Anyone here use Asmanex?

[luvwinnie]

Have you been on for a long time? Going back to dr. this month to re-evaluate. I'd rather not stay on a steroid.

 

[luvwinnie]

How about SIngulair?

 

[Christine]

My son is on Advair and Singulair for years. Just recently, his lung specialist removed the Advair part of his regimen because he breathing was so good and we felt that some of his "feelings of asthma" were allergy related. So the doc added Nasonex and took away the Advair. After 2.5 weeks off the Advair, my son started coughing and having that feeling of not getting enough air. So we are back on the Advair. I think these meds are life-long. I am not familiar with Asmanex. Is it totally a steroid drug? I know that the Advair has a steroid component to it but it is not a 100% steroid.

 

[luvwinnie]

Thank you. Yes, it's just steroid, I believe.

 

[Christine]

Okay, I looked it up. It is a corticosteroid. Not quite the same as a steroid (like prednisone). It is very similar to Advair, just a different corticosteriod. It's kind of like all the allergy nasal sprays--Flonase, Rhinocort, Nasonex. They all are essentially the same, just a tiny bit different.

Anyway, Asmanex and other drugs like it are meant to be used in the long-term management of asthma. They should be used every day as a preventive measure so that you DON'T ever have to use the albuterol inhaler. Too much use of the albuterol can make bronchial tubes "brittle." Stick with the Asmanex, it is probably going to keep you off all the other medications.

 

[luvwinnie]

Thanks! Yes, if I skip a day, I need the albuterol. I'd just prefer to NOT use a steroid since even the inhaled kind can lower your resistance to infection and I'm already on TWO drugs that do that.

 

[TEENEE]

I've only been on Asmanex for a month. I did miss two doses and boy could I tell the next day. I don't know how long my doctor plans on leaving on it. I see him again in Sept. I didn't know the albuterol was so bad for your lungs. I'm glad I don't need that very often.

 

[luvwinnie]

I've only been on Asmanex for a month. I did miss two doses and boy could I tell the next day. I don't know how long my doctor plans on leaving on it. I see him again in Sept. I didn't know the albuterol was so bad for your lungs. I'm glad I don't need that very often.

What do you mean by "bad for your lungs"?

 

[Christine]

What do you mean by "bad for your lungs"?

luvwinnie--overuse of albuterol can cause a brittleness in the lungs. I will try to find some better info on it. This is why they want everyone using a preventive med versus relying on the albuterol.