, a UTI was as separate, rashes treated as separate, fatigue attributed to UTI or bronchitis or allergies or depression). Azmacort had a role in masking my diagnosis. It turns out Azmacort suppresses the immune symptom (not enough to “cure” lupus, obviously, but just enough to help prevent a serious flare – at least for my body). In lupus, your body attacks itself just like your own organs and systems are a foreign body. Lupus flairs could possibly be triggered by abruptly stopping a drug. Although what most folks are describing here must surely be a reaction to withdrawal from the drug, itself please check out lupus websites and ask your physician to do blood tests if you believe any of the symptoms apply to you. Serious lupus flares can be deadly. However, for mild cases there are treatments for the flare and treatments for prevention of flares. Good luck and best wishes to all.

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Have only suffered from panic attacks. Have had anxiety my whole life, but panic attacks started about 10 years ago and I had been on Azmacort for about 20 years ago. Never suffered any other symptoms like those of lupus. I am having good luck so far with Qvar, but wish I had the Azmacort back. Good luck Chandra with your treatment of lupus.

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Sorry to hear that Jack. We are in the same boat as you. My son has tried many alternatives & Nothing works. Azmacort was the only thing that control his asthma. He now coughs up blood from coughing so much & docs. can't seem to find anything else to replace it. Totally sucks!

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Got a call from my allergy/asthma doctor. They wanted me to be in a study to take a pill at the first sign of me getting a cold. They are trying to see if taking this pill for 6 days prevents my cold from going into my lungs which my colds usually do. Thought about it and decided I didn't want to take anymore pills. Don't want to be a guinea pig either. Still hoping for a new and better Azmacort to come out on the market. I'll be in line for that. Qvar is still working okay, but not great.

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Frogg232

My wife has died (see posting number 161) so, I hope you are not really in the same boat. I hope your son does find relief.

In a previous posting I wrote that my wife, under the care of a Pulmonologist, began taking Adair HFA 115/21. She seemed to tolerate it with a little bit of difficulty, but not so much that we lost hope. She died before we could really analyze how it was doing. It was too late.

I still cry without warning.

Even though we are/were a Christian couple and I have the comfort of the Lord, my emotions can overrule my mind for a short time. And then I remember where she is. To paraphrase King David when he lost his son, I will go to her, but she will not return to me (2 Samuel 12:23).

If you wish to know more, just ask. I will do my best to answer any specific question with a specific answer. That is, I will not shake my fist in futile anger at whoever did or didn't do this or that. I will try to answer as best I can while being sensitive to a mother who could be facing the loss of her child.

Jack
PS. To let you know a little more about me, I am a pastor.

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