Asthma and mental health effects.

[Hugmaker]

Hi, this is my first post on this forum. I was diagnosed with asthma , mild asthma about two years ago. Went on a reliever first than a preventer . Eventually got the side effects of fasciculations and restless legs at night when trying to get to sleep .In September last year a rheumatologist identified that my fasciculations were listed as a side effect of the inhaler Dupla that I was on. So in consultation with my GP I was taken off all asthma medication. I had no asthmatic symptoms when off the medication and after a few weeks the fasciculations seemed to subside if not disappear .

Over Christmas I got COVID and my asthma came back. My doctor put me back on Dupla , straight away I noticed that I was getting chronic anxiety , mood swings and other feelings that I recall thing as ' not being me '

I have a life long history of anxiety but this felt different, more persistent .

I was taken off Dupla to see how I got on without an inhaler, after a few hours it was as if a shadow cleared from my head. But my asthma came back again, this time the doctor put me on a new preventer ( sorry cant see the name on the inhaler and don't have the box) has the same ingredients and and ever since then I am back with chronic anxiety , mood swings , feeling agitated, it,s not me.

I am back seeing my counsellor , have a phone call on the 4th of March with an asthma nurse and have made an appointment to see my GP next Tuesday.

I feel lost and confused , afraid of medication changes just in case of worse side effects. I think I am reacting to the steroids ( to be discussed with the nurse) and wonder if a steroid free medication might be a possible alternative .

I am at my wits end .

[Troilus]

Hi Hugmaker. Make a note of the ingredients in your inhalers. When you speak to your GP tell him exactly what you have told us here. There are lots of different types of inhalers with different ingredients- they do not all contain the same steroid. Hopefully he will find an inhaler that works for you.

[Hugmaker in reply to Troilus]

Thank you Troilus, I will do that.

[Homely2 Administrator]

Before you talk to your medic you could ring the asthma UK helpline on 0300 2225800, office hours.

The nurses on the helpline are really friendly, and will chat you through the different types of inhalers, which will increase your knowledge levels.

[Hugmaker in reply to Homely2]

Homely2, thank you for your reply, I am a British Citizen living in Ireland , I think that the Asthma nurse here might be able to give me information. I guess if I am not satisfied I could phone the UK line. It is hard to get the right knowledge , My GP is very nice but it's hard to get down to any in-depth conversation around this, like in the UK doctors are overworked .

[ellamental]

Hi Hugmaker. Sounds like you are doing the right thing seeing the Asthma nurse and the counsellor. I hope it goes well. There are alternatives to Dupla. Dupla is cheaper than Fostair which does not have fluticasone in I think although it is a steroid inhaler. I think Fostair with/without a Ventolin blue inhaler (not a trade name one) might be worth considering but see what your Asthma Nurse says. Or have you just tried the Ventolin inhaler without a steroid? I wonder if there are any studies showing mental ill health as a side effect or if it is on the paper in the box. I hope you feel better and brighter soon. ggcmedicines.org.uk/media/u...

[Hugmaker in reply to ellamental]

Hi Ellemental There are references on line to a link between steroid inhalers and anxiety and mood changes, especially in children but not exclusively so. Mental health issues in relation to steroid tablets for asthma ( I have never been on tablets ) can happen , I have no idea of how common that is. Anxiety in adults is a possible side effect of inhalers and mental health issues can happen but , from my research seem rare . Mental health warnings in association with inhalers are listed on the Irish HSE web site ,HSE is Irelands NHS.

[ellamental]

Hi. Oh I see. Rare but not unheard of then. Prednisolone ( tablet steroids) definitely make me feel high. I used to think I felt high because I was so happy I could finally breath but then I took them for something else and was still flying. We are all differebt though. Initually with asthma there is a bit of trial and error with meds. I think you mentioned other meds that are not steroid inhalers. There is montelukast ( nuelin) and thyophyline but I think these are given when asthma is quite severe although I don’t actually know. Take care. The asthma nurses I have seen have mostly been very thorough and know their onions.