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@jbud12 , I have been on Advair (Wixela is generic advair) for over 20 years sad to say. I started using wixela when my insurance would no longer cover Advair. I have gone from 500/50 dose to 250/50 dose & tried weaning to 100/50, but I started having more tightness & wheezing. I am now currently on wixela 250/50 & want to wean off, but I started inhaled Arikayce for MAC in March 2025 & got really tight & wheezy, so no more option for weaning I think until I try again maybe after I'm done with Arikayce. I do feel Wixela helps me, however, steroids are known to cause lung damage even if inhaled (per Cleveland Clinic website & National Jewish website & Dr. Lazarro, a top cardiothoracic surgeon for TBM, tracheobronchomalacia, which I also have). So, I still take it because I can breathe so much better. I will still try to wean the dose down again at some point.
Replies to "@jbud12 , I have been on Advair (Wixela is generic advair) for over 20 years sad..."
"Steroids are known to cause lung damage even if inhaled" -- no this is not correct.
Inhaled steroids work by reducing inflammation in the airways, not causing damage. Of course, there are side effects but lung damage is not typically one of them.
Perhaps you're referring to inhaled steroids promoting the growth of NTM. Yes, steroids can encourage the growth of not only NTM but also other organisms such as fungi and Pseudomonas. This is one reason why sputum samples are so valuable.
Steroids are prescribed for those with asthma and sometimes also COPD. It's important to find the minimum effective dose.
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Thanks. Thats my concern…. Being on a strroid for long term. I do not want to further damage my lungs. I started using it only once per day instead of twice. I havent noticed a diffrrence…