Reliever or Preventor for Exercise Induced Asthma

I was diagnosed with asthma over 20 years ago and at the time made a decision not to use my brown preventor inhaler.

I get exercise induced asthma and use the salbutamol 'reliever' before exercise to prevent any symptoms during activities and I feel I have been pretty well in control of my asthma.

Although I have always been pretty active in many sports over the years I am getting more involved in triathlon and increasing my training to become more competitive. I sometimes find on intensive training rides/runs or when competing I finish with what feels like a weak chest. My chest doesn't particularly feel tight and restrictive but weakened and I develop a cough.

This have got me thinking, should I give the preventor type inhalers a go? Will these drugs help in my training and will i benefit in competition. I read about Paula Ratcliffe taking the daily preventor and then taking the reliever just before exercise to control symptoms.

[KateMoss]

Preventer inhalers are very safe these days and should reduce the amount of reliever that you need to use.

It is better to use preventer than rely on relievers all the time as you can become tolerant to the reliever...

Please ask about a preventer, much better for you!

Kate

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Thats for the reply Kate, might go back and see my GP. Would be interested to talk to an expert though, about what medication is available, wonder if I could request to see someone, a pulmonologist for example.

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Thats for the reply Kate, might go back and see my GP. Would be interested to talk to an expert though, about what medication is available, wonder if I could request to see someone, a pulmonologist for example.

leeroy, ring the asthma uk nurse on the number at the top of each page here, they are the experts

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My asthma flared up at the end of last year and while I was taking my reliever before training in the gym as usual, I was finding I had to stop and puff a few times during training, too.

Since I started on a preventer treatment (Clenil brown inhaler with spacer) in only two weeks all symptoms abated and I am back up to 'full power' with my gym cardio sessions. I never took preventers before despite being prescribed them in my teens, because my asthma is so low-grade and is dormant most of the year but this has really helped me. Maybe something similar might help for you, too?

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I second Joans advice. The AUK adviceline is tops!

Rose xx