Advair Side Effects: What They Are And How To Manage Them

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Advair Side Effects and Tips for Managing Them

Medically reviewed by Alex Nguyen, PharmD, RPh, CPh, Rare Diseases, Neurology, Psychiatry — Written by Dedra Weiss, PharmD — Updated on July 12, 2025

More common side effects
Mild side effects
Serious side effects
Side effects in children
Managing side effects
FAQ
Precautions

Key takeaways

Advair, a prescription medication for asthma and COPD, can cause side effects ranging from mild, such as throat irritation and headaches, to serious, including pneumonia and increased risk of infection.
Certain side effects of Advair, such as throat irritation, can be managed by rinsing your mouth with water after use, while others, like infections, require prompt medical attention and possibly vaccinations.
Long-term use of Advair may lead to serious side effects like slowed growth in children, eye problems, decreased bone density, and adrenal gland issues, necessitating regular monitoring by a healthcare professional.

Advair is used to treat these conditions:

asthma in adults and some children
chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in adults

The drug comes in two forms: Advair Diskus and Advair HFA. With both forms, you inhale the drug by mouth.

The two active ingredients in Advair are fluticasone propionate and salmeterol. (An active ingredient is what makes a medication work.) Advair is usually a long-term treatment.

Keep reading to learn about the common, mild, and serious side effects Advair can cause. To learn more about Advair, including its uses, dosage, and cost, read this Advair overview article.

More common side effects of Advair

Advair can cause certain side effects, some more common than others. These side effects may be temporary, lasting a few days to weeks. Talk with your doctor if side effects do not go away, get worse, or become too difficult to tolerate.

Side effects commonly reported in the prescribing information for Advair Diskus and Advair HFA include:

dizziness
headache
throat irritation
nausea and vomiting
bone and muscle pain
cough
hoarseness
certain infections (such as oral thrush or upper respiratory infections)

For more information about some of these side effects, see the “Tips for managing side effects” section.

Mild side effects of Advair

Mild side effects have been reported with Advair. These include:

throat irritation
nausea and vomiting
hoarseness
cough
muscle and bone pain
oral thrush
headache
weight gain

In most cases, these side effects should be temporary, and some may be easily managed. But if you have symptoms that are ongoing or bothersome, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. Do not stop using Advair unless your doctor recommends it.

Advair may cause mild side effects other than the ones listed above. For details, see the prescribing information for Advair Diskus and Advair HFA.

For more information about some of these side effects, see “Tips for managing side effects.”

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Serious side effects of Advair

Advair may cause serious side effects. The following list may not include all possible serious side effects of the drug. For more information, see the prescribing information for Advair Diskus and Advair HFA.

Serious side effects that have been reported with Advair include:

pneumonia
increased risk of serious infection (see “Tips for managing side effects”)
eye problems (such as cataracts and glaucoma)
adrenal gland problems
thyroid problems
decreased bone density
paradoxical bronchospasm
chest pain, rapid heart rate, tremor, or nervousness
slowed growth rate in children (see “Side effects in children”)

For more information about some of these side effects, see the “Tips for managing side effects” section.

If you develop serious side effects while using Advair Diskus or Advair HFA, call your doctor right away. If the side effects seem life threatening or you think you’re having a medical emergency, immediately call 911 or your local emergency number.

Note: After the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves a drug, it tracks and reviews side effects of the medication. Sharing your experience helps make medication safer for everyone by giving doctors and researchers more information about how the drug works in real life. If you develop a side effect while using Advair and want to tell the FDA about it, visit MedWatch or call 800-FDA-1088.

Allergic reaction
For some people, Advair can cause an allergic reaction.
In general, symptoms of an allergic reaction can be mild or serious.
What might help
If you have mild symptoms of an allergic reaction, such as a mild rash, call your doctor right away. They may suggest a treatment to manage your symptoms and can determine whether you should keep using Advair.
If you have symptoms of a severe allergic reaction, such as swelling or trouble breathing, call 911 or your local emergency number right away. These symptoms could be life threatening and require immediate medical care.
If your doctor confirms you’ve had a serious allergic reaction to Advair, they may have you switch to a different treatment.

Side effects in children

For the most part, Advair’s side effects are the same in adults and children. But some side effects may be more common in children.

In studies of Advair Diskus, the most commonly reported side effects in children were throat irritation, and infections of the ears, nose, and throat. In studies of Advair HFA, the side effects seen in children were similar to those seen in adults.

It’s important to note that inhaled corticosteroids may cause a slower growth rate in children. Fluticasone (one of the active ingredients in Advair) is a corticosteroid. For this reason, your child’s doctor will prescribe the lowest dose of Advair that can effectively manage their symptoms. During treatment, your child’s growth rate will likely be monitored by their doctor.

If you have questions about your child’s risk of side effects from Advair, talk with their doctor.

Tips for managing side effects

There may be things you can do to help make certain Advair side effects more manageable. If you have ongoing, worsening, or bothersome side effects, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. They can suggest tips for managing them or recommend other available treatment options for your condition.

Weight gain

Advair may cause weight gain in some people. This side effect was reported in studies of Advair HFA, but it wasn’t a common side effect. There were no reports of weight gain in studies of Advair Diskus. But after Advair Diskus became available for use, some people reported weight gain with this drug.

What might help

If you have concerns about weight gain with Advair, talk with your doctor. They can discuss ways to manage your weight during your treatment.

Throat irritation

Throat irritation is possible with Advair use. In studies, this was a common side effect of both Advair Diskus and Advair HFA. Symptoms may include a sore throat that’s scratchy and painful.

What might help

You can reduce throat irritation with Advair by rinsing your mouth or gargling with water right after you take your dose of Advair.

If you have throat irritation from Advair, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. They can help make sure you’re using the inhaler correctly and suggest ways to ease your symptoms.

Increased risk of serious infection

Advair can raise the risk of serious infection during treatment. Advair contains the corticosteroid fluticasone, which may decrease your immune system’s ability to protect against new or existing infections. Examples of these infections include chickenpox and measles.

Advair can also worsen existing infections such as tuberculosis or other viral, bacterial, fungal, or parasitic infections. Serious infections can even be fatal in some cases. Tell your doctor about any existing infections you may have before starting Advair treatment. They may treat your infection before you start using the drug.

Symptoms of an infection may include:

fever
fatigue
headache
swollen lymph nodes
nausea and vomiting

What might help

Before starting your Advair treatment, talk with your doctor to make sure your vaccines are up to date. Vaccines help prevent deadly diseases and can reduce your risk of developing a serious illness during your treatment.

Limiting your exposure to illness can also help prevent you from getting sick while using Advair. Wash your hands regularly and try to avoid coming into contact with people who are sick.

If you develop an infection while using Advair, tell your doctor right away.

Headache

Using Advair may cause headache in some people. In studies of Advair Diskus and Advair HFA, this was a common side effect of both forms of Advair.

What might help

If you have headaches while using Advair, talk with your doctor. They can recommend ways to ease your symptoms. For example, they might suggest that you drink plenty of water, take steps to improve your sleep, and eat meals on a consistent schedule.

Certain over-the-counter (OTC) medications can help ease headache symptoms. Some examples include acetaminophen, ibuprofen, and aspirin. But some OTC drugs may interact with your other medications or conditions. Your doctor or pharmacist can recommend an OTC pain reliever that’s safe for you to take.

Frequently asked questions about Advair side effects

Here are answers to some commonly asked questions about Advair’s side effects.

Could using Advair affect my teeth?

Yes, Advair may affect your teeth. But this isn’t a common side effect. In studies, some people reported dental pain with Advair Diskus and Advair HFA. There were also a few reports of cavities with Advair HFA use.

If you have concerns about how Advair may affect your teeth, be sure to get regular dental checkups. If you have a higher risk of dental-related side effects, let your dentist know the form of Advair you use and your dosage. They may recommend some specific tips to help keep your teeth and gums healthy while using Advair.

Does Advair cause anxiety?

It’s not likely. Anxiety wasn’t a side effect seen during studies of Advair Diskus or Advair HFA. There have been reports of this side effect in people using Advair HFA since it became available for use. But it’s unclear how often this happened or if Advair was the cause.

For some people, the active ingredient in Advair, salmeterol, could make their heart race or cause a feeling of nervousness. If you’re having these side effects and they don’t go away, let your doctor know.

If you have concerns about anxiety while using Advair, talk with your doctor.

Are there any long-term side effects of Advair?

Yes, long-term side effects are possible with Advair because it contains a corticosteroid. (Fluticasone, one of the active drugs in Advair, is a corticosteroid.) Use of corticosteroids can cause lasting and serious side effects in some people. For example, long-term use or very high doses of corticosteroids may:

slow the growth rate of children
contribute to the development of glaucoma and cataracts
decrease bone mineral density, which can cause weak bones and a higher risk of fractures and osteoporosis
decrease the function of adrenal glands, which can make them less able to produce certain hormones

If you have concerns about long-term side effects from Advair, talk with your doctor.

Will I experience withdrawal symptoms if I stop using Advair?

Advair is not known to cause withdrawal symptoms. (Withdrawal symptoms are side effects that can occur when you stop taking a drug that your body has become dependent on.) In studies of Advair Diskus, withdrawal symptoms were not reported in people using Advair.

If you’re concerned about having side effects when ending your Advair treatment, talk with your doctor.

Precautions for Advair

Before using Advair, discuss your health history with your doctor. Advair may not be right for you if you have certain medical conditions or other factors affecting your health.

Be sure to talk with your doctor if any of the following apply to you:

serious infections, including tuberculosis
adrenal gland problems
other conditions that affect hormones, including thyroid problems
weakened bones
seizures
worsening asthma or COPD
previous allergic reaction to Advair or any of its ingredients
serious allergic reaction to milk proteins
glaucoma or cataracts
diabetes
high blood pressure
abnormal heart rhythms
pregnancy
breastfeeding
alcohol consumption

Disclaimer: Healthline has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.

How we reviewed this article:

SourcesHistoryHealthline has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical journals and associations. We only use quality, credible sources to ensure content accuracy and integrity. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy.

Advair Diskus (fluticasone propionate and salmeterol inhalation powder), for oral inhalation use. (2023).https://gskpro.com/content/dam/global/hcpportal/en_US/Prescribing_Information/Advair_Diskus/pdf/ADVAIR-DISKUS-PI-PIL-IFU.PDF
Advair HFA (fluticasone propionate and salmeterol inhalation aerosol), for oral inhalation use. (2024).https://nctr-crs.fda.gov/fdalabel/services/spl/set-ids/dfaca6f9-3277-47b2-319d-1377917cb54c/spl-doc
Food and Drug Administration. (2025). Orange Book: Approved drug products with therapeutic equivalence evaluations.https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cder/ob/index.cfm
Travelers' health: Routine vaccines. (2024).https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/page/routine-vaccines

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Medically reviewed by Alex Nguyen, PharmD, RPh, CPh, Rare Diseases, Neurology, Psychiatry — Written by Dedra Weiss, PharmD — Updated on July 12, 2025

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Key takeaways

More common side effects of Advair

Mild side effects of Advair

Serious side effects of Advair

Side effects in children

Tips for managing side effects

Weight gain

What might help

Throat irritation

What might help

Increased risk of serious infection

What might help

Headache

What might help

Frequently asked questions about Advair side effects

Could using Advair affect my teeth?

Does Advair cause anxiety?

Are there any long-term side effects of Advair?

Will I experience withdrawal symptoms if I stop using Advair?

Precautions for Advair

How we reviewed this article:

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