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Any relationship between Advair and first-time seizure in a 13 y/o?
My son recently started taking Advair again for his asthma; yesterday had an episode which began, he says, "I felt like I was going to have a seizure", fell and hit his head, later requiring 5 staples, might have made what followed worse--he had a seizure in which he became rigid, unconscious and incontinent--we went to the ER and he got a CT scan (normal); I have to schedule an EEG for him asap.
Other contributing factors: not much sleep, stress (getting gear together for snowboarding trip)--it was before 6 AM.
Looking on the web, I see that theophylline is listed on the Merck site as a possible seizure trigger. It is a bronchiodilator and I wonder if there is any similarity with the fluticasone in Advair in terms of this effect? I have not found any data on the web to support that. It was a terrifying experience and I need to try to demystify it so that I can, if possible, prevent its reoccurance.
Other contributing factors: not much sleep, stress (getting gear together for snowboarding trip)--it was before 6 AM.
Looking on the web, I see that theophylline is listed on the Merck site as a possible seizure trigger. It is a bronchiodilator and I wonder if there is any similarity with the fluticasone in Advair in terms of this effect? I have not found any data on the web to support that. It was a terrifying experience and I need to try to demystify it so that I can, if possible, prevent its reoccurance.
43 yr old, Female
asked Feb 14, 2010 at 09:18AM in Asthma
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No disrespect to the doctor but advair absolutely can be causing the seizures. My 11 y/o daughter had been on advair for 2 yrs. within the last 6 months she began walking with her feet turned out and having seizures. The orthopedic dr told me the way she walks is b/c she was born like that. Really?! and i didn't notice until she was 11. I started researching her recent vaccines and the advair. Google advair and seizures. I found others c/o same issue. I immediately took her off the Advair not one seizure since not to mention she walks straight all within 2 weeks time. The neurologist was shockJackie San commented Mar 08, 2010 at 11:45PM
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Read ur experience & just had to add my two cents. I was on Advair for 1yr and started experiencing tachacardia symtoms at night along with panic attacks. These attacks would wake me up on the hour during the night. One particular night my symptoms were severe and I didn't sleep a wink that night. The next thing I recall, I woke to find my husband and 3 yr old huddled over me. My husband said I just had a seizure. Did the whole ER thing, test after test and all came back normal. They wanted to put me on medication but I refused. I felt I should do some more research before I made any decisionIreene M Mendoza commented Mar 01 at 01:48PM
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2Votesanswered Feb 15, 2010 at 10:35AMWhile some relationship cannot completely be excluded, I would think it very unlikely. How long had he been taking the advair? It is not at all likely that it was due to the fluticasone component (the inhaled steroids). IF anything, it would be related to the salmeterol (bronchodilator) component. But, again, it sounds as though there were several other factors that likely played a role as well. I think the EEG will help also.
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0Votesanswered Feb 15, 2010 at 05:27PMThanks for your prompt answer, Dr. Wenzel.
He had been on the Advair for about four years, and had taken a break from it after having episodes of tachycardia. He had started back on it less than a week prior.
I think you're right in that the connection is not of primary importance, considering all the factors. I was curious, though, as to available data regarding co-occurrence of seizures and (bronchodilators). It seems to me, though, that if there was a connection it would be temporally proximal--e.g., immediately following inhaler use? -
2Votes
answered Feb 16, 2010 at 04:05AMI doubt that Advair would be related to a first time seizure. The incidence of single unprovoked seizures is 23-61 per 100,000 person-years. As Dr. Wenzel mentioned, Advair contains a topically inhaled steroid, fluticasone, which would not provoke a seizure. Salmeterol is in class of drugs called Long Acting Beta Adrenergics (LABAs) which provide about 12 hours of bronchodilation. The exposure by inhalation is very low.
LABAs are not at all related to theophylline. Theophylline, which was widely used as the first choice of treatment for asthma 20 to 30 years ago, has a very narrow therapeutic/toxic range, meaning that a therapeutic dose may be just below a toxic dose. Seizures from theophylline toxicity were often the first sign of being on too large a dose. It was common in that era for theophylline kinetics to be done on individual patients, especially children, to determine a safe, but therapeutic dose.
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