side effects

now we all  know that we have to take our "meds" to maintain our health
and to help us Breath!!!
but as I am just startting down this road of asthma am worrided about the long term medications side effects
since startting my puffer QVAR 100MG (beclomethasone dipropionate) 4 puffs per day
I hace GAINED 4 Kgs in weight the dr. assures me that this is not a side effect of this medication
but I have done nothing different diet wise!!!!
has any one else found that they gained a large amount of wieght when they first where commenced on asthma meds????

[bsmsl]

Several possible explanations:
1)  Are exercising the same amount.  If you have been feeling bad and lacking energy because of an asthma flare, that coule explain your weight gain.

2) Holiday parties and food if you didn't realize you were eating a little more richly than normal.  Also, most people do tend to put on a few extra pounds in the winter with richer foods (those cups of hot chocolate and cookies...) and lack of oportunity to get outside and exercise.

3)  Your technique using the inhaler could not be right.  If your technique is incorrect, you could be ingesting more of the medication than you are supposed to.  Have you doctor check your technique to make sure than you are getting the full dose to your lungs not your stomach.  I am not really familiar with Qvar, but I think it is a MDI.  If it is, you may want to ask your doctor about using a spacer.  A spacer is a tubular chamber that holds the inhaler in one end while the other is the mouth piece.  It makes developing the propper technique much easier and also allows much more of the medication to make it into the lungs.  Respiratory therapists insist that their patients use them.

Take care and feel better.

[Tammy2009]

Nope opposite problem here, I'm having more and more trouble keeping the weight on!!  I've been sliding down and currently at 87ibs and was 95 before the asthma.  

Although steroids can increase your weight but that is normally through an increased appetiate and is mostly restricted to high dose inhaled steroids or oral steroids.

Depending on how old you are it could just be a weight thing.  Normally early 20s you gain weight and again in mid-40s where it becomes hard to lose the weight.  (I'm too lazy to check your status to see if you have your age so those things may not apply). :)

[paddy3]

thanks tammy
was on a high dose but now am slowly decreasing
so the best that I can hope for is it will drop back off and even loose MORE !

[bsmsl]

Several possible explanations:
1)  Are exercising the same amount.  If you have been feeling bad and lacking energy because of an asthma flare, that coule explain your weight gain.

2) Holiday parties and food if you didn't realize you were eating a little more richly than normal.  Also, most people do tend to put on a few extra pounds in the winter with richer foods (those cups of hot chocolate and cookies...) and lack of oportunity to get outside and exercise.

3)  Your technique using the inhaler could not be right.  If your technique is incorrect, you could be ingesting more of the medication than you are supposed to.  Have you doctor check your technique to make sure than you are getting the full dose to your lungs not your stomach.  I am not really familiar with Qvar, but I think it is a MDI.  If it is, you may want to ask your doctor about using a spacer.  A spacer is a tubular chamber that holds the inhaler in one end while the other is the mouth piece.  It makes developing the propper technique much easier and also allows much more of the medication to make it into the lungs.  Respiratory therapists insist that their patients use them.

Take care and feel better.

[paddy3]

thanks
I think #3 point could be the problem as I am a beginner here
A spacer sounds  like it would benefit me, teach me the right way
that makes so  much sense!!!!


#1 no am exercising regularly 3 X a week before and after the attack
I had been unwell for 10 months minor irritating problems that never left me  not able to put my finger on the real cause then.....
my asthma turn only knocked me down for a week and after reading some of the other stories here on this site and others sites   I AM LUCKY
As I really strongly dislike having to take medication of any kind this has been hard for me But I do KNOW that this is where I am now and has to be

. #2 summer here in    Australia  sunshine    beaches    fresh air     :)

[Tammy2009]

awwww no fair .... -sits in a winter storm with -25 C windchills (although it's bearable) and blowing snow .....

I miss the time I spent in Australia, what I wouldn't do to be back on Fraser Island right now .... or even Cairns.

Take care!

[bsmsl]

-25C bearable?!!  I don't think so.  I am looking for a job and got a request to apply for a job in Wisconsin.  I won't because it is too cold!!  My lungs don't like anything below 60 or above 85, fussy things.  

It would be nice to have a winter home in Australia, or would that be two summer homes one in the US and one in Australia?  ;-)

Take care.

[paddy3]

I went and got myself spacer today and it is amazing how much medication I was NOT getting
thank you
even if I  don't loose the weight  .. just to know that I am receiving the right amount
and I FEEL so much better after using the spacer


it was  37 C this morn at 8 .30  and got hotter as the day went on  
Then a bush fire at lunch time  with a hot dessert wind  Our Fire-es are good under control very quickly with out any fuss
would like to catch the the little bugger that is lighting them



take care and keep warm     :)

[bsmsl]

I am so glad that the spacer is helping you.   Fire season is a good reason not to want to live in Australia after all.  We have grass fire season here, now actually between storms. But from what I have read Australian fire season is worse.

Take care and try to avoid breathing the smoke.
Happy breathing.