Asthma meds avoidance

[Anonymoys]

Hello everyone,

I am 33 years old and asthmatic since almost 2 years ago! My asthma is sometimes well controlled, and on other days I feel bad! I have switched to a new doctor and started a new treatment which consists of symbicort one puff in the morning, and one puff at night!

I exercise almost 3 to 4 times/week! But I am realising that my strenght and capacity to train is decreasing with time! My doctor suggested that I take one puff of symbicort before i start exercising, however, I am trying as much as I can to avoid meds especially that I am aware of the long terms side effects of asthma meds!

My question is, by not taking the puffs needed and especially before exercise or ‘when needed’ will I be making my lungs and asthma worse? Or by avoiding taking the meds I am training my lungs to this pattetn and decreasing their side effects? Will this make my lungs more tired?

Thank you!

[Lotti_321-]

If you stop taking your inhaler then it could cause your asthma to worsen. Yes there are possible side effects from inhaled steroids, but if your asthma was to deteriorate and your medication had to be stepped up then this could present more side effects.

[Anonymoys in reply to Lotti_321-]

Thanks a lot!

[Gareth57]

In my experience by taking the meds and exercising (I like to cycle when I can) it strengthens my lungs so I can perform better and have fewer symptoms

[Anonymoys in reply to Gareth57]

Thanks a lot Gareth!

[twinkly29]

Non compliance with asthma meds (ie not taking as prescribed) will ultimately, if not much more quickly, lead to uncontrolled asthma which is potentially dangerous and, as Lotti says, actually cause more side effects because you'll end up on meds that have more of these, eg needing repeated courses of otal steroids. Steroid inhalers are targeted tomthe lungs and side effects are minimal really particularly in the way they impact on the body. All medications have potential side effects but these are outweighed by the benefits. The potential effects (and potential is the key here) of being on a small amount of of steroid inhaler are far outweighed by you having controlled asthma.

[Anonymoys in reply to twinkly29]

Thanks a lot for your clear reply!

[EmmaF91 Community Ambassador]

If you’re needing extra meds and avoiding it then you’re putting yourself and more risk than any potential drug side effects might. This is coming from someone who has witnessed a ‘I’m not that bad and don’t really need my inhalers’ asthmatic be intubated, and also from witnessing someone who was chronically under treated end up in a ridiculously bad state where they is now living on/off intubation (for years) partially because of the long term ‘damage’ done from allowing their lungs to inflame and only treating them with excessive ventolin.

PLEASE take your meds if they are needed and it’s advised, don’t avoid it. 3 puffs (or even 4) is really not at high of an amount of medication, and if you then get completely stable for 3-6 months (ie no symptoms and no need for pred or ventolin) then you can discuss reducing your meds if you really want to. The consequences of not taking needed asthma meds far outweighs any potential side effect of steroid use (that’s what I’m assuming you’re worried about).

I don’t want to scare you but this is the reality of under treatment. You do put yourself at more risk of extreme issues.

This post might help with knowing that right now increasing your symbicort with a prn (as needed) dose is the right thing to do! healthunlocked.com/asthmauk...

Hope this helps

[Anonymoys in reply to EmmaF91]

Thanks a lot Emma for your clear and detailed reply! Appreciated! Hope we will all reach a stage to control our asthma!

[Lysistrata Administrator Community Ambassador in reply to Anonymoys]

As others have said, your best chance of getting control is taking your meds regularly. If they're not helping enough, then going back to your GP/asthma nurse until you find ones that do is the best course of action.

[Anonymoys in reply to Lysistrata]

Thanks a lot!

[Anonymoys]

Thanks a lot!

[PeakyBlinder50]

Asthma is all about control. Medication is so important for your lung health and to preserve your lung function. The less drugs you opt out of taking to mange it the more you are putting yourself at risk to taking OCS and hospitalisation. You don't say what type of asthma you have. I have late onset adult asthma non allergic eosinophilic which was diagnosed with a blood test. I take x2 inhalers and Montelukast. You really need to put your lung health as a priority. My asthma is hard work but I also workout 7 times a week and walk 2 dogs (diagnosed at 47 and now 51). You need to think ahead and get your asthma well controlled now. If you need advice go back and speak to someone at your GP. 2 puffs a day are baby steps I'm on 6 puffs a day Fostair 200/6 twice a day and Qvar 100 4 puffs a day and Montelukast so don't worry about taking 2 puffs of inhaler.

[Anonymoys in reply to PeakyBlinder50]

Thanks a lot for your clear reply! I will do my best to control my asthma through meds until I reach a well controlled plan!

[PeakyBlinder50 in reply to Anonymoys]

I was just like you when I was first diagnosed albeit I was older. I was in denial it's common I think in late-onset why now? why us? I was running Marathons, swimming 3 times a week. I was first on Clenil and a blue inhaler after a chest infection. My meds have changed over the years but then my asthma is tricky (non allergic eosinophilic) and I've learnt to understand that for me it's about the meds and being able to breathe and keeping my lung health at it's optimum so I can run, swim. Don't let Asthma hold you back....

[Anonymoys in reply to PeakyBlinder50]

I guess it is denial for me as well, its true what you are saying! I used to exercise 4/5 time as week, and do some bicycle as well! I have health anxiety issue, and i think that is the main reason why I am unable to beleive that now I have a chronic asthma issue whith which I have to deal! But as you are saying I guess it’s all about controlling it and minimizing flare ups to as much as possible! I have stopped my exercise routine been a month now, but I’ll try to go back gradually and take one puff before starting to workout! I hope that this will help! Thanks a lot for your replies it really helps ☺️

[Chip_y2kuk]

My doctor put it to me like this... take them and risk *potential* side effects ... don't take them, suffer and be miserable ... *potentially* risking death

Needless to say I know if I miss a dose or two I do suffer so I do my best not too

However if your exercising the symbicort will do two things help reduce inflammation that might be caused by working out and open your airways to allow you to work out

Also anything that *works your lungs* is good and and you may find you don't need to take that puff of sumbicort all of the time

However what I would say if you're taking one puff twice a day your already on a low/moderate dose and I really wouldn't worry about a few extra puffs here and there .... and if you need them you need them

Chip

[Anonymoys in reply to Chip_y2kuk]

Thanks a lot Chip! I have realised lately and since I started the new symbicort treatment, that I am OK as long as I do not exercise! Once I do some cardio and some slight workouts I wake up the second day with tight chest and pain and being unable to breath well! Noting that my exercise strength and durability has decreased! I thought I might stop for a while until the new treatment kicks in and then go back to exercing again! What do you think?Plus, the fact that I am unable to breath well or perform well either is making me stressed which is affecting my breathing indirectly I guess...

[Chip_y2kuk in reply to Anonymoys]

I'm not sure what exercising your on about but I've always liked swimming and many moons ago there used to be alot of asthmatic swimming clubs that were aimed at asthmatics

They helped you exercise and get your lungs working without overdoing it

I would say if you aren't able to work out your asthma control may be off and you may need a little something extra (maybe a bit more symbicort maybe a few puffs of ventolin before and after excercise) .... but its certainly not right that when you exercise you are tight chested and unable to breathe well the day after exercising ... so if your gp suggested a puff of symbicort before exercising then I would give that a try

I used to be fine until I did any sort of exercise (even walking along the road with my baby in the pram) .... however I suspected I needed a change in medication (I ignored it for as long as I could)..... now I have shares in boots!

I would also say that the "aim" of asthma management is to have the fewest possible symptoms and live as normal a life as possible with the *minnimum* amount of medication .... which unfortunately doesn't set it in stone because everyone is different .... for example I've never had much luck with 1 puff twice a day I always end up with symptoms......breathless walking up the stairs and coughing and spluttering...... so I never go below 4 puffs (unless I do accidentally forget) .... I was on duresp spiromax 200 (the cheaper version of symbicort)

however I suspect something in the duoresp was the reason i kept getting chest infections (they think it may be actually mucus getting stuck in a lung, but the jury is still out on that one) so I am being trialed on fostair nexthaler 200 (apparently it's slightly stronger than the duoresp was) after I said I had already been on the highest dose of the fostair 100 years ago (thats how I ended up with duoresp) ... I'm now on the highest dose of the most expensive fostair inhaler chisei make

So I really wouldn't worry about a few puffs to help you exercise a few times a week ...if it means you can keep fit you will be in good shape and likely live to a ripe old age ... what you don't want is to keep needing steroids (tablet steroids) and antibiotics like I do they have prevented me from getting life insurance because I was deemed "too risky" .... im only 34 years old!

[Anonymoys in reply to Chip_y2kuk]

Thanks Chip! I guess I will try to puff before and after exercise! I hope things will get better since I am always feeling chest tightness

[Chip_y2kuk in reply to Anonymoys]

I hope they get better for you too, good luck.

[Wheezycat]

Hi, I am another one who through denial ended up in a more dramatic situation. After a chest infection I did my usual, that is assume I would get over it quickly and ignored lingering issues. I also blamed myself for being unfit and a whimp for not getting up hills without breathlessness. This went on for months, never quite well, nor bad enough to be clear about it myself, though others around me were, and in the end I ended up in hospital for some days, acutely. Once I accepted I have a problem it has in many ways become easier. I am getting better and better at noticing the warning signals I previously ignored. And as asthma is a potential killer I don’t mess with it.

One thing - I was on Symbicort, which worked well for me, but not for taking just before exercise as it took an hour or so kick in. I know it works well for some. For me Ventolin kicks in much faster, as I eventually discovered, so that is what I use.

Good luck !

[Anonymoys in reply to Wheezycat]

Thanks a lot! Stay safe💗

[SpaldingSparks]

I am 71 years old diagnosed mild asthma at 60 I stopped taking my Symbicort just before going on holiday 4 years ago had forgotten to order script started getting coughing fits whilst away after 1 week these got so bad had to go to the hospital in Gran Canaria twice chest Xrays twice prednisolone given and told to stop taking after 3 days travelled back home ok but symptoms became worse visited GP he suggested A&E went more Xrays and was sent away with more antibiotics but became even worse visited A&E again more Xrays then after several hours was admitted spent 6 nights in the hospital with eosinophilic asthma then blood test weeks later showed low switched B cells (immunity is going wrong hypogammaglobulinemia diagnosis) now on permanent 500mg amoxicillin antibiotics twice a day. that's a long condensed story but.I should carry on with your Symbicort if I was you I wish I had!!!