If you are on Pulmicort and Singulair are your asthma attacks nonexistent or just less?

Question

I was hoping some fellow asthmatics could help me out. I know Pulmicort and Singulair are preventative medicine for asthma, but I was wondering if you should expect to not have any attacks at all. What happens to you when you're on the preventatives?

The winter is typically one of the worst times for my asthma. My asthma was really bad for about a week, then I was put on Singlulair, have been on it for a little over 2 weeks. The past 2 days I felt SO much better. But today, I've had 2 small attacks, which I took Albuterol for. I was able to get through them during work, but it wore me out today.

Should I be concerned about today's attacks, or are my expectations unrealistic? What I mean is, should I expect to be totally cured of the attacks or should I anticipate still having them because it is the winter?

Personal experience to offer insight would be appreciated. Thank you :)

Answer 1

When I was switched to Singulair, I was told to expect some "emergency" attacks and to continue using my "emergency" inhaler-Albeuterol. I think as time goes on and you are on Singular you will find that you have less and less "emergency" attacks. I've found Singulair to be really freeing for me. I can now do alot of things I was afraid to do before.

Answer 2

My daughter is asthmatic and she also takes singulair. Every person reacts differently to medication. My daughters asthma is better with this medication but she still gets asthma attacks not as severe but she does. She is allergic to dogs, cats, birds and dustmites. So she has to be careful not going near them and the dustmites I clean her room with a damp cloth instead of sprays. To answer your question if the attacks will be totally cured it is very difficult to say my daughters doctor said to us that asthma is never totally cured. People can go without an attack for years and out of the blue they can have one without warning. Good Luck and take care.

Answer 3

Control of asthma is highly variable from person to person, depending on severity of disease, exposure to triggers, etc. The goal of a medication regimen is to reduce the number of asthma attacks you have, hopefully to none. If you continue to have frequent attacks on this regimen, your doctor can add other medications or increase the dose/frequency of the medications you are currently on. Since asthma management is so personal, you may have to continue to try various combinations of medication and see what works best for you!