Inhalers

[Mahoney]

Anybody what's the safest amount of sabutamol ventolin inhaler I can take in one day I'm in agony trying to breathe I was fine this mornin but gradually as the days gone on its got worse ( I know iv done much housework ) but iv been sat for an hour with no ease

[Hidden]

The usual mount is 1 or 2 puffs 4 times a day. I have taken more than that but I would see your GP

[Jessy11]

Hi Mahoney, I believe it says in the leaflet, not to exceed 8 puffs a day. It could make you shaky if you take too much.

Maybe you're coming down with an infection. Do you have any friend or relative with you?

If you're having a lot of trouble breathing, I think you should get help.

Go to A&E or phone for an ambulance but don't leave it too long. Why suffer when you can get help?

Hope you're ok, let us know 🌺

[inhaler1 in reply to Jessy11]

Hi.

I was told to take 10 puffs separate with spacer. If all ten are taken together at the same time the particles clog together so not effective.

This is what I was told by Chest clinic Dr.

Hope you feel better soon, was also told if no relief after twenty mins.

Get medical help.

[mmzetor]

do you have a spacer to take it with , before i had a nebuliser my gp told me if im really bad take 10 puffs through the spacer its as good as a nebuliser it wouldn't over dose you may make you bit shaky

[Mahoney in reply to mmzetor]

Yea iv got a spacer ..... So 10 puffs separate or all together and I'm not really bothered about going dizzy trying to take deep breathes has given me a headache anyway ,and I'm going to lay down on the bed for a while

[mmzetor in reply to Mahoney]

take one puff breath that in then another and so on up to 10 also if you cant take a long deep breath do 5 short breaths breathing in and out with your mouth still on the spacer thats how consultant told me to take my other inhaler as if I do one deep breath in it makes me cough a lot

[Hidden]

Yes altogether then breathe in and out with the spacer

[mmzetor in reply to Hidden]

i was told to do each puff separately breath that in then do another puff not to do all 10 into spacer at once

[Hidden]

It's amazing how we are told different things I was told 10 puffs into spacer then breathe in and out slowly and I did it in front of a respiratory nurse

[knitter in reply to Hidden]

Hi I was told in an emergency 10 puffs into the spacer all in one go...then breathe it in .......but then get help.

[Ergendl in reply to knitter]

I was told you need to wait 30 seconds between each puff as the accelerant which pushes the medication out of the aerosol freezes the little hole and it needs time to de-ice. Otherwise you just get more accelerant, not more medicine.

[mmzetor in reply to Hidden]

yes never seem set guide lines with them it was the gp who told me to do each separately think she said something about if you do it all at once a lot get stuck on side of spacer , when I went for lung test thursday the girl doing the test gave me 5 separate puffs because I hadn't taken any inhalers and she wanted my lungs opened up before the test ,

[knitter]

Hi Mahoney, if you are no better...it's time to ring for help or visit A and E

Don't take any risks

[Hidden]

Hi I agree to seek help immediately if you are no better. It could turn very nasty so please ring for an ambulance. It's better to be safe than sorry! x

[Hidden]

Hi Mahoney. ..as knitter says if your not better by now get help...Am in a panick reading your post.

[Mahoney in reply to Hidden]

I'm fine sailor thanks x

[Nanny1086]

Sometimes I really struggle yo use my inhaler and resort to my nebuliser,which of course is a whole stronger ,,,,,I once did yes my nebuliser twice in half an hour and felt dizzy and light headed,,,,,,my own fault ,,,,but the usual dose 2 puffs up yo 4 times a day ,,,,I personally don't think another couple of puffs would harm you ,best wishes

[FarmerD]

Hello Mahoney,three consultants I have asked about this have told me I can,t overdose on salbutamol.I have very severe emphysema,Fev1 20%.I have an inhaler and also have salbutamol nebuliser,the consultant told me the neb. gives 25 times the dose of one puff inhaler.I used the neb. 4 times a day so the equivalent of 100 puffs inhaler.Having said that we are all different,best to ask your own consultant.The best advice I was given was to always have at least 4 puffs ,it made so much difference to my breathing.Do you practice breathing exercises?In through the nose,out by mouth,gets the air further down into the diaphragm.Good luck.D.

[Mahoney in reply to FarmerD]

Hya thanks for your reply i am really trying to do the breathing exercises from utube I find to hard to breathe in through my nose but im practicing at it x

[Hidden in reply to Mahoney]

Hi Mahony the latest thinking is that it doesn't really matter whether you do them breathing from your nose or mouth. The reason they say nose is because it warms the air up before it goes into your lungs. So if it is easier do them by mouth instead. x

[Justdoit2015 in reply to FarmerD]

Wow. I had 4 straight puffs of salbutamol via a spacer on my reversibility test and was pumped for about 24hrs. My heart was thumping during all that time. God knows what would happen to me if I took 100. Well, I wouldn't, the last bit was hypothetical

[FarmerD in reply to Justdoit2015]

Yeh,that,s why I stipulated this condition is different for every body.You may well have the opposite problem with your lungs to me,also why I said discuss with consultant.I would never advise anybody to do what I do ,I know my illness but I,m no expert and not a medic I simply pass on my experiences in the hope that may help others.D.

[phil4u]

Talk to your Doctor,

[Hidden]

When I started on ventolin I had to take 9 puffs in front of nurse as I could not blow in to that machine so I think if you can take that many when they tell you to then I think it mite be same but before you do take it up with the doctor first

[Hidden]

You can't really overdose on it - as FarmerD says, if you were nebulising it you'd be getting many times the dose you're taking through the inhaler. If you take a lot it just makes your heart beat faster & gives you the shakes.

The point is though, unless you're severe eg like FarmerD, you shouldn't need to use it so much. If you find you're using it a lot and getting no relief you need to contact someone urgently.

[Suze4212]

I agree that each of us need medical advice based on individual medical history. As farmer has said you cannot OD, I have been nebulised every hour in hospital at times. Get advice as to what is best for you from your GP

[Maximonkey]

Hi Mahoney, just a thought. Do you use your Salbutamol before exertion ie. housework, walking fast or exercise? I have asthma and bronchiectasis, I find taking one or two puffs before I exert myself gives me the puff to carry on. Eight puffs per day max is the correct amount if you exceed it you will shake all over and your heart will palpitate, not a pleasant feeling. Do you have a peak flow meter? take a reading if you do, if the reading is half your usual reading you need an ambulance if not call the doctor and ask for help. Good advice given by everyone else. Take care Maximonkey