Ventolin and emphysema

[challny]

So I just read a bunch of posts about this and it seems that most feel that ventolin is basically useless for treating emphysema. Doe anyone think otherwise?

[stone-UK]

Hi

Non of your inhalers treat the condition only the effects.

Ventolin does open your airways though it sometimes feels like it’s ineffective. Like all medication there is no one size suits all.

There is a alternative Bricanyl which may be more effective for you.

Emphysema is poor gas exchange and air trapping which causes the breathing difficulties. Which the inhalers don’t treat.

By opening the airways the breathing becomes much easier. But will not reverse it completely. Resting and being calm is just as important.

[Fleurbaby in reply to stone-UK]

That sounds about right! That will explain why my doctors don't hesitate renewing my sickness benefit, so, I get plenty of rest

[frose]

I find it more than helpful! I couldn't even contemplate being without it!

[jackdup]

I’m not sure whether I have emphesema or chronic bronchitis only told I have COPD but have never felt any benefit from Ventolin.

[Fleurbaby]

Hi, yes have been taking Ventolin for about the last year, I have said constantly to my doctors, get little or no relief from it.

[whit]

same as me, when i ask my doc what i have ,it's always copd

[hypercat54 in reply to whit]

Me too! x

[gingermusic]

I don't find that I use my ventolin inhaler that often but when I do feel I need it it helps and I have Emphysema

[Hacienda]

Couldn't be without it, it is a Relief, I have other very strong inhalers for my COPD. Ventolin is a Big Must for me. xxxx

[challny in reply to Hacienda]

@Hacienda, you are one of the few to reply that Ventolin is a big help with emphysema. I'm still not sure myself, although I do agree with many that it gives me the shakes. I can't even sign my name anymore. Thank you for weighing in. I'm learning a lot here, and that's the whole point of this forum.

[corriena in reply to challny]

If you are not getting any relief from ventolin but getting the side effects stop taking it go back to your gp and ask to try a different reliever. Taking a medicin that dosent work for you is not sencible especially as you are getting the side effect.

[Boudica1 in reply to corriena]

Try telling that to my GP's, no problem with the venotlin but the other two are useless. Fostair nowhere near as good as Becotide was and Spivira has never done anything at all. In fact since being put on both I've had nothing but problems, dry mouth, constant cough, rashes and repeated oral thrush and gum disease. I rinse my mouth and brush teeth after taking them but makes no difference at all. Every time I say to the doctors about it all they say is "its helping you to breath".

Well I've got thrush again not only in the mouth but right back in the throat.

Had enough of not being listened to so have throw the Spivira away, if the doctors think its that good they can take it and give me something else instead of fobbing me off.

[frose in reply to Boudica1]

I have emphysema and ventolin helps me (though it doesn't help my mum, who also has emphysema). WRT to spiriva, there are a wide range of alternatives, which achieve the same aim. One your GP might consider is Braltus - because it's cheap! I also find it helpful. Either way, you must find a resolution, together with your doctor. Not doing so will put you at increased risk.

[tamariki in reply to Boudica1]

I was given QVAR and Anoro Ellipta instead of Spiriva, and they both seem to work well. Don't use Ventolin as much.

[consul1]

Been prescribed ventolin for more than 10 years but wont use it as it gives me the shakes and relief is minimal

[Badbessie]

I only normally use ventolin before exercise and find it helps. I know the difference if I do not use it.

[Kendavis359]

I can’t use ventolin now after over thirty years on it as it sends my lungs into spasm causing bad asthma attacks resulting in ending up in hospital for 15 days this summer. What was I thought supposed to be making be better actually was making me worse. So now I have to control my breathing by total relaxation and tia chi helps me do that, as I got nothing else to take as Bricanyl did same thing to me when in hospital. Are there any other relievers available bar my preventers that I can take.? Thanks ken.

[JagNut in reply to Kendavis359]

Hi Ken

After my diagnosis in March, I accepted the consultant's recommendation for Tiotropium or Aclidinium, but both caused what you describe, which in the medics world is officially known as a "Paradoxical Reaction". So, I began concentrating on re-educating my breathing, which has worked so well I can't remember the last time I even used the Ventolin!

[Wooofy-]

I found it to be totally useless for me. I now use Incruse 55mcg. One metered dose lasts 22 hours and it has helped me so much.

[CDPO16]

I find that Ventolin sometimes helps and sometimes doesn't but I would not like to be without it.

[hypercat54 in reply to CDPO16]

Me too! x

[katieoxo60]

I take several inhalers , but find the ventolin does cause shakes and only gives minimal relief in my case. But for others it is a life line.

[Elliekeo]

I suffer from emphysema and was taken off ventolin because I developed SVT and ventolin triggered my heart rate so I was changed to brycanyl. Tbh i don’t feel any improvement after 12 months. I’ve come to the conclusion that managing it by staying calm and trying not to panic helps just the same, but I still find myself carrying round one of each in case I need them, mind over matter I suppose.!!!

[Kendavis359]

Once again, stress as proven it excarbates my condition, and once again I had to use my relaxation techniques to overcome it, as I have no reliever inhaler. So even though I’m in end stage Copd which is not good I am still having to control it by my mind. Which puts me back to the stress issue in our life’s. It’s a knock on affect, the one triggers the other. So if you don’t take relievers, do we all rely on relaxation techniques to calm us down or is it time for some diazepan for me. It’s just a thought, any advice always welcome I’m a good listener. Thanks

[hypercat54]

Hi I have mixed thoughts about ventolin. Whilst it doesn't give me the shakes it's not always as effective as it has been for me. Sometimes using it after an asthma attack now seems to send my airways into spasm even more. I wouldn't like to be without it though as many times it works fine. x

[goat-lady]

I have hypersensitivity pneumonitis ventolin defo doesn't work . Last time i was in hospital I had ipatropium which worked a treat. At home I use atrovent/ipatropium - it is an antimuscatinic which I read works better for many with copd. I have bricanyl to which only works AFTER I have used the atrovent- will be talking to someone about that-it's suppose to be my reliever- not! Doctors seem to forget that not everyone responds well to beta 2 agonists- we are all individuals!

[JagNut in reply to goat-lady]

Try N-Acetylcysteine @ 600 Mg, as apart from a host of other properties, is a highly effective antimuscatinic, which has worked brilliantly for me since last March!

[goat-lady in reply to JagNut]

Thanks-yes take that to-really notice the difference if I run out!

[Burbagegran]

Hi Challny,

I have emphysema and bronchiectasis, I was on Bricanyl for years and recently was changed to Ventolin. I find the Ventolin to be effective most of the time, however I have not had an exacerbation whilst using it so I don't know how much it would help me then, but then again what does in extreme circumstances.

If not happy with Ventolin maybe it's time for a chat with doc about other possibilities, if there are any!

Good luck,

Joan

[Schmicter]

I agree about emphysema and dead/unresponsive and non reversible damage in the lungs. That is why none of those mixed steroidal inhalers are a huge waste of time and money for someone with pure emphysema, they dont do a thing for me . But at least the ventolin helps open up what is not damaged and therfore makes it easier to breathe...for a short time...at least for me.

[ralu79]

I’ve never used ventolin and I have emphysema for 11 years.

Spiriva is good for me

[lKeith]

challny

Hi again, inhalers only serve to assist the air flow pipework in your system it doesn't treat the wretched disease. I have 3 No inhalers Ventolin which I take out and about with me everywhere and before taking the other inhalers so my airways are as expanded as possible. Then I take 2 Puffs of Spiriva then 3Puffs of Fostair. When at home all three are taken through a large spacer (Too big to carry around except if you have a sack) this is apparently the better way of taking the meds and we as users get most benefit. However they are only designed the help the airways not treat emphysema. See my previous replies re possible treatments.If you do only have ventolin you should be able to breath easier after it's use.

IKeith

[mechex]

Estoy de acuerdo el enfisema merece un foro. No uso ventolin solo Simbycort. Y me molesta saber que estoy haciendomecdaño a largo plazo en otros organos pero se niegan a descartar el uso. Sigo consultando ¿ no hay algo más natural?

[gregdunn]

For those that have been diagnoses with emphysema, as I have severe emphysema, what are some of the medications/treatments that you use? I am currently on oxygen 24/7. Started at 2 liters, and now at 4

[JagNut in reply to gregdunn]

Hi Greg,

My diagnosis was also defined by the Radiologist assessing my CT scan as "Severe Emohysema", but unlike you, I rarely use the Ventolin & thankfully nowhere near needing oxygen, & serious physical exercise is not a problem! This surely proves that the medical understanding as translating to effective support for us sufferers is still back in the dark ages! When I had the Spirometry @ the GP then hospital (Airways Clinic), it declared "Moderate COPD", so what could be more incongruous than that?

[Ergendl]

I have emphysema and asthma. Ventolin improving my breathing when I need to use it.

[challny]

Hello, @RedSox ... I have been told I have emphysema, and I'm convinced I have emphysema. And it's beginning to dawn on me that it is completely non-reversible, and, for that matter, basically untreatable. Would you argue with that? Inhalers are useless, prednisone is useless. Do you think there is any way to treat emphysema? I am losing all hope, as my condition has worsened significantly in just the last couple of weeks. Maybe the only hope would be these surgeries, LVRS, coils, valves, etc. Forget exercise. Since my diagnosis just about 2 years ago I was exercising diligently: Pulmonary rehab, golf, long walks, lawn mowing. Now I can barely brush my teeth.

[Boudica1]

Hi, I was diagnosed with COPD in the bottom of right lung 3years ago via an x-ray.

Recent thorax scan with contrast confirmed COPD bottom right lung. Also showed Fibrosis top of both lungs and that Bronchitis one that I can't spell caused by TB at the bottom of the left side.

Rock and a hard place springs to mind but hey-ho battle on.

[dogcyrus]

So many posts so many answers and suggestions.

For I take a three in one inhaler once a day. Trelegy Ellipta. Very rarely take Ventolin now. I only use it when I know I’m going to try strenuous exercise. It then really helps.

[Bella395]

Challny - the issue here is reversibility. Respiratory specialists sometimes test for this with spirometry. If you have had this test you would remember it because you have to blow very hard into the device. Those measurements are recorded. Salbutamol (usually nebules) is given and the same test is done a short while later. The measurements are again recorded and they can then tell whether your airways are reversible to this bronchodilator. People who are under the COPD/emphysema umbrella often do not respond as well to Salbutamol (if at all) but crucially, asthmatics usually do. This is one reason why reversibility tests are so useful.

If you are finding Salbutamol of little use in your own COPD then you perhaps should talk to your respiratory specialist about alternatives. There are different types of bronchodilators and some individuals find that they do better with a different product.

[CoffCoffWalkWalk]

Emphysema and Chronic Bronchitis.

I have a one a day 5mgs vapour (Tiotropium/Olodateroly) and ventolin, told originally to use it when required.

Just changed Dr's and new chap says, max four times a day.

I like to walk a couple of miles a day, when I can and use it on all uphill sections (gentle slopes) I'll be sticking to original instructions but works for me.

[Cut3ypie]

I'd not be without mine. Especially when I wake during night with that annoying tickle cough she sorts me out with that... Only when I'm walking I don't feel the benefit of her tbh

Lou

[ermintrudexxx]

Sorry been on holiday. I have ventolin for my asthma. (the respiratory airways close up). It’s use is to OPEN AIRWAYS, if you are struggling breathing. Usually breathing settles in 5 minutes. Allow 30 seconds between the 2 puffs. I certainly could not manage without it. I also have emphysema, (of the lungs) totally different problem. Ventolin not prescribed for emphysema. I also take tiotropium (24) hours for 6 years and relvar (24) hours since March 2017 for my emphysema. Had to show my consultant how I use my inhalers on the 1st October, he said I did it right.

Hope this is helpful, good luck

ermintrude

PS had message from BLF to respond to you