Hello. Not sure how much background to give, but was prescribed Salamol inhaler about 6 months ago as up and down stairs I get a bit breathless and blood tests showed low sats. I try to avoid using the inhaler as it seems to make my heart race and make me very shaky. I do have a constant wheeze on expiration which is much worse at night in bed. Ex smoker, female, 70 years old.
I'd just like to ask if anyone suffers such a wheeze and if they know why it happens and what can help it please. Also is it possible other inhalers wouldn't cause such unpleasant side effects? Grateful for any suggestions.
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birdie29754
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There is only one other inhaler that would be a direct substitute for your inhaler, it is called "Bricanyl" by it's trade name or Terbutaline Sulfate as it's pharmaceutical name. I use it because the Salbutimol inhaler did not work and side effects of night cramps. It is a powder one so you need to be able to have a strong suck. Do not worry that it is a powder, I cannot taste or even feel the powder at all.
Ask your doctor or nurse to try it out. Nothing ventured nothing gained
Thank you for replying 2greys. That is interesting because I have been suffering really severe night cramps but never occurred to me the salamol might be the cause.
I've made a note of Bricanyl and will ask to try that. Thanks for your help.
There are a lot of alternatives to Salamol, but may need a diagnosis for a good prescription.
Wheeze is caused by narrowing of airways due to mucus/ inflammation/twitchiness as in asthma/copd/heart failure - perm. theasthmacenter.org/index.p...
There are other possibilities for shortness of breath, anaemia for example... Did you have spirometry? Your GP needs to do some work instead of fobbing you off.
Thank you. I did have a spirometry last October and have a printout - though nurse said I won't understand it and she was right ! That was done only because of my low sats I didn't feel I was breathless at all then. Told if/when I get SOB on exertion to ask for an inhaler. I did have this bad wheeze at night in bed already but I started to get sob on stairs evening and morning a few months ago, a bit scarily so and was given Salamol to help. I avoid the doctor if I can and (hope it's OK to say this) feel that being breathless is my own fault for being an ex-smoker so hoped to get advice here.
Thank you all for welcoming me and for your replies..
Hi & welcome. Get similar symptoms with wheezing, found that taking carbocisteine before bed, then a few puffs of ventolin help the wheeze to go away, at least until I am asleep.Don't know if I still wheeze during the night, nothing has been said yet.
Going upstairs and hills is always a problem with breathing but if you are getting a reaction from the meds, talk to your GP urgently.
Thank you for your reply to my post iKeith. Not sure if I have posted in the right place, so many different threads it seems.
I don't know what carbocisteine is. I've read GORD can cause problems but don't suffer from that myself, is that connected? Sorry for my ignorance and questions as this is all new to me so I am floundering a bit
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New inhaler given after my first review. 
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