Ive been using my albuterol inhaler once a day (when i wake up) everyday for many years. Is there any harm in this? Its mainly caused by allergies but i dont like havig to rely on this everyday. is it putting me at risk for anything down the road?
Appreciate any input, thanks!
2007-01-07 06:34:39 · 8 answers · asked by Andy 2 in Health ➔ Diseases & Conditions ➔ Respiratory Diseases
Once a day is probably not going to have too many long-term effects. However, if you use it daily, your asthma may not be as controlled as would be preferred. Albuterol is a fast-acting Beta-2 Agonist that is long acting. However, peak effect is somewhere in the neighborhood of 30 minutes (and it's mostly downhill from there). Do you also take a corticosteroid with the Albuterol? Corticosteroids act on the inflammation component of asthma. Whereas Albuterol acts only on the contraction of the smooth muscle surrounding the airways.
There are slower and longer acting Beta-2 agonists mixed with steroids. Advair is one of them. (It comes in three different doses of steroid). I'd hate to sound like a commercial, but most of the asthmatics I know like it. Advair is a DPI (Dry Powder Inhaler), it's taken a little differently than an Albuterol MDI.
You might want to look into these options if you're going to be managing asthma long-term.
Good luck.
2007-01-07 20:26:08 · answer #1 · answered by sam_of_losangeles 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
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2016-07-27 02:28:44 · answer #2 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I'll assume you are using this in addition to managing your allergies and asthma with daily stabilizing medication. If not, speak with your primary care physician or pulmonologist about a daily regimen that would reduce the need for albuterol inhaler use.
This might include antihistamines (many can be used without the side effect of sleepiness, like Zyrtec or Allegra) or Singulair (which stops the respiratory response to allergens) and/or inhaled steroids (which keep swelling down inside your lungs so you're less likely to have a respiratory response to allergens or other asthma triggers. The Advair diskus is easy to use and contains a bronchodilator (similar to albuterol) as well as a dose of inhaled steroids.
Albuterol inhalers used to be the main "treatment" for asthma, but now we know that it's best to manage asthma differently and only use the albuterol inhaler in case of respiratory emergency/distress. Please speak with your physician about a referral to a pulmonolgist where your care can be reviewed and perhaps your treatment modernized and customized to your particular needs.
Best to you...
2007-01-07 06:49:56 · answer #3 · answered by thegirlwholovedbrains 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Hi there !
Any inhaler used for Bronchial asthma will be acting locally only. Unlike the oral medications which get into the blood stream and has a wider syatemic effect, the inhalers has a local effect thereby causing bronchodilatation and relieving spasm.
So the long term "after effects" / "complications" are negligible when compared to the other medications.
Maximum that can happen is "habituation".. Maybe you can take the minimum number of "puffs" when you are "symptom free" , if at all you take it..right ?
So..dont worry ...think about TODAY..and dont worry about TOMORROW !
Best wishes !
2007-01-07 06:47:54 · answer #4 · answered by suresh k 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Using the albuterol everyday isn't going to put you at risk but the fact that you need it every day may. If you asthma is controlled you shouldn't have to use it every day.
I would recommend discussing this with your doctor. There are some great medications out there like Advair that can control your asthma.
Good luck!
2007-01-07 10:58:12 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
A different 2¢
Sometimes Doctors don't read the "Side Effects" or "Overdose" labels on bronchial meds, If you have one of those your SOL
(One friend with a stroke, another with a ruptured arota)
In A few days I will be telling my Pulmanologist that he should read the OVERDOSE section of Albuterol, Florodil and XPOPENX.
Remember That Doctors kill more than 100,000 people in the US per Year
(Almost 5,000 with Methadone alone)
2007-01-07 12:41:57 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
There is probably not *harm* per say, but if you need it every day you might want to talk to your Doctor about using a preventative control so you don't even have attacks. I remember seeing ads a while back for a pill, but I don't remember the name anymore.
2007-01-07 06:44:16 · answer #7 · answered by tabithap 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
you body may get dependent on it.
2007-01-07 07:52:52 · answer #8 · answered by REALLY 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋