What medications do you take for your asthma?

Question

I take Zyrtec-D, Nasonex and Advair (250/50 once daily). I did take Singulair but stopped without any noticable changes to my allergies or peak flow/asthma. I also have an Albuterol Inhaler but haven't used it since I started taking Advair in 10/2004. I also get allergy shots and have been for over 2 years. I was told to continue getting allergy shots for 4-5 years. I've heard allergy shots also help asthma - any truth to that? If so, could one stop taking Advair to see if it is still necessary? Just curious......

What tests are given to determine asthma? Can those tests determine how bad the asthma is? I have never been given any tests, just medication.

Answer 1

I seem to be having the same experience as you with my allergies and asthma. I have an Albuteral inhaler which I could not breath clearly without using on an almost daily basis. I recently had tests to determine whether I truly have asthma and, when the results were in, I was prescribed Advair and Singulair without noticeable changes in my allergies or asthma. I also seem to have regular sinus infections which are not helped by either medication. I have stopped taking the Advair and Singulair and feel as though I have experienced few differences. I have never taken shots and will not start now. I wish it was easier and less expensive to be diagnosed and prescribed correctly. Sometimes I feel as though the doctor just keeps making appointments for me because he knows I have good insurance.

Answer 2

There are a few tests that can be done to "test" for asthma. One test is called a PFT or pulmonary function test. A component of this test is spirometry with before and after bronchodilator like your Albuterol. A 15% increase in you results after the bronchodilator is diagnostic of asthma. Another test is called a methylcholine test. This test attempts to cause an attack, if it does not then you don't have asthma.
Advair... Do not stop taking it. There are two components to Advair, flovent, and serevent. The flovent is an inhaled steriod that has an acculmative effect. It helps to prevent attacks. The serevent is a long acting bronchodilator. It lasts for about 12 hours, that is why you take it twice a day. The long acting bronchodilator is most likely the reason you have not needed your albuterol.
If you want you can ask your dr. about trying a lower strength of Advair, lke the 100/50. If you tolerate the lower dose, you may be able to wean off completely later.
Good Luck, and Safe Breathing.

Answer 3

I have had asthma since I was two or three I am now eightteen and I take Zopenex when needed.I also use Albuterol in my nebulizer also when needed. I have to take my Singulair every day or I start having trouble. I don't remember if they did any tests, but I do remember having really bad attacks and being stuck in the hospital for weeks at a time. So I can't help you there. I'm sure that allergy shots do help asthma depending on what triggers your asthma. Mine was weather, exercise, or anything and everything. So shots wouldn't help me. I wouldn't suggest stopping your Advair without talking to your doctor first and depending on how bad your asthma is you might not want to mess with it. I always say if it works leave it alone.
Hope I answered your questions. Good luck and hope it helps.

Answer 4

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Answer 5

Yes, they are called pulmonary function tests...they can tell your overall lung capacity.
If your main asthma triggers are allergies then yes the allergy shots are very beneficial. You might want to talk to your Doctor about getting off the Advair and on to something less potentially dangerous.
Advair should only be prescribed to asthma patients who do not have their asthma under control, yours sounds like it is pretty stable.
Your doc should be able to give you something else, I would insist with the new studies showing advairs increasing the risk of asthma related death. Do not panic, but I would switch.
I have had severe asthma for too many years and I am on advair cuz little else works and the threat of increasing chances of death are no big deal cuz I already have that type of asthma that any attack, any coughing fit etc and I could die, so If someone like me gets relief from Advair it is worth it...your case I would switch...
STAY OFF oral steroids!! Do not let the doctors con you into that trap either...look up corticosteroids online and decide for yourself if they are worth the risk...again I do not think your asthma warrants this treatment since you have a pretty good handle on it.
You can always email me if you have any other questions....

Answer 6

Serevent 1x per day and Advair 100/50 1x per day, Nasonex, Clairitin 10mg, Singulair 5mg, Zopenex (it doesn't make you all shaky like albuterol does). My doc hasn't mentioned that my allergy shots help my asthma... but maybe. You should have a full pulmonary function test then lower your dose of Advair the redo the test to see if your results have worsened. Talk to your pulmonologist. You do have one, right?

Answer 7

You were probably tested with a machine to determine how much air you could force from your lungs.
Allergy shots will help asthma that is caused or aggravated by allergies. Do not stop using advair without discussing it with your doctor

Answer 8

My brother is an asthmatic and after ten years his asthma has shown no sign of improving. He has been to several doctors but they didn't help much.

If you want a proven, all-natural way to cure your asthma, without having to pay for useless medications with harmful side-effects, then this is the most important page you'll ever read.

Answer 9

I have lung function tests regularly. I take Singulair, Salbutamol, Flixotide & Oxis. (I think Oxis and singulair is great).

Astma is brought on by different things in different people.
Some people get one, or a combination of the categories:

1)Exersize
2)Allergy

Allergy shots will help to minimize the attacks brought on by allergy, while the medication could help with both.

I am asthmatic, and have been for 21 years!

Answer 10

I take Flovent,Serevent, Ventolin and Singular for asthma. There are plenty of tests to determine the severity of your asthma,the most common being a lung function test.If you can tolerate Advair well, I would not stop it without consulting a Doctor.