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Posted 10/25/2008 12:50 PM (GMT -6)
I use albuterol and an azmacort for my inhalers.  My PCP also prescribed a xopenex to try instead of the albuterol.  I have tried it, the first time it barely worked, the 2nd time it cleared me up but just for about 2 or so hours.  I use albuterol 4 x a day.  I read a post where someone used both albuterol and xopenex.  Can these be used together?  Also, I take 2 puffs on the albuterol and it works pretty good but sometimes it doesn't last 4 hrs.  Is it safe to take an extra puff a while later if I start to tighten up in my chest?  Are there better inhalers that work long term besides my azmacort?  The azmacort is a steroid inhaler and is supposed to be the long term one to keep away inflamation.  Is Advair or Symbicort or some other better?  I worry about using these inhalers so much because I know you can get heart problems. I am seeing a new pulmonologist on Wed so will get answers then but in the meantime was wondering if it is OK to use an extra puff of albuterol and if other long term inhalers work better than others.  Please reply as I would really like to get some personal experience information. Thanks in advance for any and all replies.

Aurora

Posted 10/25/2008 6:42 PM (GMT -6)
HI Aurora
I use albuterol and I am also on Spiriva for COPD

I wish I could help you hun but I know the albuterol does help me for inbetween times I am allowed the spiriva

LYN
Posted 10/25/2008 10:05 PM (GMT -6)

Thanks Lynn for your reply.  What I am interested in is how many times a day is it safe to use albuterol a day.I read a post where  the person used it 6-8 times a day 2 puffs.  My dr. perscribed me 4 x a day 2 puffs.  This  does not always hold me.  I am wondering if it is safe to use the albuterol more than 8 puffs a day. 

Aurora

Posted 10/25/2008 10:18 PM (GMT -6)
Okay, I'll try to help, you just started on Xopenex, is that correct?
If so then maybe you need to give it a little more time for it to start working
in you body.(same old same old advise but it might be true in your case.)
medicines need time to build up in your system before they being working.
Call your Doctor before mixing albuterol and xopenex as they are both rescue inhalers
or bronchial dilators, so I can't agree with you mixing them unless your doctor has okayed it.
Perhaps the problem could be the Azmacort, like Howlycats said it's the steroid med and it's
supposed to keep you good for a longer period of time.
Maybe or ask your doctor if perhaps a nebulizer treatments might help till you get better
relief from your current medicine, However Xopenex is used in nebulizer form, but you might get
a different nebulizer med if the Xopenex is not helping.
So, my final answer would be: see you doctor tell him/her whats going on,
how many times your using your Xopenex/albuterol and keep a record or journal and take peak flow readings
and journal them. write your question and concerns that you want answered down and take all of it in with you.
You and your asthma doctor should be working as a team to get your asthma as best able under control.
Hope this helps, keep us posted, until then prayers and soft hugz.
Good Luck, we'll be rooting for you......
I use asmanex (long, same grouping as azmacort) and Xopenex as rescue, plus allergy meds
could also mean you might need an allergy med...
Posted 10/26/2008 11:27 AM (GMT -6)
HI again
I am RX the albuterol as you are 4x's a day ...........

Take care you ........LYN
Posted 10/26/2008 1:26 PM (GMT -6)

Thanks for your replies Lyn and Chartreaux.  I do use the albuterol 4 X a day but by the time the last hour comes up I am gasping for breath and didn't know if it was safe to take an extra puff.  I do have a whole list of questions for the pulmonologist so I am set with that.  I just was feeling scared as it is the weekend and both my sons are out of town so was feeling alone and wondering what to do if I had a serious problem, but then if it was so bad I would have called the paramedics. I guess my problem is that this breathing situation has been going on like this for 4 months and I just don't know how safe it is to be using inhalers every day for so many times.  I think I am really afraid of dying from not being able to breathe.  And my life is on hold.  I can get to the grocery store after I use the inhaler and do a few errands but basically I am stuck at home.  And I need to get better so I can find some kind of a job or I will be out on the street. And being upset as you know makes the breathing worse so I have a hard time keeping calm.  I just try to concentrate on something. I am hoping this new dr. will be able to get to the cause of my problem cause the other dr. was just a jerk and said I didn't have anything wrong with me.  Makes you feel real good to go to a dr. and told your nuts. Like I had the time and money to go see him for fun. Will post after Wed when I see the new dr.  Keep your fingers crossed for me that we finally find the cause.  Thanks again.

Many hugs,

Aurora

Posted 10/26/2008 3:37 PM (GMT -6)
Have you asked for another InHALER
There are better ones out there hun

Talk to your pulmonogist

I was on Ventolin and Albuterol
Then I had the Spiriva given to me
I take it in am and at night
It works great for ME

Keep me posted plz

LYN
Posted 10/26/2008 4:40 PM (GMT -6)

Hi Lynn, I will ask the pulmonologist if different meds will work better for me.  I have a xopenex inhaler which is a rescue inhaler and supposed to be so great but it only keeps me clear for about 2 hrs.  I also use an azmacort for my long acting steroid inhaler but maybe that is the one that needs to be changed.  Anyway thanks for your help and I will keep you informed.

Aurora

Posted 10/26/2008 5:53 PM (GMT -6)
Hey aurora, I know how hard it can be to stay calm, but you can do it....
sure hope the new doctor can help you better.
Don't be afraid to ask questions and to stand up for yourself this time,
you got us rooting for you...I agree a better long acting asthma medications might be what you need
and there are a lot out there or it could be you might need a small time on a steroid like prednisone,
don't be worried or scared if you need that medicine, I've had to use it from time to time
to keep bad flairs under control.
Good luck with the appointment.
Soft hugz and keep us posted!
Posted 10/27/2008 10:45 AM (GMT -6)

Hello Aurora,

I saw your post and of course I had to add my comment which will blend in with the others. :-)   Only take your own medications the exact way as your physician prescribed them. If you get into trouble call the physician on call or go to the ER.

I took care of a 16 years old asthmatic that used her inhalers as prescribed and they did not work so she used her friends and went into repiratory arrest. She was at school when she collasped. No she did not make it.

So yes some people are on different meds and different doses but you really need to stay in close contact with your physician.

In no way am I trying to scare you, just a personal experience I witnessed first hand. I would jot down some of the questions you have about the info shared here to see what your physician think would work for you.

Gentle Hugs

Kitt

Posted 10/28/2008 9:55 AM (GMT -6)
Hi Aurora

I'm the one you refer to in your 10-25 post.....the one who takes lots of meds including Albuterol 6-8x's a day 2 puffs each time. 

The following is that post:

Hi Aurora,


I use albuterol 6-8x's a day 2 puffs each time plus xopenex and atrovent solutions for the nebulizer 2x's a day plus singulair, medrol and symbicort (new to symbicort, just switched from pulmicort and serevent). I have never been jittery from xopenex but I'm using the nebulizer solution not inhaler. That may be the difference.?.
Hope that helps

Allura

Notice, however, that I use xopenex in my nebulizer and albuterol as my rescue inhaler.  Also note that I am highly monitered my a team of Dr.'s.  I have an asthma specialist, pulmonary specialist endocrinologist as well as 4 hospitals (another one just added today) involved in my every move.  I don't have the kind of asthma most people on this site have.  Only 1-4 percent of asthma patients will ever develop the kind of asthma I have.  For that reason I check this site very seldom.  I belong to another one for transplant patients. 

I was first recommended for transplant in 2000 and turned it down.  I was recommended again in September (when I joined both sites) and again turned it down.  Obviously you can not compare your condition to mine.....I could kill for your condition.  What I do have is knowledge that can only be acquired from being in this condition.  I understand your fear of dying and how scary it is to not be able to take a breath, you actually (at my stage) go into a hypoxic panic but I don't think you're there yet....or even close. 

I absolutely agree with stkitt.  Never take meds not prescribed to you!  Many meds are the same but go by different names, ex. Ventolin and Albuterol are the same drug.  I also agree with Chartreux to keep a journal and bring it with you to your Dr. appt.  Your Dr. can only be as good as the information he has.  Also, you forget what happened a week or two ago when sitting in those warm and inviting exam rooms. 

And again (I'll probably say this on every post)  NEVER LEAVE YOUR DR.'S OFFICE UNTIL YOU UNDERSTAND YOUR DX, TREATMENT, MEDS AND THEIR SIDE EFFECTS.

GOOD LUCK   tongue

Allura

Posted 10/28/2008 2:10 PM (GMT -6)

Hi Kitt and Allura,  thanks for your replies.  I would never use anyone else's meds under any conditions.  I stick to the meds prescribed by my dr.  I was just curious if an extra puff was safe in between if the breathing got bad but will ask the pulmonologist about it tomorrow.  I think I may be improving slightly.  Don't know if it's the air purifiier or the colder weather.  And I have typed up a whole list of questions to ask the dr.  I truly appreciate your help and will keep you posted on what he says and if I am to get new meds. I was told that this new dr. is really great so am hoping for answers.  Thanks again for being so understanding.

Many hugs,

Aurora

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