My albuterol sulfate is making me have nightmares, what to do?

Question

I'm 18, and when i was 17 i started having problems breathing, so far it has progressed to the point of me having full blown asthma attacks(I have never heard of ANYBODY getting asthma later on in life either!!!) and needing to use xopenex in emergence's and albuterol sulfate nebulizer everyday, but i have started noticing I get really shaky after taking it and I am having nightmares almost every night(for more then a month now). my asthma problems seem under control, but the nightmares are really starting to bother me, is there something i can do to stop the nightmares but still take the albuterol?

Answer 1

You doctor might be able to switch you to a different corticosteroid that does not cause nightmares. Different inhalers are described at this site:

Answer 2

Asthma is common at all ages and has come and gone at different times in peoples lives.

Asthma is an allergy. You may have had it all your live but have not been exposed to the trigger until you were 17. What changed in you life that may have introduced the trigger?

The best non medication treatment for asthma is to learn your asthma triggers and avoid them. See the links below

Albuterol and Xopenex are virtually the same medication. they are both supposed to be rescue medications that are used to reverse an asthma attack. If you are using Albuterol or Xopenex more then 2 times per week (for attacks) then your asthma is not in control and you will need a prescription medication to help control it according to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI).

Albuterol and Xopenex will effect the body much like caffeine. They can make you shaky.

http://www.noattacks.org/

http://www.singulair.com/montelukast_sodium/singulair/consumer/asthma/for_adults/singulair_helps_control_asthma/ask_your_doctor.jsp?WT.srch=1&WT.mc_id=S248L

http://www.asmanex.com/asmanex/application?namespace=main&event=content_display&event_input=about_asthma_inhalers

Answer 3

I would talk to your Dr. It could be the meds. or it could be stress and anxiety that is causing the nightmares.