Salamol questions.

[BB4ALL]

Can anyone here tell me if they get any benefit from their Salamol inhaler. They say it works after 10 - 15 mins but what use is that to us when we need it most. Has there been any advance in the inhalers available that will work with immediate effect to ease the situation when we get short of breath, when going upstairs or walking on the flat carrying messages, or trying to keep fit. I have slowly but surely built myself up to walking on the treadmill at 100 paces a minute on a 3 gradient and yes when I've done my 10 minutes of that I'm shattered and need the inhaler but I feel no benefit at all.

[Bella395]

The effectiveness of Salbutamol is dependent on whether your lung disease is reversible to bronchodilators. For example, asthma is usually reversible but emphysema tends to be limited. The other factor is inhaler technique. Taking the drug correctly will increase deposition of the drug into the lungs. Many people do it incorrectly and the drug doesn’t get taken down into the lungs properly. A spacer such as the Aerochamber will increase uptake of the medication. Make an appointment with your respiratory nurse so that your inhaler technique can be assessed. A spacer can be prescribed or maybe an alternative device.

[O2Trees in reply to Bella395]

Only around 10-20% reaches the lungs anyway even with good technique but the Aerochamber will increase that a bit.

[Badbessie]

I tend to use my inhaler 30 minutes before exercise using a chamber for maximum affect. I find this helps my breathing enough to prevent me becoming seriously out of breath. Personally if I was becoming that short of breath I would cut down on the gradient or reduce the time or speed. What are your oxygen saturations like during exercise? As I am concerned that your could be dropping.

[BB4ALL in reply to Badbessie]

It drops to 96% from 99% but I recover within 2 minutes to normal.

[victoriablue]

Hi have the hospital docs or resportiary given you a Areo chamber as I was using a lot of salbutamol with poor results. But since I had the Aero chamber the salbutamol is reduced loads and working better.

[BB4ALL in reply to victoriablue]

I've only heard of an aero chamber since reading this here. Haven't a clue what it is and it hasn't been mentioned at either rehab or by my GP.

[Maximonkey]

Hi BB4ALL, the only advice I can give is that you should be using your Salbutamol before exercise or exertion not after. It will not work very well if you are already short of breath. Try it and see, if using it this way does not work for you make an appointment with your asthma nurse and ask her to explain how you should be using this med. Have you had any lessons on how to use the inhaler? Take care and hope you soon get sorted. I am always amazed to hear how many people are given inhalers without any instructions. The paper leaflet inside the pack is not always clear. Good luck, Maximonkey

[BB4ALL in reply to Maximonkey]

The practice nurse knows very little about these things. She tells you to take the cap off, shake it and inhale. It was only at rehab I found out how to take it properly and instead of inhaling it as the spurt of air hits your mouth as I was doing, they told me to inhale as normal when taking the inhaler. It also amazes me how these nurses are in the Dr's surgeries and have so little knowledge of how to breath when taking these inhalers.

[Maximonkey in reply to BB4ALL]

Hi BB4ALL, sorry you have a unhelpful nurse, she is obviously not an asthma trained nurse. Do you have a consultant you see regularly? if you do then speak with his secretary and see if there is a respiratory nurse as part of his clinic. This nurse will be fully trained and I am sure will help you. You should also be using a Aerochamber as this will help you to breath in all the Salbutamol. Good luck take care, Maximonkey

[pete45]

I use mine BEFORE I exercise. I fact I use mine in the morning before I use my regular inhaler to expand the lungs to get more of the medicine into lungs.

[BB4ALL in reply to pete45]

I use mine as soon as I get up in the morning also to get the lungs open. I don't feel the need for it first thing but I was told before doing anything take the inhaler to get those lungs open.

[victoriablue]

Hi call in the chemist ask to be shown one I could send a photo but don’t know how on here. But believe me it helps. Hope you go on ok.

[BB4ALL in reply to victoriablue]

I'll be fine Victoria and thanks for your words. It's a hellish disease and I wouldn't wish it on anyone. What did you find were the major differences in using the Aero.

[victoriablue]

Morning I found my breathing a lot easier and moving the mucus so much better. Also given me a pep to blow into which shifts the build up of mucus. Only found out about these due to going to PR. So hate this disease but no cure as you know but anything that helps is a bonus. It’s true docs don’t know how to teach you the right way to use these things. Apparently after all these years I used salbutamol I was doing it wrong lol. Look after yourself. Rose 😀

[Spacecat1]

What is an aerochamber. I use easy breathe inhaler and often find it dosent work the nurse checked was doing correctly.