Asthma attacks

[Sammie87]

My friend has asthma and is using her blue inhaler more often than she should. Can over using it cause her to have asthma attacks 

[Minushabens]

I don't know what the research would say but I think that you can become increasingly dependent on reliever inhalers. If she needs it more than once or twice a day she ought to be seeing her GP to get a review of her treatment. Does she have a preventer? If not she needs one & the surgery should prescribe one.

[Karjade]

I was told that if you use the blue inhaler more than six times a week your asthma is not under control. Is she on a preventative inhaler which you take morning and night? 

[Hidden]

Although the evidence isn't absolute there are studies that show a desensitisation when a reliever is used regularly.

news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/...

As a teenager I noticed this myself. I  found minor things like coughing and sneezing would make me feel short of breath, so I reduced my usage of my blue inhaler and it made a big difference to my health.

[BatuoShaolin]

NO! But it would increase her immunity to the medication, if she is not using it properly. However, request her GP to prescribe her Fostair 100/66mg 120 does inh CFC-1. One puFf of two before she goes to  bed and one puff or two in the morning.  tThe blue (ventolin) is used thorugh the day, if she needs it 

[ChrissieMons]

I think it is dangerous to suggest medication when you are not a doctor and don't know the patient.  The blue inhaler can't cause asthma attacks, but getting into a state of panic in case she has one might, perhaps, cause her to have one, I suppose. However, I, like many people with asthma, have used the blue inhaler as a panacea, as if it will save the day in any circumstance. She can become dependent on the inhaler, addicted, if you like, but it is a psychological addiction rather than a physical one.  

Your friend might like to talk to someone about her condition, such as the nurse at Asthma UK, to find out if she is using inhalers properly. If she is distressed about her asthma she should talk about this to the nurse too. She needs to understand her particular asthma and get control of it to live a calmer, more enjoyable life.   It can be done.

[Hidden]

Hi I have always been told that if I have to use my reliever inhaler more than I should then the preventer one might need to be increased instead or changed.    You need to see your doctor or asthma nurse for advice.  x

[diana-stoyanova]

Truth be told, the second you use "the blue inhaler" you have already lost control over your asthma. But using it regularly... I am completely sure your friend MUST see her doctor.

[freefaller]

I was told that this could happen but that was many years ago now and I can't say that this was from research or just from the consultant's experience - I had been rushed into hospital with a bad asthma attack at the time.  However if you become dependent it means that the medication has less and less of an effect the more you use it.  If she does not have a preventer inhaler then it sounds like she may need one.  Funnily enough it was at this stage when I had been rushed to hospital that I was given a preventer - before this I only had the blue inhaler. Spent 3 weeks in hospital but since then never got admitted again as wherever I have lived have had pretty good care from the GP and my asthma has been controlled.  This was 35 years ago and I have lived a brilliant life since have been able to keep fit, run and do sport parachuting so it just shows that asthma can be controlled and you can live a normal life with it.  Hope you manage to get good advice for your friend.  She is lucky to have such a good friend as you.

Sian

Xoxoxo