Ventolin

[Alice70]

Does anyone find that ventilin does hardly nothing for there copd not asthma as I believe it is mainly for asthma,I don't have asthma, I have emphysema and I think bronchitis and don't know why I'm given ventilin as I say it hardly helps does anyone else find this answers appreciated

[helenlw7]

I have asthma and bronchiecstasis. I use my Ventolin before I go upstairs and it sort of stops me bacoming breathless.

[Deeb1764]

I had same issue and got put on Trimbow

[Alice70 in reply to Deeb1764]

I am on trimbow and before that fostair thanks for reply

[jackNruby2 in reply to Deeb1764]

I am on trimbow It has worked really well for me too

[Haz58]

Do you use a spacer to take it? Only ask as my GP said the other day (I have a chest infection) that a spacer makes it get in to the lungs better than without using a spacer.

[Alice70 in reply to Haz58]

I did use a spacer now my gp has changed my ventilin with spacer to easy breath which is exactly the same as the other but you can't use a spacer with it he said they are fazing out the one used with spacer something to do with atmosphere, ventilin has never worked well for me

[Seatgeorge]

Consultant put me on forster I use it once every other day works for me.

[Alice70 in reply to Seatgeorge]

Sounds like my copd is far more advanced than yours

[jackNruby2]

Ventolin just opens the airways to make another inhaler work more quickly

[Alice70 in reply to jackNruby2]

Hi thanks for reply does this mean you take your ventolin before your main inhailer ,how long do you wait inbetween

[katieoxo60]

I find ventolin is not much good only to open the airways a little when we have an infection.

[oldtimer2]

Are you seeing a specialist respiratory nurse - they are often best at managing long term chest conditions? Well worth talking to her (it's usually a her).

This article (you can cut and paste the link) explains the current treatments in the UK

nhs.uk/conditions/chronic-o...

and it does suggest salbutamol (ventolin) as a first choice - but if your breathing tubes have lost the ability to go into spasm and then relax (they tend to with long term COPD) it may not be the best treatment for you. You will see there's lots of other treatments.

[Alice70 in reply to oldtimer2]

Thank you oldtimer2 I find this very helpful were do I find a specialist nurse ,would that be the nurse in the GPS surgery