Preventer side affects

[Sb18]

Hi! I’ve had asthma all my life but very mild apart from a bad attack age 3! I go for weeks without needing an Inhaler and I’m reasonably fit, I run quite a bit! Anyway about 8 weeks ago I started using salmeterol (purple and white) twice a day as a preventor as I was noticing my asthma a little! Then with covid-19 I’ve kept going with it, my question is has anyone else noticed irritation with it? My throat is scratchy and my voice is affected and my chest feels tighter than ever? 😩

Thanks

[Poobah]

Hello Sb18. I take it that this is the first time you've used your inhaler consistently over time?

It's important to ensure that you have good mouth hygiene directly after using your inhaler, including a good gargle to clean the throat. It's known that inhaler meds can irritate the mouth and throat. My voice is affected if I'm not careful.

As for your tight chest, it could be the inhaler, especially if you're not used to taking it regularly. When I increased my combination inhaler my asthma got worse. So my asthma nurse changed my inhaler and gave me an additional steroid inhaler to dampen the side effects of the long acting bronchidilator. But that's just me.

Have a chat with your asthma nurse to see if they can help by prescribing a different inhaler.

[Sb18 in reply to Poobah]

Hi Poobah

Thank you? Yes I haven’t used a preventer long term since I was a child so it’s all new again, I have been rinsing my mouth the last few times and that is so much better! Why on Earth do they not tell you these things when they prescribe? I have a telephone appointment with the asthma nurse this week so should get sorted. It’s a really long time since I couldn’t breath properly and it definitely scared me a little.

[GFloss]

I found similar when increasing my clomid (brown) preventor. My GP said it's a known phenomenon that it can 'thicken the voice' which doesn't go down too well with singers. Not that I've ever been one of those, sadly! I also felt as if my chest was tighter for a time but the start of hay fever season could have also contributed to this as I've used my reliever so much less since being on antihistamines. Mayo Clinic list irritation of the throat and tightness of chest as two of the most common side-effects of your meds, so you're not alone in reporting this: mayoclinic.org/drugs-supple... Glad to see your symptoms are already easing somewhat though and you'll be able to discuss things with an asthma nurse soon!

[Sb18 in reply to GFloss]

Hi GFloss

I ended up having a telephone appointment with the dr who after listening to all my symptoms told me to stop my preventer all together since all this has started since I started using it twice daily he thinks maybe I didn’t need it and that’s what’s causing the tight chest! Hard to imagine an inhaler can make asthma symptoms worse but I suppose if it’s the wrong one then perhaps! He’s calling me back tomorrow morning and then I still have my appt with the asthma nurse next week. I’ve upped the antihistamine and nasel spray and a morning yoga session dedicated to breathing I feel a lot calmer and less tight chested! Very scary times I honestly thought I’d grown out of my asthma I ran a half marathon a few months ago and now this! Thank you for your reply, interesting read from the mayo clinic.

[GFloss in reply to Sb18]

So pleased your doc has been so helpful and you still have your upcoming appointment. It's definitely anxiety-inducing for you to have a flare-up over these times (sod's law, hey)! Did you do an asthma-specific yoga breathing session or just a general one? I was reading about Julia White who specialises in the asthma side: asthma.org.uk/advice/your-s...

[Sb18 in reply to GFloss]

Hi GFloss

I found it on YouTube it’s not asthma specific but she does lots of calm, relax, open up your chest & back and talks a lot about breathing so thought it would be helpful, I’ve done it everyday this week and do think it’s helping to calm my breathing, I will look at the asthma specific one though, thanks,

[GFloss in reply to GFloss]

I suddenly realised I called my Clenil Modulite 'Clomid', whoops! I know that is a very different drug and nothing to do with asthma, haha!