Help. Inhaled steroid problem

I have developed persistent daily asthma and I have tried almost all the inhaled steroids. When I take these, even in low doses, I get very very tense and lightheaded. To the point I can't function. Even flovent 44mcg at one puff a day. It obviously dosent help at that low a dose. It feels like I haven't eaten in a couple days. I don't feel hungry and am eating normally. It is hard to describe. But, it makes me feel horrible. Anyone else have these problems. I am currently stuck using as little albuterol or maxair as possible due to the extreme jitteriness it causes. I am at my witts end.

Phil

[meme1261]

Hi I too had a problem with certain inhalers, definitly albuterol. My doctor put me on Spiriva and pulmicort. Both are poweder inhalers and I am doing very well on them. My doctor said it was the propellents in the other inhalers causing my problems that some people can't use them such as albuterol. Ask your doctor about pulmicort and spiriva or some other powdered inhaler. I think you will see a huhge difference. Good Luck!
meme1261

[252ph]

Thanks for the info. I have tried pulmicort in a nebulizer at the low 25mg a day dose and it still was so stimulating I could barely function. I am curious what your Doc said about the propellants? I have had my suspicions.

Phil

[SweetSkeet]

I had so many problems when I was using Albuterol in an inhaler.  I then started using Albuterol with Ipratropium together in a nebulizer and it worked so much better for me.  I only use the Albuterol inhaler now just as a rescue inhaler.  Emergencies only!  I also use Spiriva and Pulmicort Tubohaler.  These two inhalers have helped me more than any inhaler I have ever used.  They are powder inhalers but they are work so much better for me.  My breathing difficulties and congestion are so much better since using these.  Albuterol is not a steriod inhaler.  I do know that Pulmicort Turbohaler, and Spiriva are steriods.   However, they are nothing like the awful oral steriod Prednisone.  I stay away from that one. Prednisone caused me to be hospitalized in very serious condition because I could not come off of it.  I had to be taken off cold turkey in the hospital and monitored closely. It was the worse thing I have ever been through.  I will NEVER use oral prednisone on a regular basis again.   Anyways. good luck to you.  Hope you find what works for you.

[JustAYoungGirl]

I am on seretide 125 and when i first started taking it I had the shakes, palpitations and dizzyness but after regular use for a week it stopped completely I dont know if that would be the case with any of the other inhalors mentioned. My doctor said it was normal as the body has to adjust to the steroids.

[drboatrocker]

The medication with the brand name Spiriva, generic name tiotropium, is not a steroid.  It is a long acting anticholinergic.

[mtbiac]

hey phil I was wondering if you had any luck treating your asthma? I get the same reaction to all steroid inhalers and even albuterol, intense jitteryness/anxiety, shakes, palpatations sometimes, dry mouth, etc. It's horrible. Please let me know if you've found something that has helped you. So far I've tried advair (all doses), albuterol CFC and HFA, and Asmanex. The advair and albuterol worked great for about 4 months but then all of the sudden I started getting the effects noted above from the very same inhalers. Now they all do this, no matter what. All make me very jittery for some reason.  My doctor thinks I somehow becamse very sensitive all of the sudden to these medications (both inhaled crushed pills and the propellant inhalers) but does not know why...Please if anyone can help I'd be greatly appreciative.

Thanks, Mike

[Kelly510]

I have adult onset asthma. But I also have a heart condition that is an elevated heart rate. Took them a long time to figure out why albuterol never felt as though it was working. It's such an extreme stimulant that it makes the heart race, which is why you feel jittery. Most all rescue inhalers have some level of albuterol in them. My Drs. have now put me on Xopenex for a rescue inhaler and Symbicort for my maintenance inhaler. Neither have albuterol in them and I'm doing much better. If you have to use the rescue inhaler multiple times in a short period of time, it will make you jittery, but not after the normal two puffs. Good luck.