Ventolin

[martin1945]

How many others are like me ?.....severe or very severe emphysema, where Ventolin (or its generics) have very little impact or benefit on my laboured breathing. It hasn't worked for a long time and so I am reliant on my Spiriva and Symbicort.

[Puffthemagicdragon]

I also have very severe emphysema. I've no idea if the Ventolin works or not to be honest. I don't seem to breathe much easier after taking it.

[libbygood]

It dosn't seem to make any difference in helping me breath, goodness knows if it's doing any good.

Lib x

[Lynne1955]

I'm moderate and it doesn't do much for me on the whole. The only time I can notice that it helps is if I have a chest infection.

Lynne xx

[knitter]

I have asthma, not emphysema, but I find if I take too much of any bronchodilators including Ventolin that my chest gets tighter and my peak flow goes down...it works at first...so don't know if there is a rebound effect. I have to balance my use with steroid medication.

But I always try and keep an inhaler at hand as it is a life saver in an emergency..but not in the long term...for me anyway...but everyone reacts differently to different drugs.

[Hidden]

Not a great one for me either(ventolin) Symbicort,spiariva did it for me,till things took a turn for the worse,& onbrez was added,which made a great difference.

[phillips1]

Hi Martin, I am emphysema stage 4 and found Ventolin to be a complete waste of time.

Regards, Bobby

[Decor]

I also find it does not help at all

[nanaber]

I have moderate and also find it's no benefit to me.

[Hidden]

I don't feel as though it does anything at all.

[Offcut]

I use only if I cannot control my breathing pattern because I also have Atrial Fribbulation and to much ventolin will make my heart misbehave

[Valcopd]

Join the club. When first diagnosed in 94, it was prescribed and definitely helped, provided you could handle the extreme shakes and terrible oral thrush. Then I forget which year, they changed the propellant and the delivery puff was absolutely useless. I soldiered on but felt it did nothing. Now on Spiriva and Sereteide with Ventolin as PRN

but rarely used.

[beatles]

Hi Martin, I have severe emphesyma and I find Ventoiln does help most of the time.

I also use Spiriva and Seretide 250.

Thanks. Adrian

[Toci]

Hi, I am stage 4 emphysema and find Ventolin has no effect on my breathing whilst Brycanil (sp?) actually makes my breathing worse. I only use inhalers developed for emphysema, rather than asthma.

[Hidden in reply to Toci]

what are those inhalers Toci?

I am taking ventolin but everyone seems to be saying it does not work, so why do gp's put people with emphysema on ventolin if it doesn't work.

Thanks

Peta.

[Toci in reply to Hidden]

Ventolin is a bronchodilator, which is effective only on the reversible component of airflow obstruction, but COPD is characterized by a fixed or poorly reversible airflow obstruction. For COPD, a long-acting ß2 agonist (LABA) is usually prescribed. As far as I am aware, the main inhaler prescribed for people with COPD is Spiriva. Some use other long-acting (24hr) inhalers such as Breezhaler or Onbrez and I am positive I have not listed anywhere near all of them. Then there are the combination inhalers many use, which include a steroid component. Your best step here is probably to ring the BLF on Monday (03000 030 555) and check it out with them. Good luck with it. x

[glesgajohn]

Hi I was on Ventolin at one time for copd and one of my doctor took me off Ventolin he is a asthma specialist and told me that Ventolin is for Asthma and not copd

[Hidden]

I got GP to take Ventolin off my repeats as it was no use at all. Unlike most others my combo one is Fostair (plus Spiriva of course) and I was told that if I was really struggling to use my Fostair an extra time in the day (not often).

Have yet to go for my annual check (usually around Oct) but I have a Piko6 spirometer at home and though my FEV1/FVC hasn't changed much my overall FVC has dropped from around 240 to only 190 and am coughing more. Not enough to have me rushing to GPs though! I hate going