choice of medication

I am 53 years old and developed a coughing asthma a about ten years ago most likely from the "sick"  building I taught in.  I take Singulair every night.  I've been having problems with side effects from the inhalers. I can't even remember the last time I was in  need of the rescue inhaler Albuterol.  I started with Advair.  Even when I used it once a day I'd get a very strained voice which is not good as a teacher.  I swtiched to Spiriva which caused me to have an extremely dry mouth and my tongue was swelling. I went back to Advair the voice issues returned.   I was supposed to also be using Asmanex at night but rarely did.  Now I'm thinking of trying just the Asmanex along with the Singulair. Should I use it once a day or only at night?

[Victoireh]

Many steroid inhalers will cause hoarseness of the voice, due to the relaxing/weakening of the vocal chords. Yes, very annoying, but I think the dry powder inhalers are better then the aerosol ones. The other option is to use the aerosol inhalers in combination with an aerochamber. This is also supposed to help reduce the amount of medicine deposited on the throat area. Yes technique is an important part of drug delivery to the lungs rather then the back of the throat.

Use as much steroid inhaler as required to control your asthma symptoms. If a steroid inhaler is required to control your symptoms, then try the one that gives the best delivery method to the lungs. I have used symbicort for years, and it only caused hoarseness for me when I do a lot of load talking (say in a noisy restaurant). Perhaps you will have to get your students to learn to listen to you when speaking in softer tones. ;-)

But do work together with your doctor to find the best medicine for you that has the least side effects on your voice.