PLZ HELP....I'm getting used to my asthma medicine!!!!!!!!!?

Question

I have the feeling that the regular 100mcg Ventolin is losing its effect. Mild-severe attacks that used to be managed by 2, 3 puffs at most now require 5, 6 puffs. I'm a bit scared, actually, that when push comes to shove, the stuff won't be enough. Also it feels it's all acting slower. What do you think this is about???

Answer 1

There are a few things which need to be clarified viz. how frequent are your attacks, are they getting worse both in frequency and severity, how old is your asthma, have you been prescribed the 'Brown' capped inhaler which is a steroid preparation as well? Also, it is vital to know if your inhalation technique is as recommended.
If you are not already on a steroid inhaler, then I feel its time to be started. This is a preventer, which has to be used irrespective of whether you are symptomatic or not.This reduces the frequency and severity of asthma.The Ventolin is a reliever which is used only to relieve an acute attack of asthma. Once the attack is controlled then the Ventolin is stopped.
My presonal favourite is combination therapy where there is a steroid along with a long acting beta agonist(drug belonging to Salbutamol family/Ventolin family) which is taken as puffs daily.This is quite effective in keeping asthma under good control.Your doctor would be able to advise.
The inhalation technique is an art and constitutes efficiency
and co ordination which may not be possible with everyone especially the old aged and those with arthritis of finger joints. A spacer is a device which can solve that problem as it helps in delivering more particles of the aerosol medication into your lungs.I would recommend a spacer if you are not using one.
Hope your queries are largely answered. You doctor would be able to provide more information and help you out.Dont need to panic! Good luck.

Answer 2

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.

Answer 3

When a Beta Agonist (what Albuterol is) is used frequently for months on end, it can lose effect. That usually takes at least 3 months to happen. One solution is to use a Parasympatholytic like Atrovent. It works on a different site and has a similar effect. Another option would be a stronger bronchodilator in the same family as Albuterol. It's called Xopenex and it works great. Your doctor has many different tools at his/her disposal to help you control your asthma. These also include inhaled steroids and allergen inhibitors.

There is a possibility that your doctor needs to re-evaluate your treatment plan. Asthma is managed based on the worst symptoms you have. You could be perfectly fine without any asthma issues for months and be struck-down one day for no reason. This is why some people with asthma take long acting control medications. They might not have an asthma attack today or this week, but they are being treated to stop the biggest attack that their doctor figures they will have.

There have been other questions on this site about people asking others about inhaler function. It seems that many other people are noticing that their Albuterol inhalers are not as effective as they once were (myself included). Maybe it's the weather effecting the operation of your inhaler. Maybe you had a CFC inhaler before and now you have an HFA inhaler. Most importantly, maybe your asthma gets worse in summer. Mine has been bothering me a lot more than normal in the past few weeks. I don't know what the exact cause is yet, but I'm doing my detective work to find what might be setting my asthma off every few days.

My recommendation is that you see your doctor about your medication and asthma control issues. In addition, it might be helpful for you to examine what you are exposed to in your daily life that is different than before. Something you are now exposed to might be making your asthma worse.

Answer 4

See your Dr for a review NOW!

If your Ventolin is not working as well as it used to, then your attacks are probably getting worse.

You need to update your asthma plan, or if you don't have one, get one!

You should probably be on medication to help PREVENT your attacks as well as Ventolin to relieve the attack.

Alternately, if you only have attacks very infrequently, have you checked that your Ventolin hasn't passed it's "use by" date????

Answer 5

This is normal. You either need to pair up with another medication, or get a higher dosage on the one you're using now. Usually another medication will help prevent attacks. Do some research about different medications that you might be interested in, and ask your doctor's opinion.

Answer 6

You need to take an inhaled steroid a couple times a day. And then use your Ventolin inhaler as necessary. Ask your doctor about this.

I'm not sure that albuterol loses it's effectiveness over time. It hasn't happened to me.

Answer 7

Your body is building a tolerance to the medication. Which either means A.You use it when your not supposed to or B.You have asthma attacks so often that you you can't help but to use the medication. I'd call your family doctor and let them know that your building a tolerance to the medication and they will will probably give you something stronger for that one time that the meds Do actually stop working.

Answer 8

That is drug tolerance. It is common. You may change medicine for the time being. If you don't take ventolin for some time, you will become responsive to it .

Answer 9

Speak with your physician. You. most likely. need to change your dosage or your medication. Please, don't hesitate. I don't care about ratings. I care about your health.