You may not like having to take medication, but no, in most cases, it is better to take the long-acting broncodilators like Advair than to let your COPD symptoms rage out of control, despite the risk of side effects. For the most part side effects are not life-threatening or permanently harmful. Most of the time, side effects to medication are short-term and lessen in severity over time.

However, any time you are concerned about the effect a medication is having on you, good or bad, it's an opportunity to communicate with your doctor. When you become an active participant in your care planning, you are more likely to feel that you have more control and less like a victim.

So, do discuss your concerns with your doctor at your next opportunity.

Best,

Kathi