Would someone who has moderate/severe COPD not be prescribed any steroidal inhalers?

[gocat]

Saw this advert for taking part in a trial and it mentioned you should have had moderate/severe COPD for at least 6 months but not using any steroidal inhalers! Cant imagine anyone with moderate/severe COPD not using a steroid inhaler.

[libbygood]

I agree would have thought everyone with mod/severe COPD would be using steroid inhaler.

Lib x

[raptor]

Hmmmm,,I would of thought those mentioned would be prescribed a steroid inhaler as standard practice xx

[Hidden]

Maybe uninsured people in the US?

I am sometimes so shocked by what I read online - people suffering incredibly serious conditions and having to cope without the right meds or even without medical care at all. Sadly, it wouldn't surprise me if there were people with COPD in the States without steroids.

I'm not anti-US this type of problem is simply something I've often read about.

koala

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

I know exactly what you're saying Koala. I have American friends with severe health problems. They have the choice to buy the medication they need, or food.

[Hidden]

I have severe emphysema and I don't use the steroidal inhalers. They are prescribed to deal with inflamation of the airways which promotes excessive mucous so would not be prescribed for anyone who did not have this problem.

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

I am in England.

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

Being a relative newbie to all this, I'm in a constant flux of confusion. COPD covers so many differing conditions. So, what the study is looking for is people with emphysema, then?

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

I think doctors now consider conditions such as asthma, emfazima, under one umbrella=COPD

[libby7827 in reply to Hidden]

I have very severe emphysema (20% lung function) and use a steroid inhaler. The description for its use says "Symbicort contains a combination of budesonide and formoterol. Budesonide is a steroid that reduces inflammation in the body. Formoterol is a bronchodilator that relaxes muscles in the airways to improve breathing". For mucous I use a mucolytic. I couldn't actually function without Symbicort.

[James48 in reply to libby7827]

Have you got asthma as well as emphysema? The inhalers you mention are all prescribed for asthmatics.

[libby7827 in reply to James48]

Hi, no, just emphysema. I have other inhalers as well but Symbicort it's the only steroid one. It's used to treat emphysema and asthma.

[Hidden in reply to libby7827]

Hi Libby,

I too have just (if i can say just) emphysema and take Fostair which is another (less popular I think) combi steroid inhaler plus Spiriva.

I am borderline moderate/severe 45/50% and in the UK.

[Hidden in reply to libby7827]

.. There are so many different inhalers on the market it just knowing what works for you, keeping in mind steroids have side affects such as bronchitis and phenumonia.

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

When I was diagnosed with copd at 45 I had no breathing problem I had a chest infection but anti boties took care of that but I was given a steriod inhaler and subutimol

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

Antibotics I meant

[gocat]

The trial is based in london.

Yes it's shocking what the americans have to go through if they dont have insurance

[Hidden in reply to gocat]

My friends thought their insurance would cover them, but, as with all insurance companies, if they can wiggle their way out of paying out, they do!

[Lynne1955]

I'm moderate and don't use them. My specialist says they are not usually a good idea until severe. I feel fine.

Lynne xx

[Hidden]

I am moderate and do use them - and have no mucous - I use seretide 500 one puff morning and night and was told to use salbutamol two puffs morning and night before the seretide and whenever I felt I needed it during the day for breathlessness and to use it before any activity.

Anna

[blondie120]

Hi my doc never actually told me wat was wrong just that I have narrowing of the vessels ? Gave me symbicort 200/6 inhaler to be used morning an night an when needed inbetween , ivnever smoked but my then husband was smoking up to 80 aday ! Often while I slept he wud chain smoke while surfing the net, I think this agravated my lungs plus I've had several bouts of pneumonia , ct scan showed huge amount of scarring wud all this be copd ?

[libby7827 in reply to blondie120]

Hi, Symbicort is a preventer not a reliever and should not really be taken on "when needed" basis, only twice at night and twice in the morning. You should have a reliever inhaler too for use in between, e.g. ventolin. Libby

[blondie120]

Hi they gave me ventolin but had no effect on me @ all so I went a+e when having a bad day an my consultant came down to see me an told me cud use my symbicort when I needed instead , they showed me how to use it ventolin but it never helped me I'm not even sure wat I have wrong but I can only manage 250 max on that peak flow thing x

[libby7827 in reply to blondie120]

Hi, I don't use my ventolin very often either, only as a last resort in desperation! Symbicort can be taken 2 x 4 times a day and if your consultant has advised that's ok for you then well and good. Do you have asthma or emphysema? Peak flow tends to be used only for asthma, it's spirometry for emphysema. It sounds like your lung function is pretty low though, there are other drugs you can have, I have the symbicort 400, not 200, which is double strength. Also, Spiriva inhaler and Uniphyllin tablets, and carbocisteine for mucus (I don't have any when I take the carbocisteine). Maybe you have some of the other drugs, but if not then you should speak to your doc. Libby

[Fusion8d]

I think there's a lot of confusion about use of Symbicort - a few years ago I was switched to it from Seretide and was told to use it as both preventer and reliever and to bin the ventolin. A few months later I was really struggling with my breathing during a chest infection and the Symbicort didn't give any relief - I passed out! Saw a GP and he was horrified I'd been told to use it as a reliever by an asthma nurse but the advice she gave me was in line with the patient info leaflet at the time. I've had a quick look at the current info and it seems to say that it shouldn't be used as a reliever - I wonder if the usage guidance has changed and that's not been picked up by everyone?

[blondie120]

I honestly don't know I hardly use anything @ the moment I seem to have pluresy a lot bring up fluid not mucus, they said asthma way back but I've got other issues aswell now swelling of legs an hands , its all a bit much really , the symbicort makes me cough more an I sound deeper in voice after taking it ?

[libby7827 in reply to blondie120]

Hi blondie, I think you need to see your gp and ask exactly what you are suffering from and what medications can you have to help your condition. I get a croaky voice but never been sure which of the meds cause it! I frequently open my mouth to speak and there's nothing there! I also had swelling of the ankles and was found to have high blood pressure so am now on tablets for that too! Your best bet is to see your gp and don't be shy asking questions. Write them down before you go and take them with you. Best wishes. Libby

[blondie120]

Thanks libby, 4 a while I think my doc thought I just liked visiting him, but something changed on last visit he got all serious ordered lots of blood tests they took over 10 bottles from me the most ever ! I looked @ the requested tests lupus coaugulant an bnp which is 4 heart failure an rt becoz I'm so stiff in my joints I think its the knackers yard 4 me ;-[ x

[libby7827 in reply to blondie120]

Do hope your test results aren't too serious blondie, make sure you get a comprehensive explanation of the results from your gp when they arrive. All the best. LIbby

[blondie120]

Thankyou I will xx

[belfastchild]

Hi all I am new to this site but have found it an invaluable resource during a recent period of feeling so unwell and scared of such a drastic change in my health. I stopped smoking 6 months ago and after 3 months I had severe difficulty in breathing and went sick from work. For the past 3 months I have been undergoing different tests and very recently was prescribed some inhalers (one was a steroid inhaler) it has made such a difference and I could not be without it now as it has helped me in being able to undertake day to day tasks. I cannot believe the difference this has made, and were once I felt I would never be able to work again the steroid inhaler has gave me hope in returning to work in the near future. I would have thought that a diagnosis of moderate to severe COPD would have been meant the person being prescribed a steroid inhaler.

[SeasideSusie]

I was told my COPD was moderate when diagnosed in 2012. I don't normally use a steroid inhaler, just Spiriva.

I've just been given one recently (Seretide) as a temporary thing as my breathing worsened during a very cold and windy spell and GP thinks it's inflammation of the airways. She's just reduced the dose to wean me off.

[Hidden]

.. So true most of us have been prescribed an inhaled steroid for control, keeping in mind that steroids come with side affects such as bronchitis and phenumonia