Wixela inhaler

Good Morning @ling, Wixela is the new generic version of Advair. It is intended for long-term regular use to help control asthma. Wixela contains an inhaled corticosteroid (ICS) called fluticasone propionate and a long-acting beta agonist (LABA) called salmeterol xinafoate.

I do not use this particular combination, but another similar one and have been for over a year. This type of medication is ONLY effective if used according to directions - it is not quick-acting inhaler meant to immediately open airways or stop wheezing.

I hope this helps.
Sue

Many thanks Sue. You always nail it.
Sounds like it is a maintenance drug to use for long terms. I wonder if long term could also mean we can use it for a couple of months. I was diagnosed with eosinophilic asthma last October with bronchiectasis. I coughed for over a year, and multiple doctors couldn't find the cause. I got pneumonia last Feb. When I was treated with pneumonia, blood work showed that my eosinophil count spiked. But it went down by itself after pneumonia was treated. Doctors thought I was allergic to antibiotics.  After pneumonia,  my cough and mucus were still there, all the testing showed nothing wrong with me, they thought I was slowly healing. But a few months later I got lung infections. And this time my eosinophil spiked again before the antibiotics. So the pulmonologist asked me to take wixela this time. I took it for 3 months. Then I convinced my pulmonologist to stop it and see if I am ok without it. He agreed to monitor it. Blood test after 2 months without it, I am ok.  So this is where I am. I probably need to be ready to use it anytime if my conditions get bad. A question to you, do you use it for breathing problems, right?  I always wonder do people get adult onset asthma at 71 years old?
Many thanks again. and take care! 
Ling  

@wangling, I believe fellow members @hope2work and @gaylesunflower1 have experience with the Wixela inhaler.

Thank you so much Colleen for the info. I will read their posts.

Ling

Yes, I use my inhaler for chronic asthma/hyperreactive airways/shortness of breath. My doc recommended it for me permanently, and I am not getting side effects, so I will keep using it. I can tell you it took about 2 weeks for it to get to a therapeutic level for me, so it wouldn't be good to stop and start based on how I feel.
If your asthma is recent onset, your doc may have a different answer for you.
Sue

Many thanks again Sue for sharing your experience with me. I appreciate very much.
What are the symptoms of hyperreactive airways you mentioned?  Right now I have a little more mucus than normal, and cough a bit. Not sure if there is some inflammation when this happens. I am still navigating ...

Thanks again!
Ling

Pleased to hear there is an alternative to Advair. It has been years since l was put on it by allergist. The cost of the medication was shocking. when it's patent expired l was excited...but no generic arrived. I was told by a pharmacist that the method of delivery...the powdered discs it had had not been able to be copied.
so now years later some company found a way!

Hi, Please take my comments with a grain of salt, I am 41 and never used an inhaler in my life until 8 months ago. I may not be able to describe pros and cons of medicine due to lack of experience. I was very healthy until recently. I am using inhaler(s) to treat long covid symptoms or post-covid asthma. I was given Trelegy as a physician sample until Wixela came in. Because of insurance I am taking Advair HFA right now. I was told by doctor and pulmonologist that Advair HFA is inhaler form of Wixela. Wixela is a dry powder inhaler.
Since I started Wixela in mid Januray 2023, I have only used rescue inhaler albuterol twice. I was using rescue inhaler 3-4 times per day before Wixela. I have had issues with a higher resting heartbeat and a racing heart since starting Wixela, I don't know if it is related. I have backed off the Wixela/ Advair HFA and racing heart subsides, but shortness of breath comes back.
I did like taking the Wixela as a dry powder, it never hurt when I inhaled, like the "squirt" type inhaler.

Thank you so much for sharing your experience. I hope your heart rate gets better. I know Albuterol raises the heart beat for some people. I hope this symptom is temporary for you.

Take care and gets better!

Ling

In addition to Wixela inhub, there is also another generic Advair, called by the name of the drug, fluticasone proprionate. The price of each is the same with a GoodRx coupon. Before generic Advair or Wixela were available, Glaxo Smith Kline, the maker of Advair, came out with Breo, which is similar, but contains fluticasone furoate and vilanterol. There is now also a generic form of Breo. I have been taking Breo every day for some time, but I'm not sure that I need it. It is frustrating that the insurance companies and pharmaceuticals play games with drug prices. My Medicare Part D, for example, covers both Advair and Breo at tier 3, with a $47 copay, but does not cover any of the generics, including Wixela. The generic Breo is much more expensive with a GoodRx coupon than either generic Advair or Wixela. Donna T