Overusing an inhaler

[collings]

My husband seems to use his inhaler every night, and I don't see him experiencing any asthma symptoms.  He says his chest gets tight every night before bed.  This doesn't happen when he takes naps though, so I'm worried he's becoming overly dependent on it and just using it out of habit.  He also takes two or three puffs right in a row, which seems excessive.  When I bring it up, he gets angry and yells that he must have it and I shouldn't bug him about it.  Unfortunately I don't know the specifics of the medicine in the inhaler for you, just that it's a rescue inhaler.
Am I just making a mountain out of a mole hill?  Or is he addicted to it?

[wuzza1234]

I have asthma as well and I'm also in nursing school. I have learned it is possible to become dependent on your inhaler because your body becomes almost immune to it's effects. I find the more and more I use my fast acting(rescue) inhaler the more I need it. Although many of us get our symptoms during certain periods of the day or during certain activity. It is ok to use an rescue inhaler as a preventive. So if your husband is getting asthma at night, taking it before bed is a good idea, but he may need to talk to his doctor about a preventive medication to take before bed so he doesn't over use his inhaler.
It does sound like he is becoming dependent though, if he feels he needs it every night with many puffs, he needs to talk to his doctor. Also suggest/remind he take it correctly. He should be taking his time during and in between each puff or most of the medication is wasted to the back of his throat, therefore needing more puffs.
My asthma at night is not like the "normal" kind, I think it's because the body is at rest and does not react the same, but it is scary to wake in a panic and not breathing well. I can understand why your husband thinks he needs it every night. You can look for some serious symptoms as well while he's is sleeping, such as very slow shallow breaths, he sleeps with his arms above his head ( to open his chest) or he's always hot due to the hard work to breathe. If he's experiencing these he needs to speak to a doctor about maybe switching medications.
As far as him getting upset due to your suggestions, just let him know your concerned, not mad that he's wasting his meds. Good luck!

[GrannyJo6]

I have asthma and if I used my rescue inhaler before bed I wouldn't be able to get to sleep as it makes me jittery! Is he on anything else for asthma? I use two other types of inhalers twice a day to keep it under control and I usually don't need my resuce inhaler much. It is unbelieveably scary to feel like you can't breathe, and it sounds more like he is having some sort of anxiety issues about sleeping and not being able to breathe or waking up coughing. Sounds like he needs to see his doc or maybe go to a specialist to try to get it under control without using the rescue inhaler. We wives are such nags sometimes, and my husband doesn't like it either, but if we don't watch out for them, who will? Not them, obviously! (In my case, anyway!)

[Penthane]

I'm a man, maybe that wil convince him? He shouldn't need his rescue inhaler ev'ry time. I use a long working medicin (Pulmicort) twice to three times a day, depending on the state of my asthma and, for instance, the weather. I only use my rescue inhaler about once a week tops.
I presume his rescue inhaler contains Albuterol (Ventolin), cause it's most common. Overdosing it, can cause the very symptoms he says he's taking it for!
If he doesn't get "a tight chest" when he gets naps... Does he get a nap on a couch or sofa? Cause I always sleep with my head-end elevated. If I don't, the slime my lungs produce in abundance, will block my airways when asleep. So if he indeed takes his naps elevated, try the same in bed. I have a special bed now, but you can put a piece of plywood, from the waist up, under his mattrass, and raise it with some pillows. About 4 inches up at the end is enough for me. He'd probably cough for half an hour when he gets up (I do), cause the slime stays in the bottom part of the lungs at night. But it'll prevent him using his inhaler too much, and... at low cost.

Good luck,
Rob

[Penthane]

Hmm, Have to correct something.  I havent used Pulmicort for 30 yrs. My memory's going bad. I use Symbicort.