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Posted By
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May 2, 2008, 9:02 am
Flag as Inappropriate Raven
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Subject
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Asthma Medications
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I've been prescribed Symbicort and Spiriva for my asthma. Both are cortazone based medications.
I'm also on ventolin (salbutamol) as required (not often).
After reading about the side-effects of these things, I'm thinking it might be better to just go without until I reach one of those days where I just can't breathe.
What do you think?
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Comments
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May 2, 2008, 9:17 am
Flag as Inappropriate skatss says...
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If you have any reluctancy to use your medications, call your doctor and discuss it with him/her. There might be alternatives that you can take -- or the doc might tell you that it is OK not to use them or that you MUST use them.
If you don't want to call, try using the medications just as your doctor prescribed for a while to see how you react. You might find that you respond so well to them that you can use less after a while. The inflammation that causes asthma doesn't go away all that easily for it to get better on its own, so waiting for that to happen is asking for trouble. Using the medication might tame it a bit -- safely.
I'd hate to see you have an incident when you are in real distress. The drugs might not work if you are in a bad way. Don't gamble with your health, call your doc. You have every right to ask questions and tell him that you are worried about the drugs.
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May 2, 2008, 9:30 am
Flag as Inappropriate Raven says...
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You're right - I wouldn't dare gamble with my health. But the side-effects that I've learned on the net have scared me.
I have a nebulizer I can take with ventolin(salbutamol) if I get into dire straits and failing that, the paramedics are brilliant with asthmatics here. They're happy to come out and assist without transporting to hospital if they can relieve symptoms in-home (nice cost-saving).
I'll call the doc in the morning
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May 2, 2008, 1:34 pm
Flag as Inappropriate gjschnoor says...
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I would definitely consult with your doc first, but I would ask him if you can only take the medication when you need to.
I've been an acute asthmatic since I was a little kid and have had to stay in the hospital for a week on two different occasions. Luckily, my asthma hasn't been as bad over the past 3-4 years so I don't take any medication now unless I start having problems. However, I do have my inhaler and epipen handy just in case I need it.
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May 3, 2008, 6:27 pm
Flag as Inappropriate K to the J says...
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No, I'd say just stay on them. Most people do not get the side effects. My sister is on similar asthma medications and she's never had one of the bad side effects from it.
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May 7, 2008, 8:36 am
Flag as Inappropriate Raven says...
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I spoke with my doctor about my concerns with the side-effects. He's agreed after some positive spirometry tests that I don't need to take Spiriva any longer, but I'll need to stay on a reduced dosage of Symbicort daily.
He agreed that ventolin is only required when I feel the need.
I feel happier now :)
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May 17, 2008, 11:09 pm
Flag as Inappropriate Phinn says...
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I'm glad to hear that it's not abad as it seemed. My son is an asthmatic and he's never far from his ventolin inhaler, but like you,he only needs it at the onset of his breathing becoming difficult.
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