Home Forums Breastfeeding Breastfeeding Anyone on Advair for Asthma while breastfeeding?

I was on Advair, to control my asthma, but I stopped taking it when I started pumping (in preparation for our adoption)...

Now, my asthma is out of control, and I have to do something!

I'd love to hear if anyone else's doctors said it was okay to stay on Advair while breastfeeding!

Thanks!
Holly

Dear Holly,

It is never a good idea to go off your meds without your doctor's knowledge...assuming you have done so of course.

Advair is rated by Thomas Hale, Ph.D. Medications and Mothers Milk, 2004 as "L3" which is listed as "Moderately Safe" and the notation advises to look up the individual ingredients which I have done for you and in each case, no pediatric effects via breastmilk has been reported. So please discuss this with your doctor pronto so that you may resume your medication ASAP.

Best,

Thanks!

Yes, that was a dumb move on my part! My doctor ok'd the Advair and I'm back on... silly me. I can breathe easier, already!

Holly

I have had severe Asthma my whole life (bad enough that I've been placed on a respirator on more than one occasion). I have been hospitalized at least once a year for this conidtion my whole life (sometimes four or five times per year) and have been put in the ICU several times. I was taking Advair when I became pregnant with my oldest child, and because it was still fairly new, my doc switched me to alternate meds. As Lenore said, it is a very bad idea to quit meds on your own, particularly with a condition like chronic Asthma, where management via maintenance meds is so critical. It's also important to remember that the effect lack of oxygen in the mother has on the fetus is often worse than the effects of the drugs. I would also say that the impact on a young child of having a mother who can't breathe and is hospitalized or incapacitated is likely more devastating than the side effects of most meds. Also rememeber that without proper management you could very easily wind up needing a prolonged course of steroids that is miserable for everyone. (I had to have both of my hips replaced at the age of 18 because of what Prednisone did to my body.)

Sorry to get up on a soapbox and be so bossy. I just know too, too well what Asthma can do if it isn't controlled. If you are interested, here is the list of what I take to control the Asthma. Even the non-Asthma meds on the list control conditions that contribute to the Asthma. (The Prevacid, for example controls reflux which directly contributes to Asthma exacerbations.) I not only breastfed my oldest (bio) son with most of these drugs, I am currently breastfeeding my adopted triplets on ALL of them. HTH. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Albuterol 2 Puffs 2x daily & PRN
Atrovent 2 Puffs 4x daily
Atrovent Nasal Spray 2 Sprays per Nostril 3x daily
Benadryl PRN (allergies)
Flonase 2 Sprays per Nostril 2x daily
Foradil 1 tablet inhaled 2x daily
Prevacid 30 Mg 2x daily
Pulmicort 2 Puffs 2x daily
Qvar 1 puff 2x daily with spacer
Singulair 10 Mg 1x daily
Spireva 1 tablet inhaled 1x daily
Zyrtec 10 Mg 1x daily