[jeniferm]

I have had mild persistent asthma since I was a teen. It is also exercise induced, but sometimes I have symptoms when I'm not exercising. They're never severe enough that I feel my life is threatened - just uncomfortable.

For many years I just used albuterol when I exercised. It does control the symptoms, but I don't like the side-effects, and don't like using it every time I exercise.

So, for a couple of years I tried Serevent. It didn't really work, but it took me two years to decide it was silly to keep using it when it didn't work. :LOL

So, I saw a pulmonologist this spring. I didn't really like him, but oh well. He offered a few options, and I decided to try the Pulmicort Turbohaler. It's not working for me either. I've used it now for about 6 weeks with no reduction in the number of times per week I need the albuterol.

I called today, and after some insistance on my part that he doesn't need to see me again to change the meds (it was just 6 weeks ago!), he prescribed Advair. I'm going to try that.

But, I'm sick of trying new things. I'll keep doing it till I find the right thing, but I'm wondering if you all have any suggestions. I'm not at this point interested in eliminating the mainstream asthma drugs in favor of alternative options.

I was interested in Intal, but the pulmonologist said he doesn't prescribe it because "It's out of fashion." I'm not looking for it to match my shoes and purse!

My main concern at this point is that we are TTC, so I want something safe during pregnancy and breastfeeding. Pulmicort and Intal are category B drugs I believe, and I think Advair and Serevent are category C. Not sure of any others.

So, anyone else with fairly mild asthma have anyplace I can turn to learn more? I've read the drug inserts, but any articles or web sites on the safety and efficacy of these drugs?

Thanks for reading my novel.

 

[PikkuMyy]

Hi there! I had moderate-severe asthma as a child and now have mild-moderate as an adult.

I take Singulair every day for control and occasionally need my albuterol pump. I also have a portable nebulizer with which I use albuteral probably once or twice a year for a day or two.

In terms of reliability, safety with pregnancy/breastfeeding, a long record of little-no sid effects and efficacy, you've gotta go with Intal. I was on it as a child and it changed my life around. I have to laugh at your doctor, because drugs that are "in fashion" tend to be new ones without a long history of safety.

So why don't I take Intal? I did until about two years ago because I simply can't remember to take it twice a day. I can hadle the pill of Singulair once a day but couldn't do the Intal with regularity. Once I've been taking singulair and remembering it reliably for a long time (I've done it reliably for about 11 months now) I might switch back to Intal. But I'd have to have two pumps - one that I kept in my purse for the morning dose with my birth control pill, and one that I kept on my nighttable for the night dose with my vitamins.

 

[jeniferm]

Quote:

Originally Posted by PikkuMyy I have to laugh at your doctor, because drugs that are "in fashion" tend to be new ones without a long history of safety.

That was my exact thinking as well, but I don't think most doctors view things that way. These new drugs also have no known problems, so they must be wonder drugs.

If the advair doesn't do it for me after a month or so I'll either convince him to write me a prescription for intal or try my primary care doc for that. Actually, I think the pulmonologist does see a lot of kids, and he mentioned being concerned about prescribing something that required twice-daily dosing, but I told him I didn't mind that. I've done it before and it's not a problem, so maybe he'll just take a little convincing.

 

[shelbean91]

I took advair throughout all 3 pgs and nursing with no problems. Serevent is a component of advair- the other component is flovent, I believe (don't remember, too lazy to look it up). Serevent is a long lasting brochiodilator (to open the airways) and flovent is a corticosteroid- (to reduce the inflamation). I remember asking my doc for the advair rx, so I could pay only 1 copay a month instead of 2, as I was already using both meds that make up advair.

The only thing I would check into adding is an allergy med, like singulair, if you're allergy induced.

 

[Ilovelife]

There are a couple inhalers that are milder than the meds you're talking about here: Intal and Tilade. They are called mast-cell stabilizers. If your asthma is truly *mild* taking one of them twice daily may work for you. I take Tilade now & have basically no problems. On the rare occasion that I still have trouble (maybe once a year) I have albuterol on hand. I've taken Intal in the past with the same results.

 

[William's Mom]

First of all, let me say if I could be medication-free, I would be... That would be my dream.

However, it's not possible. I've had life-long chronic asthma.

Right now, I take 3 medications daily:
Advair 500 (the highest dose, twice a day)
Combivent (as a rescue inhaler that I have to use daily)
Rhinocort Aqua (once daily as a nasal spray to help with allergy-induced nasal congestion)

In addition, when my asthma flares up extremely bad, I have to take these 2 drugs at the same time in a nebulizer:
Albuterol Sulfate (common drug, mentioned by other pp)
Ipatropium Bromide (a stronger drug)

Sometimes taking the nebulizer is the only way I can get relief. And the really interesting thing is that I'm taking it right now. (I had strep last week that turned into bronchitis and almost pneumonia...)

Anyway, my point is, that even though I did not want to take these meds during pregnancy, I had to. It was a matter of survival. The mother HAS to have oxygen, so that the baby can have oxygen.

I just tried to take the *lowest* doeses I could get by with during pregnancy, but several times, I had to take the strongest meds with the nebulizer due to having attacks.

It was a struggle, but I made it. And still take them now while I'm nursing.

You will be just fine. And so will your baby to be! Good luck TTC!

 

[snowflake]

My DH has asthma and successfully controls it with natural methods (diet, supplements) and by avoiding his triggers (car exhaust is a BIG one for him). He weaned himself off Advair because of the side effects it had in him (horrible, horrible headaches almost constantly, and mood issues). Other people I've know did great with Advair, he just didn't.

My DS has asthma and his is a bit harder to control naturally but we're doing well with it.

We use bioallers mold & dust allergy drops during allergy seasons, glyconutrients daily, rescue rememdy (for attacks), lots of vitamin c (japanese studies have shown vit c VERY effective), and a very strict diet (nearly vegan - LOTS of raw fruits and veggies), with carrot juice daily when DH is having trouble at all. It helps the body heal itself.

There's a good thread here somewhere with LOTS of great suggestions from other mamas on natural treatments.

 

[PikkuMyy]

Oh yes, I'm vegan, too, and my asthma is MUCH better than it was before I went vegan.