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Is it Asthma?
I was born with eczema and I started to have bronchospasm few years ago. The doc said it might be asthma and prescribed me with salbutamol. However, i found that I don't have the common syptoms as asthmatic people .e.g wheezing or coughing, and it doesn't disturb my sleeping as well. I just feel the bronchi contract and chest tightness which go away after few minutes later without taking the inhaler. I've taken the inhaler before but i found it no use, so i didn't use it anymore. I am wondering if i am really asthmatic or is just something else. Bronchospasm some times does happen few times a day and it's worse after excerise or a 5-min quick walk, so i have to slow down after walking very fast for 5 min. And if the bronchi contracts too much, it's a bit painful. It also triggers by breathing in something irritating e.g. smokes, perfumes. So i really want to ask whether i got asthma or not.
In the states we have several versions of albuterol - Proair, Proventil, Ventolin, Maxair (technically pributerol) and a purified version Xopenex (technically levalbuterol). All of them Xopenex is the only one that does not go by albuterol. No generics because of the cfc ban. We do have generic albuterol neb solution. The Xopenex doesn't cause the shakiness that the other versions do and can be more effective. I wonder if that is what part of my problem has been? hmmmmm... I am going to ask for a sample of Xopenex to try for odor exposures again.
Hehe .... In Canada we have branded ventolin (only brand I know though because it's the one I use), also called albuterol which is also called salbutamol.
tis confusing :)
tis confusing :)
Salbutamol is essential for asthma. If the salbutamol is not working, then you have to get it changed form your doctor and use long term inhaled corticosteroids. Thanks
salbutamol is generic ventolin. So don't worry, you are getting the correct mediation. :)
You should let your doctor know that the inhaler isn't helping that much and maybe go for tests to determine whether you actually have asthma or not
You should let your doctor know that the inhaler isn't helping that much and maybe go for tests to determine whether you actually have asthma or not
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Salbutamol is contrindicated in asthma. It is a long acting beta2 agonist that can be dangerous for asthmatics to take without an inhaled steroid. Also, they take too long to be effective which makes them useless as a resuce inhaler as you have been trying to use it.
I would recommend that you request further testing from you doctor. The methylcoline (sp?) challenge is the standard and definitive test for asthma. You are give puffs a methylcoline to try to induce an asthma attack. If you have one, you have asthma and are given albuterol to recover. If you don't have an attack, you look at other potential causes.
Not everyone sympotoms are the same. Broncho-constriction is a symptom of asthma. It sounds like you may have exercise induced asthma. Another posibility is a reactive airway disease. That is really more of a collection of lung conditions where the lungs are too reactive to harmless substances. It is important to rule out other reactive airway issues to get the propper treatment. There are other conditions that cause broncho-constriction besides asthma.
Either way though, with your reactions after exercise, it sounds like a fast acting broncho dilater (some form of albuterol - Proventil, Porair, Maxair, Xopenex, Ventolin) might be a good idea. These medications can be used as a pretreatment for exercise eliminating the reaction and allowing for a better workout.
I hope that helps you. Good luck obtaining an accurate diagnosis and the medication that is best for you.