Chronic cough, overactive airway and baclofen

[Cw70]

I haven’t been on here for a while as I feel a bit of a fraud! It started for me 7 years ago when I had a run of chest problems completely confusing my local respiratory clinic. I too suffer from costochondritis which was horrendous when my cough was bad. I was treated with spiriva, symbicort and montelukast but was still unable to go outside when the temperature got below about 11 degrees (about 6 months of the year in the UK!)

I was referred to Professor Alyn Maurice at the Hull cough clinic who suggested a few drugs to try. The first, metachlorobromide did not help at all. But then he suggested baclofen, I started on 5mg 3x day and gradually built up to 20mg 3x day. At first the side affects were awful, dizziness, room spinning and feeling sick (at about 10mg) but I was starting to see a positive affect on my cough. I persevered by going to bed as soon as I got home from work, not sure how I got through those weeks working in a primary school!

The hospital have suggested I reduce the dose or stop taking it over the warmer months but I’m reluctant to as I don’t want to go through those awful side affects again.

Although my mobility is not the reason for taking this it has really helped me, the professor diagnosed overactive airway with gaseous reflux (on top of regular asthma)

I feel a fraud because compared to everybody else on here I’m really not unwell!

Does anyone have any experience with baclofen, chronic cough and overactive airways?

Sorry for the epic post!

[Shezxx]

hi there i suffer from chronic cough and i am a bit of a mystery too. alot of chest problems and coughs do confuse the docs but i always go with what i know and feel, montelukast helps me open up my air ways and i really do feel it. i have asthma and bronchitis and have a chronic cough. have u had any other tests ? dont feel like a fraud we all need help from those very ppl who are suffering. docs dont know everything x

[Cw70 in reply to Shezxx]

I only ever had ‘asthma symptoms ‘ during the hay fever season when I suffered terribly (taking 3 antihistamines each day just to get through life!)Almost 7 years ago I went on a school residential (as a teacher) and came back with a chest infection, this turned to bronchitis, pneumonia then pleurisy! I had almost 3 months off work! I really did think my time was up at times!

Since then each winter I’ve had recurring chest infections throughout the cooler months. My local hospital labelled me as an anomaly and one respiratory consultant suggested I emigrated somewhere warmer!

I was given montelukast, which did seem to help a little but has made my hay fever tonnes better (I do get hives from the montelukast but take an antihistamine to counteract them!)

It was the cough Professor at Hull who said to stop the spiriva and gave me the baclofen.

I had been offered xolair as my eosinophils were very high but the day before I was due to go was told my lung function was too good! I have grade 3 allergies to grass and tree pollen. I’ve had scans and X-rays to check for pockets on my lungs etc.This has been the first year I have been able to go outside below 11 degrees and breath okay! I’m just wondering if I need to stay on these medications indefinitely to keep my symptoms at bay?

Even my local respiratory clinic is not too sure and when emailing the professor he struggles with communication!

It is bonkers that it appears I am not completely odd as there are other people experiencing similar problems, even the professor was excited at my case!

Thanks for your reply. X

[Shezxx in reply to Cw70]

hi yeah i have been under the hosp all my life im the same an unusual case as they say. end of the day you know ur own body not then so if u feel better on certain meds just say i used to leave it to them but i dont now i say what i feel. one of my docs said my technique wasnt very good so i said to her well you try blowing into a tube whilst coughing for over 2yrs everyday non stop lets see if you can. you have to be as tough with them as they are with you but you do get some nice docs having said that. i find montelukast amazing for me but gives me nightmares thats the only flaw i find but you may find no side effects. but always say to the docs what you think works i do now. hope this helps xx

[Coastwalker]

Hi Cw70 for gastric reflux a simple old fashioned remedy is Apple Cider vinegar (must be Organic and with The Mother written on it.) Works within a minute for me and others have reported this too, gets rid of heartburn too. If you take prescription reflux medication they will lower your stomach acid and your food will hang around your gut rotting instead of being digested, it is the rotting undigested food hanging around your gut that causes acid reflux. We need high acid in our stomachs to break up and digest our foods. I can never understand why patients are prescribed an acid reflux medication that lowers stomach acid as it can cause acid reflux ???

High dose Vitamin D3 turned around my Husbands asthma, The cold air use to affect him, but no longer. Vitamin D3 is antiinflamatory and is now known to help asthma sufferers. We doubled his dose in winter as his asthma symptoms came back, since doubled his asthma went away again.

Also have recently read that some persistent coughs can be down to low/deficient vitamin D blood levels. 85% of us are either low or deficient in vitamin D and most don't know it. I was one of them.

Note Symbicort we looked up and it said it can actually cause asthma. ???? and it should only be used for a short while. Hubby was on it for years.

[Cw70]

I’ve got no symptoms of acid reflux such as heartburn and don’t take any medication for it. Baclofen is an anti spasmodic which I think works on relaxing my overactive airways.

I have wondered about my vitamin D levels, particularly when I was unable to go outside for six months of the year.

I have noticed that lots of asthma meds say they may cause breathing irregularities! It’s bonkers!

Many thanks for the advice

[Frin9e]

my son is the same, he coughs for 6 months of the year, first year was may - November, this year it starts in November, he's still coughing now, asthma medication doesn't touch it, or reflux meds waiting for pediatrics to see him again, its a nightmare.

[Coastwalker]

Sorry for my late reply, you are most welcome Cw70.