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I'm finding ventolin doesn't help with my breathing why is this

mogsy profile image
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mogsy
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20 Replies

Ventolin in the blue inhalers is used as a rescue inhaler - they are notoriously difficult to use and very little of the medication actually gets into your lungs. Ask your doctor for a spacer which is like a small tube - you press the inhaler into the spacer and then breathe normally through the spacer - this helps delivery of the medication. My husband finds that very useful. BUT he also had problems with ventolin because it causes him very bad cramps and has been prescribed bricanyl which is also a reliever inhaler.

I would recommend you ring the BLF helpline (click on the red balloon) and talk to the nurses as well - they maybe able to give you advise. Please go back to your doctor. Take care, TAD xx

stilltruckin profile image
stilltruckin

youtube.com/watch?v=rfAvAI6...

knitter profile image
knitter

Hi, I have a problem with Ventolin too, if I take too much my peak flow goes down...I have to balance its use with steroids. I have tried bricanyl as well, it's a bit of a worry. I would ring the BLF helpline for advice

mogsy profile image
mogsy

Many thanks for advice will get back to my Gp xxx

Offcut profile image
Offcut

I have RLD and inhalers rarely help now. My specialist has advised I do not bother with my seretide. I was one of the lucky ones that seemed to be able to use the ventolin well and saw relief back in the day it was just asthma. A work colleague ended up in hospital with a bad attack to be told that the way he used his inhaler was not doing anything for him. To was taught to us it and has been 100% better since.

It is getting the press and inhale timed right.

Be Well

Colours23 profile image
Colours23

Shouldn't your other inhaler support you day n night,blue is just a reliever,so check out your other one maybe that needs changing

mogsy profile image
mogsy

Thanks for all your replies will make appt with doctor again .take care xxx all

onamission profile image
onamission

The nurse gave me a spacer I have two inhalers steroid / preventer and my blue one the only problem is the size of the spacer you can't get them in a hand bag lol

knitter profile image
knitter in reply toonamission

Hi onamission, have you got the big see through plastic spacer, I have an aero chamber one which is smaller and it makes a humming type noise if you use it incorrectly, it's still quite big but will fit in my bag.

onamission profile image
onamission in reply toknitter

Thanks I will ask the chemist the next time I go in we are going on Holiday to Northumberland just me the old man and our lab and I don't fancy dragging that one around with me. xx

Colours23 profile image
Colours23 in reply toonamission

I have travel one ,much smaller.you can even purchase them on net.

huggs profile image
huggs

As Colours23 has said your ventolin should be used to relieve attacks. I'm just mentioning it in case you got them a bit mixed up. I have used ventolin for years but it is in the form of an accuhaler. This is a round inhaler which releases a measured dose of powder when required. Each accuhaler has 60 doses and there is a number system on it which tells you how many doses you have left, which is useful. The only disadvantage to using accuhalers or any powdered inhaler is that you have to rinse your mouth out each time you use it or you will likely get thrush in your mouth. However, I have never had any bother with them and they fit nice and neatly in your bag or pocket. Good luck and if you are going to your GP you can talk over the various options. hugs xx

Colours23 profile image
Colours23

The hospital changed ventilin as it was not any good for me as a preventer,takes to long to work ,where as salbutamol works very quickly,it changed my life for the better,I use it 4times a day,symbicort works wonders for me all day with no side effects,but it has taken me a lot of stress to fight for good inhalers that actually work,as I do not take oral steroids as they ruin my life. Keep fighting to get what you need.

Eve3066 profile image
Eve3066 in reply toColours23

If you do not take oral steroids what do you use in the case of an exacerbation , I agree they are a dreadful thing to take but cannot live without them

Colours23 profile image
Colours23 in reply toEve3066

Ok,so I do not get a lot of infections maybe 1or2 in the winter like everyone else does who are well,so I do not need anti biotics and steroids,as often as other people with copd,I'm more wheezy,don't cough or have a lot of phlegm either,I have asthma and copd,which is either emphysema or bronchiatas .dont know which one I have,never r been examined.

Colours23 profile image
Colours23

I have no side effects from any medication now, fight for your rights,your worth it!

Colours23 profile image
Colours23

It had no effect on me ,so I have the other smaller blue inhaler salamol, imediately I can breathe,it doesn't just land on my tonsils it actually works, not a lot does,maybe mention it ,the hospital gave it to me,when they saw the state that ventilin spacer had made,I got none of the drug,alot depends on how strong you can breath in.and how good the spray is ,turbo inhaler is good ,some are so cheap there no good.

Colours23 profile image
Colours23

The same ventilin inhaler larger blue one done nothing for me,cheap inhaler,so the hospital gave me a smaller blue one Salamol . Works imediately ..preventer the be st thing I have,the spray is better,does not just land on my tonsils like the others.it actually works every time ,especially when I have had so much trouble with docs not wanting to help me with a all day inhaler that I am not allergic to.,I don't like thick powders,as I have asthma aswell,so I do hope you get sorted soon.

Gibraltarpatient profile image
Gibraltarpatient

this happened to me too! i was changed to symbicort on a 'SMART' program they called it. work great for me and iv been on it for years ever since. its a preventor but its also used as a reviler. ask your doctor about it. i recommend it x

Kate1920 profile image
Kate1920

People need to understand when it comes to asthma and inhalers what works for you may NOT work for someone else!! Don't assume if you do not have asthma the research on internet is valid and applies to everyone. It does not. Not all inhalers work on everyone. People with asthma have different levels and it's different for everyone. You have to find what treatment works best for you. I too have an issue with ventolin. I relate to you 100. It does not mean a person is using it wrong!!!!! They will tell you pro-air and ventolin are the same. They are absolutely not. If you look at the ingredients they both have the same except for ONE ingredient different from one another. I cannot use ventolin. It has no effect on me either. It also makes me cough so much even when not using it. It gives no relief. It honestly makes me sick. Health Insurance try to force that on patients instead of other ones. It is cheaper for the insurance companies is why. My pharmacist just explained this thankfully someone honest. Don't let them force you an inhaler that isn't benefiting you, your pharmacy can do a code over ride to give you the inhalers you need that works for you. Insurances don't like you to know this. smh lol Now pro-air I have no problems! I'm not trying to be rude, but some commenters need to stop assuming they know everything when it comes to asthma. Unless you walk a mile in our shoes, It is not nice to do that telling someone they are doing it wrong or need a spacer. Some people have asthma worse than others. Some people have the nasty asthma cough, but not the other asthma symptoms. Your primary care doctor should help you find different treatments. If you have been on the same medicines for a long time your body develops a tolerance to it as well. My immune system is famous for that. So there are times I have to change all the brands and go higher mcgs. Its not just you who has this problem with ventolin. It would make me frel so sick and airways worse than when I started using it. As soon as they got me back on Pro air I can breathe and do things normal like a normal person within minutes! One thing to also check is your allergies. Keep your allergies in check they will trigger exabberated asthma so bad and with ventolin even worse. Ventolin also causes me exaberrated asthma which the hospital finally figured this out. have also seen the new injections they offer for a maintenance medicine for asthma and Im curious about it willing to try it. Has anyone on here tried the new injection that just came out yet?

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