Maintenance without Steroid

[trimt]

Has anyone got any suggestions? With inhaled steroids of any kind, my eye pressure is increasing. I have had an iridotomy in both eyes and the pressure decreased to 17. However, I started retaking Symbicort 100/6 one puff twice daily. Only doing this for 8 weeks and my eye pressure has increased to 25 and 19. (I am told 22 is the safe level).

What can I do? I cannot tolerate any more eye drops and really don't want to have any further eye surgery - is there a way to manage my asthma without inhaled cortisoids?

[Wheezycat]

My own thoughts is that you really need specialists in both conditions to work together to get the best combination of medication for you. Are you under a specialist for either your eyes or your asthma?

[trimt in reply to Wheezycat]

yes! For both - and the opthamologist wants to do further surgery and the asthama consultant is at a bit of a loss...

[Poobah]

A small percentage of asthmatics cannot tolerate steroids at all so you can't be the first asthmatic your specialist has come across with this issue. The attached lists the various options available. webmd.com/asthma/asthma-tre...

[trimt in reply to Poobah]

Thank you so much for this! My pneumologist has suggested the "biologics" - I go for a blood test Tuesday morning to see what one, if any, might work.In the meantime I started Montelukast 10mg last night - seems fine so far!!

[B_Asthma]

My understanding inhaled steroids for asthma stay in the lungs and are not readily absorbed into the body. I would speak with your GP.

[trimt in reply to B_Asthma]

Apparently only 4% of people react in this way - lucky me!!

[AsthmaSufferer]

I started having eye problems this past winter. I have not gone to an eye specialist yet, but will do so soon. I can tell you that running a humidifier in the room where I sleep did help. My lung specialist (last Friday) said it sounded like "dry eye," but he must have been having an off day that visit and so did not advise me of anything else (but to see my regular doctor). My eyes started to move a little bit, it was a strange feeling. But, since our springtime has started (and I still run the humidifier on cold nights), it has stopped. Hope this helps a little, if only to help with comfort at nighttime.

[trimt in reply to AsthmaSufferer]

Thank you! I have actually just purchased an air purifier which should arrive Tuesday. I have one for the bedroom and one for the living room.....fingers crossed it makes a difference!

Maybe a visit to an optician for a standard eye test might help for you - that's where it was first identified that I had IOP (increased ocular pressure) (Specsavers!)

[AsthmaSufferer in reply to trimt]

Great! Also, try drinking a little juice in a glass of water each day for hydration. My nutritionist reminds her customers every winter to do this...as "juice in water hydrates our red blood cells." I believe it's true, as my post-nasal drip returns when I forget to drink juice after 2-3 days. You'll notice a big difference when you start using your humidifiers. Thank you...the next appointment I will make will be with a regular eye doctor. Yes, we must save our eyes.