 Respiratory Disorders Related Forums
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Welcome to the Respiratory Disorders Forum! This forum is for questions and support regarding lung and respiratory issues such as: Allergies, Asthma, Bronchitis, Colds - Flu, Chronic Cough, COPD, Cystic Fibrosis, Emphysema, Fibrosis, Lung Abscess, Nasal Polyps, Pleurisy, Pneumonia, Sarcoidosis, Sinusitis, Tuberculosis
Questions posted in the Respiratory Disorders Forum are being answered by doctors from National Jewish Medical & Research Center.
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| umgambit 12/11/2003 | . | Hi. I am thirty years old and have been an asthmatic since childhood. I have been doing fine after several treatments during puberty, although I always carry a Ventilan pump and use it eventually. I have noticed that I can pass long periods of time without inhalating Ventilan, but sometimes I use it when feeling a very slight (perhaps psychological) broncho-constriction. When this happens I feel I need Ventilan more and more and tree-four days after the first episode I am using it a lot. Then I must make a mental effort not to use it and one, two days after I'm OK. This suggests to me that an addiction phenomena may be involved, and would like to have your opinion. Thank you for your time, F. |
| NJC-R.N.-DC 12/16/2003 | umgambit | Asthma varies from person to person. For some people the symptoms will come and go. For others the symptoms are constant. Asthma symptoms are caused by the following changes in the lungs · Inflammation of the airways. Long-term control medicines decrease and prevent the inflammation. They are taken every day, even when you do not have any asthma problems. This will keep your lungs working well and prevent asthma attacks. It is important to understand that when asthma problems start these medicines do not work quick enough to help asthma symptoms. These include inhaled steroids and leukotriene modifiers. Inhaled steroids and leukotriene modifiers decrease inflammation, but inhaled steroids also prevent inflammation. · This inflammation increases the sensitivity of the airways to a variety of things that make asthma worse. These things are called triggers. Infections, exercise, acid reflux, and allergies are common triggers. · Obstruction of airflow due to the tightening of the muscles that surround the airways. This is called bronchoconstriction. Quick-relief medicines reverse the bronchoconstriction quickly by relaxing the tight muscles around the airways. In addition asthma symptoms may be prevented during exercise when an inhaled short-acting beta-agonist, like Ventolin® Inhalation Aerosol (albuterol sulfate), is used before exercise. This is called pre-treating. A rescue inhaler, like Ventolin® Inhalation Aerosol (albuterol sulfate), is the most commonly used quick-relief medicine. However this lasts for 4 to 6 hours and then the bronchoconstriction may return. Although these medicines may be used as needed to stop asthma symptoms quickly, do not over use them. Talk with your doctor if you are using more than one inhaler a month. This generally means that your asthma is out of control. You may need long-term control medicines to treat the inflammation in your lungs so that you need less Ventolin® Inhalation Aerosol (albuterol sulfate) and your asthma is under better control. · In some people with asthma, the mucus glands in the airways make a lot of thick mucus that decreases the opening of the airway more. Inhaled steroids and leukotriene modifiers decrease mucus. People do not develop a physical addiction to prescription inhaled bronchodilators, like Ventolin® Inhalation Aerosol (albuterol sulfate). Generally you need more medicine because your asthma is worse. It is possible, but much less common, to develop a psychological need for the medicine. If you are not sure what is going on, you should see your doctor. Also using a peak flow meter may help you to sort things out. A peak flow meter is a small, hand-held device that gives a number that measures how fast you can blow out air after you have taken in as deep a breath as possible. This number shows how well your lungs are working. Sometimes peak flow numbers will drop up to a day before asthma symptoms start. Checking your peak flow number could help you to know whether what you are feeling is very slight bronchoconstriction or perhaps psychological. Your peak flow number should increase 20 to 30 minutes after using a rescue inhaler, like Ventolin® Inhalation Aerosol (albuterol sulfate). Please read our Peak Flow Monitoring MedFact at http://www.nationaljewish.org/medfacts/peak.html for further information. |
| AndyRRT 12/11/2003 C1 | . | Albuterol is non-adictive. I tell my patients to use it as prescribed and as needed. As a matter of fact, Albuterol is a relatively benign drug aside from some minor side effects including a slightly elevated heart rate and the jitters. If you have no underlying cardiac disease....don't worry about a thing. In the midst if an asthma attack, I will treat my patients with double and triple treatments at 3-4 times the dosage. The idea is to saturate the beta receptors in the lungs that react to the bronchdilitation effects of the drug. YEs, they get a slightly elevated heart rate and get the shakes...but it will avert intubation and mechanical ventilation. If you are finding yourself using the medication more often that usual, tell your doctor. He may want to do some tests on you and prescribe additional meds. Andy, RRT,CPFT |
| kate38 12/11/2003 C2 | AndyRRt | Hello, Andy, I use albuterol and few other meds for asthma. I take a beta blocker for hypertension,I was just wondering if you could tell me how exactly beta blockers cause problems in asthmatics.The reason I'm wondering is the beta blocker i was on,caused severe problems with my asthma.No matter how many puffs of albuterol I took, nothing happened. Have a Merry Christmas K |
| AndyRRT 12/12/2003 C3 | Kate38 | Hi Kate, Thats a very good question, and an important one at that. First lets discuss how Albertol effects our body. This drug is a a beta agonist. Or a beta "stimulant. The sympathatic nervous system has two inervative sites. They are called Beta 1 and Beta 2 receptors. Albuter ol effects both of these sites. Stimulating the Beta 2 sites causes bronchodialation. The major effect we desire when using this medication. Stimulating the Beta 1 receceptors stimulates the side effects which can be an increased heart rate, tremors and that nervousness feeling. Now, regarding your heart condition (which I don't know), your doctors have prescribed you a Beta Blocker. Some common medications used are: Atenolol, Metoprolol, and Propranolol. These drugs are commonly used to help prevent cardiac conditions like high blood pressure (hypertension), atrial fibrillation, angina, myocardial infarction (a heart attack), and ventricular arrhythmias. Beta blockers will control your heart rate, blood pressure, and disarythmias. The side effects of beta blockers are BROCHOSPASM! They make you wheeze. So you see here, one cancels the other out. It appears this is whats happening to you. you're reacting to your beta blockers and the albuterol your taking is refractory to treatment. In simple tearms....it ain't workin'! But there is good news. There are alternative meds to get around this. You may want to ask your doctor about using Albuterols "sister" drug. This is called Atrovet (Ipatropium Bromide) It too is a bronchodialator however works in the lungs a bit differently. the only draw back with Atrovent, it is not considered a "rescue inhaler". Unlike Albuterol, it is not fast acting for those times when you feel tight-tight-tight and need that quick fix. There are also alternative meds to the beta blockers. They are called Calcium Channel Blockers. Some names you may want to throw at your doctor are: Diltiazem (Cardizem, Dilacor) and Nifedipine (Procardia, Adalat). Now, your condistion could very well be exacerbated by your current therapy. However, be sure to take notice how often and when you need your albuterol. Did you do anything to axacerbate your wheezing like come in from the cold? Play with the cata nd dog? Were you near cigarette smoke? did you just dose yourself with your heart medication. This is very important so as not to stray away from the best possible therapies your doctor needs to give you. I hope this helped. If you have any other questions, feel free to ask! (I love this stuff!) -Andy, RRT,CPFT |
| kate38 12/12/2003 C5 | AndyRRT | Andy, Thank you,I really appreciate you answering my questions. I was taking labatalol,had to go off of it do to severe breathing problems,switched to metoprolol 250mg continued to have breathing problems,using lots of albuterol,I had to be put on prednisone.Went to a follow-up appt with cardio he reduced metoprolol to 100mg,so far I seem to be doing ok.He mentioned somthing about it being more beta selective at that dosage. Have a Merry Christmas!! Thanks again,for your help. K | [Thread closed to new comments] |
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