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Respiratory Disorders (Expert Forum)
MED NEB TREATMENTS
Answered by
This forum is for questions and support regarding lung and respiratory issues such as: Allergies, Asthma, Bronchitis, Colds - Flu, Chronic Cough, COPD, Cystic Fibrosis, Emphysema, Fibrosis, Lung Abscess, Nasal Polyps, Pleurisy, Pneumonia, Sarcoidosis, Sinusitis, Tuberculosis.
MED NEB TREATMENTS
by caldon, Nov 05, 2006 12:00AM
I have Emphysemia & take med neb treatments of xoponex & ventolin @ least every 4 hours. I stay on the med neb machine doing my breathing for 1 to 2 hours even though the med in gone long before that time. I also am on 02 continously.
Is this good for me to make the breathing exercise last that long or could it be bad for me??
Is this good for me to make the breathing exercise last that long or could it be bad for me??
Doctor's Answer
by National Jewish, Nov 16, 2006 12:00AM
, Nov 16, 2006 12:00AM
The nebulizer does not provide any kind of breathing exercise. The purpose of the nebulizer is to turn a liquid into a mist to be inhaled. The medicines that you are putting in the nebulizer are short-acting bronchodilators that relax the tightness of the airways of the lungs for 4 to 6 hours. Xopenex® Inhalation Solution (levalbuterol) is a reformulation of Ventolin® Inhalation Aerosol (albuterol sulfate) so it helps with less side effects. There is no extra benefit gained by using the nebulizer after the medicine is gone. If you need more help from the medicine talk with you doctor about trying a long acting inhaled bronchodilator like Foradil® Aerolizer™ (formoterol fumarate inhalation powder) or Serevent® Inhalation Aerosol (salmeterol xinafoate). These medicines will relax the tightness in the airways of the lungs for up to 12 hours. Also adding Atrovent® Inhalation Aerosol (ipratropium bromide) may give you more help from the bronchodilator.
Check into pulmonary rehabilitation for exercise to help with your breathing. This is a program to maintain or bring back your quality of life through aerobic exercise done on a regular basis. When done routinely, this conditions the entire body so that the muscles are working as efficiently as possible. This allows the breathing muscles to use the least amount of energy to move air in and out of the lungs. Over time this helps to lessen shortness of breath. Some programs will also include education about your lung condition and nutrition. Please read our pulmonary rehabilitation information at http://www.nationaljewish.org/disease-info/diseases/copd/mgmt/pulm-rehab/index.aspx to learn more. Share this information with your doctor to see if this would be helpful and where in your area there are programs.
Check into pulmonary rehabilitation for exercise to help with your breathing. This is a program to maintain or bring back your quality of life through aerobic exercise done on a regular basis. When done routinely, this conditions the entire body so that the muscles are working as efficiently as possible. This allows the breathing muscles to use the least amount of energy to move air in and out of the lungs. Over time this helps to lessen shortness of breath. Some programs will also include education about your lung condition and nutrition. Please read our pulmonary rehabilitation information at http://www.nationaljewish.org/disease-info/diseases/copd/mgmt/pulm-rehab/index.aspx to learn more. Share this information with your doctor to see if this would be helpful and where in your area there are programs.
