New Meds

[Jances13]

Currently have issues with sinus and chest tightness . I am taking Flovent HFA , Levalbuterol, and mucinex . Dr. Just ordered Spiriva Respimat and montelukast . I read the side effects of montelukast (upper respiratory infections etc) . Has anybody had any issues with the side effects? And any thoughts on the Spiriva Respimat would be greatly appreciated . Thank you .

[Bevvy]

All medications have to produce information about possible side effects. Doesn’t mean that you will necessarily have them. If lots of people had problems with a particular medication then it would be taken off the market!!I used spiriva for many years without issue. I stopped taking it because it was no longer working for me.

I also took Montelukast for many many years with no issues. One of possible side effects is vivid dreams. This was not a problem for me for a long time. Eventually I started to have vivid dreams that then started to become nightmares. It took me a while to associate the nightmares with montelukast because wasn’t an issue previously. I now no longer use montelukast.

But as said unless you try the medication you won’t know if you are affected and all being well you won’t have any side effects.

[Poobah]

I've taken Montelukast for a few years now and only have vivid dreams, which aren't so bad if I take my daily dose in the early evening rather than at bedtime. It's really helped with my allergies and if you do have allergic asthma or allergic rhinitis then it should help. If you don't experience any benefits in the first 12 weeks it's likely it's not the medication for you.

I was on Spiriva for several months and it worked very well at first, allowing me to breath very well. However, it severely affected my blood pressure so I had to come off it. I then tried Eklira Genuair and that worked very well for the 3 years I was on it. But again the side effects of glaucoma meant I came off it a few months ago. Both Spiriva and Eklira are LAMA inhalers and work in different ways to the inhalers you're already on. Many people tolerate Spiriva very well and I would definitely give it a try, but have your BP tested before you start it and check your BP every 8 weeks, just to ensure it's not affecting your BP. If it doesn't increase your BP in the first 4 months then it's unlikely to do so going forward.

I notice from previous posts that you have ongoing sinus problems. Has your ENT specialist ruled out AERD (aspirin sensitivity, also known as Sampters Triad)? You can learn more about the symptoms, treatments and dietary advice here samterssociety.org/

[Jances13 in reply to Poobah]

Hi, no I have not been tested for Sampters Triad . They told me that I have chronic sinusitis and allergic rhinitis . Thank you about the info with HBP. I do suffer from that so I will keep an eye out for that . Thank you.

[alnew45]

Hello, not had Spiriva but tried Montelukast last year. I too was really worried after reading about the side effects. I was fine, didn't notice any side effects at all. Unfortunately it didn't work for me so I tried it for 2 months then stopped. Worth a try though.

[Ken6]

I use Spiriva and Fostair daily. I get a swolen throat and cough sometimes. My asthma nurse who is great said that the cough etc. is caused by the Fostair. Spiriva is great no problems. I have never taken montelukast.

Someone above mentions vivid dreams. I used to get bad dreams taking antihistamines. I do not take them now.

good luck

[Jances13 in reply to Ken6]

Thank you !

[LittleZebra]

I didn't get on with montelukast myself but lots of people find it helpful. I think I have idiosyncratic reactions to some medications :-). However Spiriva Respimat has been a complete game changer for me. It is only thought of as an add-on therapy apparently but my main asthma symptom is a tight chest and , as I understand it it relaxes the muscles of our airways thus stopping them from getting tight. Initially I got a bit of a headache with it but don't any more and even the first morning after the day I started it I already felt that I had a much more refreshing night's sleep and altogether better. I went from regular reliance on Salbutamol in addition to my Sirdupla preventer and regular exacerbations and courses of oral steroids to feeling much more like my old self and being able to take my meds. every day and mostly forget about asthma in between (although I always make sure I have my ventolin with me and need it from time to time). One of the good things about Spiriva is that it lasts 24 hours so it keeps working when my other meds are starting to wear off a bit (giving more continuity). I think wearing a mask outdoors sometimes has helped a bit too as it warms up the air before I breath it in and helps keep annoying little spores and such like out. Not encountering so many cold and flu bugs has helped too. Anyway, I hope you get as much relief from Spiriva as I have xx

[Jances13 in reply to LittleZebra]

Thank you Little Zebra , your words have given me some reassurance. It has been added as a add on for a month to see. I had a bout of sinusitis and during this time of year my allergies act up but my main left over symptom was chest tightness and a lot of phlegm . I might also add Zyrtec to dry some of this post nasal issues and see. But I will give it a try to see how it goes. Thank you.

[peege]

Hi, I've been taking it for 9 years with no side effects. I do take it after supper about 7.30/8pm. Children with asthma are regularly prescribed it so that was good enough for me