About 7 years ago I got a very bad bronchitis. The doctor told me he heard a mild wheeze and wrote me out Albuterol for the neb. He asked if I would rather have an inhaler or neb. I chose for the neb. since we had a machine at home.
Well I somehow got addicted to the nebulizer and Albuterol. I have taken Albuterol almost every 4 hours some days a little less. At least 4-5 a day for 7 years. I have had PFT tests that came back mild, mild, mild asthma. My doctor told me on a scale from 0-10 my asthma is 0-3. I have a peak flow moniter at home as well and I blow good on it for my age and height. But I have been taking the Albuterol for so long that I am afraid that if I try to stop taking it that I will die or have a severe attack or something. I am sooooo worried. I have went like 15 hours without taking any Albuterol before and nothing happened. I just felt short of breath a little.
2007-03-14 08:12:51 · 7 answers · asked by Dawn 3 in Health ➔ Diseases & Conditions ➔ Respiratory Diseases
I also wanted to say that I have Panic Disorder also. Thats what caused the addiction. I have panic attacks that make me short of breath and always thought it was asthma. But after 3 years found out it was panic and not asthma which left me addicted by that point to albuterol. I still have panic attacks that I think are asthma. I am worried. Will I have to stay on albuterol forever? Will I have to be weaned off of it? Is there no hope for me now? Any answers would be great. thank you!
2007-03-14 08:15:36 · update #1
Asthma is an allergy. First you need to know what your triggers are and avoid them. Common triggers are smoke, pets, grass/weeds, dust and mold.
Second, Albuterol is a rescue drug. Rescue medications are to be used if you have an episode of shortness of breath. If you are using your albuterol more then twice per week, then your asthma is un-controlled. You need to see your doctor and ask him/her to send you to a Certified Asthma Educator (AE-C) for asthma counseling.
Third, ask about a controller medication such as Flovent, Asthmacort, Pulmicort or Advair. These are medications that you will use everyday to prevent asthma attacks.
Last, keep a diary of episodes and attacks. Get an Asthma action plan and fill it out. Know what your triggers, signs and symptoms are and what to do for each. Use you peak flow meter daily, and record the results.
I put some links below for you to research.
This should help. Good luck.
2007-03-14 08:38:42 · answer #1 · answered by Matt A 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
2
2016-07-27 23:27:04 · answer #2 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Asthma is an allergy and is triggered by something. The best non medication treatment for asthma is learning your triggers and avoiding them. Common triggers are smoke, dust, mold, mildew, plants, dust mites, pets and grass/weeds.
If you can not figure our your triggers, you may need to see an allergist and have allergy screening done. This may point out your triggers.
The National Asthma Prevention Program and the Expert Panel of Diagnosis and Management of Asthma both agree if you have to use a prescription inhaler such as albuterol more then two time per week, your asthma is NOT in control and you will need a prescription controller medication.
Controller medications are steroids (Asthmacort Asthmanex, Flovent, Pulmocort), Leukotriene modifier (Singulair, Aculade, Zyflo) or mast cell stabilizers (Cromolyn sodium, Intal, Tilade).
You may want to talk to your doctor about several strong controller medications and maybe Xolair shots.
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.
2016-05-15 09:21:39 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Perhaps you should just gradually wean yourself off. Instead of using it every four hours, try every five, do it for a day or so and increase it thereafter. You have to keep yourself busy, it seems that your life revolves around the machine (almost like a compulsive addiction). Find something to do to pass the time, eventually you should be able to go through the day with no attacks.
When you feel panic, just remain as calm as possible and just concentrate on relaxing and breathing in from the belly. If you can remain calm, then your less likely to have an attack.
2007-03-14 08:31:19 · answer #4 · answered by trojan 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I have sever asthma so i know a bit about it, recently I lost my health coverage and could no longer afford albuterol and was forced to switch to and OTC epinepherine based rescue inhalor. I have had no ill effects after completely quiting use of the albuterol(nearly 6 months now without it after 24+ years with it). If it is an option for you tho, I would consult your doctor, or goto a respitory specialist before just quiting the meds.
2007-03-14 08:30:19 · answer #5 · answered by some random dude 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
If I were you I would ask Dr for a rescuce inhaler so you can have some with you all the time
I've had a couple cases that if I didn''t an inhaler with me I would probably be gone
2007-03-14 09:27:50 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
its all in your head just like the panic disorder.
2007-03-14 08:16:48 · answer #7 · answered by colodge_25 3 · 0⤊ 3⤋