constant throat clearing

[gillsky8]

I have a problem with constantly needing to clear my throat, it is not a problem when i lay down at nightime. I was prescribed brown preventer inhaler. Nurse told me that symptom of asthma is throat clearing? Can anyone say if they have had similar issue and also how long did it take for the inhaler to work? thanks

[twinkly29]

I've not personally heard of it as an asthma symptom - more as a symptom of silent reflux or post nasal drip which can both also cause symptoms that sound and feel similar to asthma.

However if, after about 8 weeks of using your brown inhaler, things have improved then that's a sign it maybe is asthma.

[gillsky8 in reply to twinkly29]

Thank you , if I’m honest I feel like the asthma inhaler is making it worse , Sudafed tablet seems to help a bit but I am concerned continually using that can cause rebound congestion. It seems like a vicious circle. Not convinced it’s allergies either . I have no problems at night in fact laying down actually improves it. Only when I get up in the morning and it starts over again . Very annoying!! I can spit up white mucus at times as well . Avamys nasal spray ? Possible from doctor? Any experience of this please?

[Superzob in reply to gillsky8]

I have exactly the same symptoms, and have been told it's asthma (by a respiratory consultant who had previously thought it was COPD). However, the cause doesn't matter very much, it's the treatment which counts. I can't say the following have worked for me, but they do work with others, so here goes:

1) Montelucast (often prescribed for asthma sufferers, but makes me tired!);

2) Carbocysteine - this loosens mucous but, if your mucous is thin like mine, then N-acetyl cysteine might do the job, and is available from health stores/online;

3) Tiotropium - comes as an inhaler called Spiriva (though I imagine there are other brands) - this is an antimuscarinic and helps reduce mucous;

4) Increasing the dosage of the preventer inhaler - I've just been told to do that with mine. I did it before for a week without any effect, but I'm told that it could take months, so I'll need to stick at it.

Hope this is some help.

[gillsky8 in reply to Superzob]

Thank you

[twinkly29 in reply to gillsky8]

I don't know how long you've been on the inhaler but it will take about 8 weeks to kick in - so even if it is asthma, the inhaler might not be working yet.

Avamys yes, I've been on that several years. It's a steroid nasal spray so should reduce any inflammation in the nasal passages. Another really good thing (which may help if it's an allergy thing, or if it's linked to post nasal drip or congested nasal passages - the smaller ones you might not notice are congested rather than an obvious blocked nose) is NeilMed Sinus Rinse - a saline solution that is squirted up one nostril and comes down the other. It feels a bit ugh the first time but is then fine. Done twice a day with warm water (too cold or too hot is horrible!) it really helps keep things less congested, less post nasal drip etc. So that might be worth a go anyway as it won't affect the inhaler at all.

Is the throat clearing the only symptom used to suggest asthma? I can see why someone might say it's part of asthma if someone has other asthma symptoms but not sure why they'd jump to asthma if it's the only symptom as there are other things it could quite easily be. Asthma medication, however good someone else finds it, won't help someone else if asthma isn't the cause for them.

[gillsky8 in reply to twinkly29]

thanks again , I am actually not at all convinced that I have asthma, I have no shortness of breath, but the nurse who prescribed it said that a symptom of asthma was throat clearing? hmm . just contacted my doctor surgery and he said avamys was worth a try, what I don't want to do is be taking too much sudafed or mixed medicines as I think it could be aggravating this problem.

[twinkly29 in reply to gillsky8]

Avamys will be ok - it's not like sudafed. Definitely worth a go. Hopefully it'll be magical and you'll find the answer quickly!

[gillsky8 in reply to twinkly29]

Hi again ! Sorry to be a pain but I have just one more question. I’ve had a telephone consultation with my doctor this evening and he has agreed to my starting Avamys nasal spray twice a day. Do you also take an antihistamine? My doctor said this might be another option as well as the nasal spray . Thanks

[twinkly29 in reply to gillsky8]

Ooh good. To the phone call. Yes I am on antihistamines. I'm currently on a prescribed one but for many years took either cetirizine or loratidine which are both non-drowsy one-a-day tablets (initially just summer but then all year round due to dust etc issues, so they can be taken all year). They're easily available in supermarkets etc - usually 7 in a pack off the shelf or in bigger boxes at a pharmacy.

[lakelover in reply to gillsky8]

I only get short of breath when I'm going up a hill too fast. My symptom is a cough which can get very mucousy.

[gillsky8 in reply to twinkly29]

Yes it's interesting as the throat clearing seemed to be the only link to asthma, however I have been reading that it can be a symptom. The trouble is I seem to have gone from one thing to another without really getting a solution. I must say that the LPR posts and comments are also very interesting. I also feel I need to stick with using something everyday, if I'm honest I am reluctant to take medications which is one of my downfalls. It is encouraging though to have joined this chat page and discover I am not alone with this problem.

[twinkly29 in reply to gillsky8]

If one has asthma the preventer inhaler has to be taken every day even when well or it's pointless.

It's only my view but my inclination would be to try the avamys first as you'll know in a week or 2 how that's helping. Trying the inhaler for 2 months is a bigger ask.

Maybe it can be a symptom - but I would have thought there would also be other symptoms.

[bess7771 in reply to gillsky8]

Yes ....i think its the preventer. SOO many preventers cause this , its bloody annoying. In the morning first thing its particularly bad but once u have been sitting upright and have had your second coffee it will improve a bit. But yes.... its awful..... embarrassing on transport, at work, in lectures and in the supermarket. I hate it.

[itselenax]

If it's something like reflux or post-nasal drip as twinkly29 has suggested, which both cause similar symptoms, then it could be worth trialling something like Omeprazole or Avamys which you will need to get from your GP.

But using your inhaler for about 3 months can help determine if it's asthma - if things have improved then it could be asthma, if things stay the same then try the above.

[gillsky8 in reply to itselenax]

Thank you both for your replies it’s very helpful , does it really take as long as three months for asthma inhalers preventer as this is to be effective? And also can you have post nasal drip and asthma?

[itselenax in reply to gillsky8]

I think they recommend using an inhaler for 3 months because it can take that long sometimes. You might not get effective results before that - because it's a preventer inhaler it does long-term work so it takes a little while longer to show than a relief inhaler would unfortunately.

I'm sure you can have both so that's why it would be worth trying the inhaler for 3 months first and then trying other meds. I'm sure your GP would be happy to try them.

[twinkly29 in reply to gillsky8]

Yes you can definitely have both and while it might be asthma, if that is your only symptom (ie no wheeze, no cough, no shortness of breath, no tight chest) then it would be a bit weird. Not all asthmatics have all those symptoms but to have none and just throat clearing makes me 🤔.

I think most inhalers they say 6-8 weeks for full effect but some can be longer. If they think it's asthma they should really have asked you to monitor your peak flow twice a day while using your brown inhaler as doing so can help to show if the inhaler is helping (not day to day but from starting it to the time it's in theory fully effective).

You could try phoning Asthma UK and see what the nurses there think or could suggest? They're very good.

AUK helpline - 0300 2225800 Mon-Fri, 9am-5pm

[gillsky8 in reply to twinkly29]

great thanks for all your help

[Hidden in reply to itselenax]

Or instead of omeprazole (which can also take a few days to kick in) try gaviscon advance solution (as opposed to tablets) for reflux which works rather faster and I think can be bought over the counter.

[itselenax in reply to Hidden]

Yeah this is a good idea, Gaviscon can be bought OTC and would provide faster relief.

[Hidden]

Why is it that medics are immediately thinking than symptoms such as this have to be asthma? Post nasal drip and reflux are just as likely to be the cause. I have a niece who was actually prescribed a budesonide inhaler for a persistent cough following on from a cold a few years ago. Admitted this was in Spain so not UK, but she had no history of asthma whatsoever! Daft! As it was she sought a second opinion where it was suggested she try some decongestants. They cleared it.

[twinkly29 in reply to Hidden]

That was my confusion too. Maybe look into it if it's one of other symptoms including some asthma symptoms but otherwise it's odd. And if they are considering asthma they should maybe try ventolin first (for symptom response as part of diagnostic technique) and/or do peak flow monitoring through the embedding of the brown inhaler etc. Some doctors seem very dismissive of asthma (especially when something is a bit odd) yet others seem to ignore other likely possibilities and then someone goes through all sorts of meds getting further escalated when it wasn't asthma anyway!

[Hidden in reply to twinkly29]

As someone who suffers from all three I have an immediate response to any sudden increases in symptoms of breathlessness or coughing. First try ventolin, if that doesn’t work within half an hour, try gaviscon (for reflux that stuff works as a reliever as well as ventolin does for asthma). If neither appears to be helping get out the sterimar nasal rinse and use that - particularly just before going to bed!

[twinkly29 in reply to Hidden]

It's interesting to read your experience of all three conditions, thank you. I'm sure others will find it useful too - I often have recommended the likes of gaviscon to people whose asthma-like symptoms don't go away with ventolin (as a "maybe try this" idea) but haven't used it myself so it's good to know it can be very effective. 🙂

[Hidden in reply to twinkly29]

It has to be gaviscon advance, and it has to be the liquid form, or that’s what I’ve found; the tablet version just isn’t as good.

I have a different tactic if I wake with breathing issues during the night, because telling the difference between asthma and reflux then can be very difficult. My bed is currently raised seven inches at the head end to help with this (we recently increased it from six) but even so problems can still arise. I find that breathing problems associated with reflux will improve if I turn and lie on my left side (apparently because of the way the oesophagus links to the stomach lying on the left side can help to prevent stomach acid leaking into the oesophagus, conversely lying on the right side will increase the risk). If it’s asthma that’s causing the problem then it won’t matter what sleeping position I try, the breathing issues won’t go away.

[Hidden in reply to twinkly29]

I ought to add that I’m now on cimetidine as well as Gaviscon advance for my reflux (I can’t use the PPIs; I get rebound from them). But to try and identify what is causing a problem, something like Gaviscon Advance can be very useful. If it works to immediately relieve the problem but the symptoms keep coming back after a few hours for a number of days then the advice of a doctor has to be sought - same as with ventolin and asthma.

[Sunnydays1982]

I had that constantly, it drove me mad! But my consultant said it was acid, I started in eosmeorezole and it cleared it up for me 😄

[erifder]

Yeah same for me although pretty sure my throat clearing and hoarseness is caused by flutiform inhaler. It’s a dilemma because I need the preventer. I’m on monkey last as well, my asthma has improved a little so I now only take flutiform in the morning, that has helped. I would recommend clear teas, they really help, such as green, ginger tea, or yogi teas. Gargling regularly with salt water....it’s a trial...

[Graham07allen]

Hi there, this is classic LPR symptoms. There some really good groups on Facebook that you can join.

[Hidden]

I suffer the same have been told it’s the inhalers and to use spacer and gargle directly after use. I have to say usually as the day goes on it improves.

[Evesham]

I have severe asthma and constant throat clearing which has improved somewhat by taking Avayms nasal spray twice a day.

[Celie1]

I too cough and have almost constant throat clearing on a morning and less throughout the day, but it’s still there and particularly when I’ve just eaten. I take lanzoprazole for reflux and a sinus rinse as my nose runs and I have post nasal drip. I have been taking asthma meds for late onset asthma for about 15 years. My current inhaler is Fostair MART regime, which I’ve been taking for nearly 2 months. My shortness of breath has improved, the cough has improved a bit, but it’s still there. I don’t know if the inhaler alone will help but I’m hoping. Hope you get something that works for you - post if you do! 🤞

[gillsky8 in reply to Celie1]

Now this is interesting to me as I am also worse throat clearing immediately after eating. But you see I do not have any shortness of breath, or coughing. What is lanzoprazole ? is it Nexium, I have heard of Guardium ? If any is there a difference between the two, was also mentioned by the GP as a possible problem. I am beginning to think that there is maybe not just one cause for my problem.

[Celie1]

Lanzoprazole is to reduce stomach acid. I take a tablet once (or a twice) a day. Yes I think you’re right, probably a combination of things for me too, I wish I could get rid of it!

[Jackwabbit]

My wife has a constant cough & is always saying she feel like she is drowning with fluid in her throat. She is under Brompton hospital & they have tried almost everything. They put her on Omeprazole in case it was reflux, they have tried nose drops for post nasal drip. These did nothing you needed to almost stand on your head to get the drops in the right place (Not easy for a 65 year old disabled person. So they have tried nose sprays. They tried ended up putting a camera up her nose & down her throat, they saw her larynx was inflamed. So they said it was hyper sensitive larynx so they tried Gabapentin which should work as a nerve blocker. Unfortunately for her (but not me, if you know what I mean) she was having side effects so she had to stop taking them. The only time she stopped coughing 24-7 was when she was on morphine after shattering her kneecap. Now she is off the morphine she is back to coughing 24-7 & trying to clear her throat all the time, so if you do find an answer I would like to know.

[Stespc22]

Hi I have Mild controlled Asthma and experienced the constant clearing of the throat which is both irritating and annoying. I found cutting out fizzy drinks and cutting back on coffee helped me significantly and drinking lots of water through out the day.I also agree with Twinkly29 this could be caused by post nasal drip.

Follow the instructions given by your doctor/ nurse using your preventer until you get your Asthma of it is Asthma under control, I was advised this takes about 8 to 10 weeks.

[RydahforGod]

Just to add a thought. I too had this problem which I thought stemmed from something like LPR. In addition to a diet change, I started drinking ginger tea and not eating 3 hours before bed. I also decided to purchase a 10 inch bed wedge which I find amazing. You can find a variety on Amazon. I have experienced an improvement with the wedge and I don’t find it uncomfortable.