What Asthma meds do you and/or a family member take?

[Kitty 34]

I'm sure this has been asked before but just wondering what you or a family member does to keep asthma under control. Do you take your meds seasonly or all the time?


Over the past month and a half, I have been prescribed various meds such as Advair, Spiriva, Albuterol inhaler and a breathing treatment machine for (I think) Albuterol. Not that it makes much difference but I just turned 59 so all these meds are quite new to me.

 

[luvmy3]

My ds takes QVAR which keeps his asthma controlled pretty well. He takes it year round but his doc plans on taking him off after allergy season to see if he can start using it only seasonally.

 

[lovemygoofy]

For the last 2 months or so my asthma has been out of control.

Right now I take advair 250 2x a day, albuterol inhaler(the new ones suck), xopeonex nebulizer meds 3x a day, and I'm coming off a big steriod burst.
This past couple months has been as bad for me breathing as I can remember. Between drowning in snot and then drowning in asthma mucus it is has not been fun.

I also take singluar and a allergy pill as well as nasal spray everyday. If my allergies are not under control, I might as well forget about my asthma doing anything. Also, if you have any kind of acide reflux it can trigger breathing problems as well.

 

[fici]

In response to your email I am one who ignored my Asthma and then it got so that I could not anymore and ended up in the hospital for a week(10 years ago). Since that time I had been taking Adviar 100/50 and it was like I had my life again. I changed recently to Quair(I think that is the name) as it was less expensive now that I am now enrolled in an HSA medical plan but it is the same result. Take the medicine and see how it works for you. I was so silly(actually stupid would be a more accurate word but being afraid is part of it also) to not get a prescribed medication earlier.

I do wish you well and hope the medication you choose is successful for you.I suffered no reactions - you read their list and it is scary. Just covering there butt, In guess.

 

[JessicaR]

My son, 20 has been a diagnosed asthmatic since 2 years old. I would suggest a consult with a good Pulmonologist, and Allergist / Immunologist.

He has been on a nebulizer when things are bad. To maintain during peak times (for him) he is on Singulair, Advair and Albuterol. Occasionally he needs a predsnisone burst.

I can assure you that you want your asthma symptoms controlled as best as possible. Get a plan. Get a Peak Flow meter too - use it.

 

[disfan07]

I take a variety of medications for both my allergies an asthma.

Asthma: symbicort 160/4.5 twice a day. Pulmicort 1mg nebulizers twice a day. Xoponex nebulizer 1.25 twice a day and I have xoponex for a rescue inhaler

Allergies: Zyrtec in the morning. Allegra in the afternoon. Benadryl at night. Zetonna nasal spray. Patanol eye drops.

My pulmonologist prescribed me dulera instead of the symbicort but I had an allergic reaction to it so I'm stuck on symbicort which is not working very well at all.

Even with all of this I still get short of breath and I still have abnormal PFTs and spirometrys. My asthma is not well controlled and we know that. We're just running out of options and until we get my allergies under control nothing's going to work. What I really need is xolar but my IgE is too high to qualify.

 

[sjs314]

I'm sure this has been asked before but just wondering what you or a family member does to keep asthma under control. Do you take your meds seasonly or all the time?


Over the past month and a half, I have been prescribed various meds such as Advair, Spiriva, Albuterol inhaler and a breathing treatment machine for (I think) Albuterol. Not that it makes much difference but I just turned 59 so all these meds are quite new to me.

Until about 6 months ago I was using a Flovent inhaler 2x a day morning and night and Pro Air Inhaler (albuterol) as needed then my new Dr put me on Spiriva and Gave me a Nebulizer (albuterol) after a couple of months on the Spiriva I was able to stop the Flovent which I think is a steroid? I find I do not need to use my Pro Air as often any more since being on Spiriva and using the Nebulizer a few times a week.

 

[disfan07]

My son, 20 has been a diagnosed asthmatic since 2 years old. I would suggest a consult with a good Pulmonologist, and Allergist / Immunologist.

He has been on a nebulizer when things are bad. To maintain during peak times (for him) he is on Singulair, Advair and Albuterol. Occasionally he needs a predsnisone burst.

I can assure you that you want your asthma symptoms controlled as best as possible. Get a plan. Get a Peak Flow meter too - use it.

Both my allergist and pulmonologist (2 most recent pulm.) have said that peak flow meters are pointless. According to them they are not very useful or accurate. But of course that is just the opinion of 3 doctors...others have different opinions but I would definitely ask your particular doctor what they think about it.

 

[minkydog]

DH has severe lung/heart disease. He uses Spiriva, Advair, Singulair, Albuteral inhaler and Xopenex nebulizer, as well as high doses of Prednisone, on a daily basis. We don't go anywhere without his rescue inhaler.

 

[JessicaR]

Both my allergist and pulmonologist (2 most recent pulm.) have said that peak flow meters are pointless. According to them they are not very useful or accurate. But of course that is just the opinion of 3 doctors...others have different opinions but I would definitely ask your particular doctor what they think about it.

I am sure each situation is different however - John Hopkins and Medline place a great deal of importance in Peak Flow readings. They have helped us greatly for 20 years.

http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/heal...es/pulmonary/peak_flow_measurement_92,P07755/

American Academy of Allergy Asthma and Immunology, also supports Peak Flow readings.

http://www.aaaai.org/conditions-and-treatments/library/at-a-glance/peak-flow-meter.aspx

So again, For us, it has been beneficial.

 

[disfan07]

I am sure each situation is different however - John Hopkins and Medline place a great deal of importance in Peak Flow readings. They have helped us greatly for 20 years.

http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/heal...es/pulmonary/peak_flow_measurement_92,P07755/

American Academy of Allergy Asthma and Immunology, also supports Peak Flow readings.

http://www.aaaai.org/conditions-and-treatments/library/at-a-glance/peak-flow-meter.aspx

So again, For us, it has been beneficial.

Each situation is definitely different. What's interesting is that it was a Hopkins pulmonologist that told me to stop using the peak flow meter because it was useless...at least in my case.

But my numbers would never drop enough to warrant "concern" until I was almost in respiratory failure. I could be having a full blown asthma attack with "normal" numbers. They were just very inaccurate for me. Which is why we stopped. But I also have "abnormal" asthma as my pulmonologistS have called it because it's definitely asthma but its not even close to the textbook diagnosis or symptoms.

But just like everything else, that's why you always listen to your doctors recommendation. No two people are the same when it comes to any chronic illness.

 

[JessicaR]

Each situation is definitely different. What's funny is that it was a Hopkins pulmonologist that told me to stop using the peak flow meter because it was useless...at least in my case.

But my numbers would never drop enough to warrant "concern" until I was almost in respiratory failure. I could be having a full blown asthma attack with "normal" numbers. They were just very inaccurate for me. Which is why we stopped. But I also have "abnormal" asthma as my pulmonologistS have called it because it's definitely asthma but its not even close to the textbook diagnosis or symptoms.

But just like everything else, that's why you always listen to your doctors recommendation. No two people are the same when it comes to any chronic illness.

I don't necessarily find it funny. However I do believe your case may and does differ from others. So sorry for your circumstances.

 

[HonnyDipp]

My DS15 has been on Xopnex nebulizer and inhaler since he was a year old. He started out on Albuterol but it just didn't work for him. He also uses Qvar and Singular once a day.

He's been hospitalized 14 times. Last stay was Oct. 2010. So hopefully he's starting to grow out it.

 

[disfan07]

I don't necessarily find it funny. However I do believe your case may and does differ from others. So sorry for your circumstances.

Oops....realized afterwards should have said interesting. Funny right now means interesting to me in the medical world because my doctors have been using it to describe "interesting" findings recently (we've been living in medical he** recently) so I've been using it in that context as well....I do get a lot of weird looks about that....lol

 

[disfan07]

My DS15 has been on Xopnex nebulizer and inhaler since he was a year old. He started out on Albuterol but it just didn't work for him. He also uses Qvar and Singular once a day.

He's been hospitalized 14 times. Last stay was Oct. 2010. So hopefully he's starting to grow out it.

Have they tried any other long acting meds like Advair, symbicort or dulera?

Dulera is supposed to be amazing. It just didn't work for me because I had an allergic reaction to it.

I understand about the Hospitalizations....since I developed asthma about 10 years ago I've been hospitalized more than 20 times...but 2 1/2 years without a Hospitalizations is great!

 

[The Mystery Machine]

My youngest who is 16 now, was on Albuterol daily when she was younger. Now she uses it as needed.

Recently we switched her to the Xopenex. It lessens the jitteriness. She started to get panic attacks when she used the Albuterol.

She uses the inhaler with the "Aero Chamber" when she gets a cold or when her allergies are bad otherwise it goes right to her chest and sets her up for bronchitis.

 

[Aimeedyan]

I've been on Advair 500/50 since it went on the market, I think... it's been 10+ years. If I take it daily, I rarely have ANY issues. I only have real issues when I get bronchitis or pneumonia, which means I have to reach for my Albuterol and nebulizer.

It's been a great drug for me!

 

[bballmom56]

DS has had asthma since he was about 4. The frequency and severity has differed over the years. It seems to be mostly allergy or upper respiratory infection induced. Exercise does not seem to trigger it unless he has a cold or allergy problems.

We really did not want to keep him on something every day if we did not have to. Plus nothing we tried seemed to work completely. As someone else mentioned, the side effects on the product inserts are scary. Right now as he lives in a small apt. with a roommate that has 2 cats (and cats are one of his triggers) he has been having more problems with it. He has been using zyrtec and Advair and says it seems to be helping this time. He also does not go anywhere without his albuterol rescue inhaler. (Don't get me started on the change of the albuterol inhalers about 5 years ago. The new ones don't work as well as the old, but I guess we are saving the ozone layer from all the asthmatics ) About 18 months ago the doctor wanted to put him on Singulair. DS had tried it in the past and it didn't work completely. And after reading the side effects we chose not to go that route.

Good luck Kitty on finding a combination that works for you. It can be very frustrating.

 

[StephMK]

DS has had asthma since he was about 4. The frequency and severity has differed over the years. It seems to be mostly allergy or upper respiratory infection induced. Exercise does not seem to trigger it unless he has a cold or allergy problems.

We really did not want to keep him on something every day if we did not have to. Plus nothing we tried seemed to work completely. As someone else mentioned, the side effects on the product inserts are scary. Right now as he lives in a small apt. with a roommate that has 2 cats (and cats are one of his triggers) he has been having more problems with it. He has been using zyrtec and Advair and says it seems to be helping this time. He also does not go anywhere without his albuterol rescue inhaler. (Don't get me started on the change of the albuterol inhalers about 5 years ago. The new ones don't work as well as the old, but I guess we are saving the ozone layer from all the asthmatics ) About 18 months ago the doctor wanted to put him on Singulair. DS had tried it in the past and it didn't work completely. And after reading the side effects we chose not to go that route.

Good luck Kitty on finding a combination that works for you. It can be very frustrating.

This is my DD13 too. It is fine unless she is sick or has respiratory issues that trigger the asthma. When she needs to, she takes Nasonex and has an inhaler. She runs track so I make sure she has her inhaler with her. I really hate giving daily meds if we don't have to and worry about the side effects.

 

[ccgirl]

I'm sure this has been asked before but just wondering what you or a family member does to keep asthma under control. Do you take your meds seasonly or all the time?


Over the past month and a half, I have been prescribed various meds such as Advair, Spiriva, Albuterol inhaler and a breathing treatment machine for (I think) Albuterol. Not that it makes much difference but I just turned 59 so all these meds are quite new to me.

Both my DS5 and myself has asthma. Unfortunately, we have had it so long so I know our triggers and which seasons are the worse.

For my DS, I don't like putting him on a maintenance because they are steroids and I don't like the side effects of steroids on long time use.

He has a nebulizer with pulmicort and albuterol. At the first sign of a runny nose, he get the pulmicort. If a cough is present, he gets albuterol as well.

For me, I have advair and albuterol inhaler. I use the advair for the change of seasons for Spring and Fall. The albuterol is only used as my rescue inhaler.