The last few days I’ve had to use my inhaler a lot more than usual, mostly in the middle of the night and after an episode of coughing. The last 2 days though, I’m finding that 2 puffs is not enough- I’m needing either 3 or 4. Is this normal? I’m aware that I need to speak to my team about needing my inhaler more often, but is needing more than the usual 2 puffs okay to be doing? I’ve been dealing with severe asthma for nearly 3 years and I still can’t gauge my symptoms.
Thanks.
Like you say So 97, it would be a good idea to chat with your asthma nurse/GP. To answer you question, yes it is ok to take more Ventolin. If you need it, you need it. You can take up to nine in one go. Leave a minute or so in between and shake before each dose. This amount is comparable to a nebuliser, or so they tell me.
It's ok to take what you need, but it is only a temporary fix. You should definitely speak to your GP.
My asthma nurse always said 4 puffs was usual and advised, rather than 2. I find as well as the ventolin that sucking on a Halls sugar free menthol lyptus (Or 2 in a row) calms the coughing and soothes the throat. Sometimes the throat irritated by the coughing makes it feel like the asthma is continuing, so it’s good to try and reduce the coughing as much as you can, whether by active breathing techniques and/ or using something like a menthol lyptus lozenge to help clear the airways and soothe the tickle.
Thank you all. My GP has recommended a course of steroids and to use my salbutamol as often and much as I need it- to save me having to go to hospital. Fingers crossed they work🤞🏼
welcome to predsomnia.... prednisolone induced insomnia.... the reason I'm typing to you at 02:40 am
But yes you should feel much better very quickly with a course of prednisolone
Yes prednisolone is something of a miracle, however, the side effects are not to be envied. I spent nearly 18 months on pred and thought I was going mad to begin with as I was only sleeping for maybe 2/3 hours a night.
I’ll take the insomnia and moon face any day though, to be able to breathe and go about- a somewhat- normal life.
Hi, I've always found that 2 doesn't do anything for me as a general rule. I use 4 as Autumnhedgerow mentioned.
yes more than 2 puffs is OK.... i was told more than 10 dont be stupid... call an ambulance/seek URGENT care ( like dont wait for a GP appointment)
Also it was discovered that I breathe in too hard for liquid ventolin and I find the powdered salbutamol much more effective, but you do need to breathe in much harder even in an emergency.... but ventolin I was breathing into the red zone and the powder I was breathing into top of the green zone so we (me and the asthma nurse) felt powdered would be better
Chip
Thank you for your response, I’m aware of the 10 puffs (used this many of times before a 999 call). But wasn’t too sure if it was okay to be doing regularly. I also wasn’t aware of a difference in types salbutamol. Do you find that the powdered version has more of a ‘taste’?
Yes, but the taste is relatively mild in comparison to the much more effectiveness I find it gives
If my peak flow has always been low what will spirometry reveal?
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