Hi has anyone had a feeling that their ventolin inhaler is just not helping anymore. For about the last 4/6 weeks mine doesn't seem to be helping with my breathlessness so I have found myself relying on oramorph which I'm not very happy about. Ideas and suggestions please
Patsy
Hi. Are you on any preventers? I have been prescribed Seretide and Braltus. Another thought I had, have you checked the expiry date? (I only ask because mine had expired without me realising). I try to avoid using the oramorph as it makes me feel fuzzy headed. Hope you find a solution.
Good morning,i never thought the ventolin inhaler did me any good ,I told my practice nurse more times than enough, so she finally switched me on to salamol easi-breathe which I do think helps.
There is only one alternative drug to Salbutermol (the active ingredient in Ventolin) and that is Terbutalin Sulfate the trade name for it is Bricanyl which comes in a Turbohaler. It is a powder inhaler, with a tiny amount of just the drug without any filler, you do not feel the powder going down at all. The only thing is that you need a good suck although personally find it easier to suck in than taking Spiriva in the Handihaler.
I have been using Bricanyl for 3 years after I found Ventolin no longer worked for me. Not a magic bullet but much better than nothing. Ask your GP/Nurse if you can try it, you have nothing to lose by doing so.
Hi about six months ago my ventolin was making no difference at all so discussed it with my consultant went through all the usuall test found out it was because my mitral valve in my heart was not working properly and there was a lot of fluid around lungs now I have severe copd and severe mitral valve regurgitation so maybe you should get it checked
Patsy please go see someone if this is happening...could be an underlying problem there xx
Thats a new one on me Oramorph for your breathing, but having said that I find tramadol helps my breathing to reduces the demand on the lungs I think side effect of opiates(good one in this case) I find the ventolin still works to open the airways but works very little on the lung breathing. Take care Best wishes.
Meant to say that I was really worried about using Oramorph as that was what they gave my mum when I was nursing her at the end of life with Lung cancer, but looked into it with my specialist lung nurses and put my mind to rest. They think the reason that it doesn't make me fuzzy is because I have always been a wine enthusiast 🍷😁
Think I would prefer wine myself. same thoughts as you I associate Oramorph with my late husbands final days of cancer and having to use a syringe to drop it into his mouth. Take what ever works best for you. Best wishes
Hi Patsy. I found Ventolin stopped working for me as my asthma got much worse, In fact I think it got worse largely because Ventolin not working for me.
GP swapped me to Bricanyl, as 2greys has said. Works well for me. Can only be used 4 times a day, so not as free and easy as Ventolin, but works much better for me. Rarely have to have four in one day, but I’m asthmatic not copd.....yet. Check with your doctor 🌸
I find it's not much good these days but I still use it. It's a reliever and not a preventer like other inhalers. Are you prescribed any other inhalers?
You could maybe try using a spacer which makes it a lot easier to inhale and more of it goes down to the lungs. They're about £10 from a pharmacy but you might get it on the NHS if you ask your GP.
youtube.com/watch?v=o0M1lLp...
Thanks for the video. I used to use my Ventolin inhaler daily, for years. Now I just use it once in a while, and it never occurred to me to prime it after not using it for a while. I thought that was only necessary when starting a new one.
I must wash my spacer more often! 😳
Glad it was of use Hungryhufflepuff! 
5 years ago I got a Cisca Salt pipe. Filled with natural salt, you breath in through the pipe and out through your mouth, not back into the pipe. I have not used my Ventolin since. When I feel I am getting a cold I use the salt pipe for a few minutes several times a day, cold just goes. Another friend always getting colds from grand children, then bronchitis has not had a problem since she got a salt pipe. Helps people stop snoring too.
I have a hymilaian salt pipe , the salt isnt good for people with COPD my VA doctor said dont use it, it makes you retain water etc. And makes you retain flem build up not good.
I found it cleared me of flem etc. Breathing far clearer. Now hardly use it unless I feel I am getting a cold.
I thought so at first.
Everyone is different.
Good luck , if it works for you.
I'm just saying what my doctor said because of my condition.
How much salt could you ingest from it? After several years the salt does not go down, so it is still stored in the saltpipe!!
Not sure. I had a panic attack from it so I asked my doctor and he got mad as he told me before not to use salt in my condition. Since then I feel 100% better. But that's me . If it works for you I'm happy for you.
Hello
I'm not sure what your taking.
Here in the US I use Spiriva and Symbicort plus Albuteral for emergency. Everything seems to work great. I feared losing my breath and didnt want to use the Symbicort but found using it as directed has made a huge difference. And for me with Sever COPD and Sever Ashma it has taken my fears away. I feel like before except for my energy but I'm working at that.
I wish you well and God Bless
I found ventolin notvworking as well as it should so Consultant changed to fostair which seems to work better.
Many thanks Lung conditions Forum
Flying with copd and Asthma 
A quieter week this week!
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