Any coughing asthmatics out there

[Mkrop]

Zyrtec is now available at Costco. Not sure about the price, but you might want to check it out.


agnes!

Yeah I am not sure what is happening with this. Both of my kids are on Zyrtec. DS10 will start in 2 weeks but DS5 takes it every night. I am about to run out and I do have a new scrip for it but it is now strictly OTC????? DS5 need the liquid form and DS10 is suppose to start the chewables. I guess I need to add calling CVS to my to do list.

 

[BelleBoo&AmisMum]

Zyrtec is now available at Costco. Not sure about the price, but you might want to check it out.


agnes!

I was just at Costco, the 10mg tablets, 75 of them are $32.50. The liquid was under $20, I didn't catch what size bottle it was, but it was pretty big. I didn't see any chewables though.

 

[james'mommy]

My DS 5 has been an asthmatic since infantcy. He's a cougher (then a puker but thats a whole nother story). We use Delsem cough syrup. Lasts for 12 hours and really seems to help him. We also use the neb a couple times a day when it's really bad.

 

[EthansMom]

Both DS6 and DD3.5 are coughing asthmatics. Albuterol via nebulizer seems to do the best for opening up their airways enough to reduce the coughing when their asthma is kicked up. In fact, when either child is having problems with their asthma, I know I need to get out of bed (at night) and give a breathing treatment (albuterol) if he/she is coughing enough to wake me up. After the breathing treatment, he/she usually settles down enough that they sleep well for several more hours.

 

[ariel & eric]

Thanks everyone. We were in the ER last MOnday and the neb treatment did nothing for him. He was doing good on Singular but our insurance won't pay for it now and is on Claritin. Was given Wal-Vert at Walgreens so we will see how it goes. He never has fits during the summer. Not sure what triggered it last Sunday night? Thursday he was out shoveling snow and I think the dry air triggered that one. Coughed for 5 days after Thanksgiving and was given prednisone. Worked wonderful, but this was the first time in years he has coughed for more than 2 days. I love the Prometh w/ codeine. Every time he goes in I get a new bottle. Unfortunately they won't give refills

With all the info here, I think starting him on Advair might be what he needs. Going to ask the doctor for an RX and still see an asthma specialist or allergist. He has never been tested but I think it might be time.

Thanks again everyone.

 

[creativeamanda]

DS12 was diagnosed as a coughing asthmatic as an infant. He never wheezes, just coughs uncontrolably for hours on end. We thought he was growing out of it at about 9-10 but the last couple years he has gotten worse. He seems to cough more in the fall and winter and has been missing school because of it. He could go but he is usually tired because he has been up all night and the cough exhausts him. Plus, no one wants him in their class while he is coughing so much and making a ton of noise.

So I was wondering if anyone else does this or has a child who does. What do you do for it/prevent it. An inhaler does nothing for the cough or preventing it. We have tried Singular/Claritin for allergies. He has cough RX cough medicine that knocks him out, but the cough returns once he wakes up. I finally asked to see a pulmonalogist, but our Dr. wants to make sure there is nothing else she can do for him first. I'm sure tomorrows appt. will be worthless, but we must go through the chain of command first. I am hoping to get some ideas on what other people do to prevent the coughing from starting in the first place and then stopping it once it starts.

Any suggestions?????

dd8 has this. It, of course, is worse when she has a cold. The ped feels hers is exercise-induced, and recommends using a fast-acting inhaler before exercise, especially when she has a cold. It helps a lot.

 

[mudnuri]

Sadly, this attitude is what led my dd to being hooked up to oxygen in Ped ICU when she was five. The pediatrician did not want to admit that she had serious asthma. When we brought her into the ER and she was immediately swarmed by five doctors and respiratory therapists and we were told that in 24 hours she would have been dead, we decided it was time to get more aggressive and fired that pediatrician. Our new pediatrician immediately wrote a referral to see a specialist and his treatment plan made a huge difference.

If your pediatrician will not take a chronic cough seriously, get a new pediatrician and insist upon a consult with a specialist.

Here is what works for my dd:

1. Daily Singulair and generic Allegra.
2. During allergy season we add Flowvent.
3. We also add Flowvent when she seems to be getting a cold. We also find that the zinc tablets do help diminish a cold.
4. If her chest feels tight, we use an Albuteral nebulizer treatment every four hours (the inhaler does NOT work nearly as well on her as the neb). One issue with people with cough variant/chronic coughs is that they get accustomed to tightness in the chest, which is why establishing airflow norms at good times with peak flow meters is critical. If you haven't done this yet, you SHOULD.
5. If the cough persists for more than 5-7 days, she then goes on a steroid, Prednisone. THAT WORKS.

As a soon to be graduate of a Respiratory Therapy program (11 weeks WHOHJOO)....can I just say that your post has to be the best I have ever read here on the disboards in regards to childhood asthma!

Your childs treatment regimin is perfect, covering all the bases with maintenance drugs and also rescue medicine. It's very important for the parent of a child to understand what each and every drug does- and why they need to take it. Singulair is a godsend to many people, my own DD10 was on it for 3 years when she was a toddler, as well as prednisolone, albuterol nebs, etc etc.

I just wanted to comment that I think your child is VERY lucky to have a parent (and a doctor) that is so well informed. Good work!

Brandy

 

[ariel & eric]

Dr.'s office called this morning and the doc is sick so we have to reschedule for next week Friday. DS has missed so much school already I didn't dare get an appt during school hours so Friday was the earliest. I'm hoping the Claritin will work as a maintenance drug for the next two weeks.

Brandy, I may just pm you when all is said and done to see what you think. I hope you don't mind.

 

[Green Tea]

Are you not using an inhaled steroid? You need to see someone other than the regular doctor!

 

[Mkrop]

Just called CVS and the Zyrtec is no longer covered by my insurance. They did tell me that they carry the liquid and the chewables OTC so hopefully I can get them for both of my kiddos.

 

[twinmomplus2new]

My ds 7 is home for the second day in a row..... due to this.

Watching flash gprdan which he just said is very realiistic) LOL

Anyway he does singular which has helped 100 % last year he was not alllowed outdoor recess most of the winter due to this issue. He was using his rescue inhaler every 4 hours round the clock. and a steroid.

In May that started him on singular and I haven't used the inhaler on him even once until 3 days ago.
He has simply caught a cold and that inturn throws the coughing into a tailspin. he is now on singular, Delsym ( the only cough medicine he will take) and his rescue albuterol. He is also on an antibiotic if he doesn't he gets Pneumonia.

It's not fun!!! But can be managed with a little trial and error!