Continuing to take a Preventer during a cold when you need a Reliever

[GoSport]

Could anyone advise please. I take a preventer (Clenil Modulate) regularly and Salbutemol as a reliever. I have a bad cold at the moment and need too take the Salbutemol but do I still need to take the preventer?

[Bevvy]

Absolutely you should take preventer medications. Unless given specific medical instructions from a doctor you should always take preventative medication. Use reliever as required.

[GoSport in reply to Bevvy]

Oh ok...I never have, I just thought that the preventer is not doing any good as my asthma has been exacerbated by a cold virus. Thank you. I will get on and take some now. Again thank you very much.

[Bevvy in reply to GoSport]

A preventative inhaler won’t stop you picking up colds etc so that doesn’t mean it isn’t working. With some preventative inhalers you are meant to increase amount whilst unwell, but you would need medical directive for that. Definitely you need to use preventative, to hopefully avoid asthma becoming worse.

Hope you feeling much better soon.

[GoSport in reply to Bevvy]

Many thanks. This has never been explained to me before. At the momenton Prednisolone 8 tabs a day. Info on pack says I can stop after 48 hours if breathing gets better but then titrate dose down, which ihave never seen before. The advice used to be take all doses in pack. No instruction on how to titrate down however. Also if you are thanking the highest dose of Salbutamol 4 hourly, how would you know if your breathing was getting better.

[Bevvy in reply to GoSport]

I have always taken full amount of steroids. Usually a 5-7 day course but then contacted gp if still unwell. Also my understanding is that unless taken for more than 14 days then no need to titrate down.

With regards salbutamol, you only continue taking very 4 hrs if need to. If find can go longer periods of time then you will know getting better.

[GoSport in reply to Bevvy]

Thank yoú.

[Mandevilla in reply to GoSport]

The amount of preventer you take is usual based on what is needed to keep your asthma controlled during normal circumstances. If you develop another condition which makes your asthma flare up then it is worth giving your GP a ring to ask if you can increase your preventer medication until everything calms down again. I know that the amount of preventer that works for me normally is not enough when I have a respiratory virus.

[Poobah]

I agree with others, in that I increase my preventer if I get a respiratory virus so that any asthma flare is treated. But I will also use my reliever inhaler as needed. If that doesn't do the trick then a phone call and/or appointment with my GP to see if additional treatment is necessary.

[Trazj]

I have had asthma since I was 24 in in a critical chest hospital with it. I've been a runner and dancer since then. I'm 70 now. I only take one puf in morning and one at night of becotide preventer. Never use the ventolin. However Ive had a cold virus over Xmas that was ten times worse than covid was. During that I doubled the dose of becotide and took the ventolin a few times before bed. Worked for me

[GoSport in reply to Trazj]

Hi there, yes it is a cold just after Xmas that triggered this episode. Had no such problem with Covid infection last Xmas. I'd rather have Covid any day rather than this.

[arabianprince]

The frequent use of the bronchodilator might worsen the asthma so better to regularly use the preventer. I increase the frequency of it in winter.

[Trazj in reply to arabianprince]

Yes I agree.Doc told me that the boncodilator ie ventolin acts on the muscles in the walls to force the broni to fialte but does not act on the internal inflamed walls. So ventolin should be used judiciously and when really needed. Better to get control with the steroid inhaler