respiratory arrest

dear doctors

I would very much appreciate your input on an event two weeks ago. I was using salbutamol, atrovent and pulmicort for my asthma, via nebulizer. I have no problems with the salbutamol (no tachycardia etc), but I felt strange, wanted to go outside but collapsed and did not breath. a friend gave m-t-m, an ambulance came and it was all been sorted out. I was very much short of breath when I started the medications, but what could have caused this?

thanks

mariette

[National Jewish]

It is very difficult to understand what exactly happened to you. It is not clear if you hyperventilated while using the nebulizer and fainted, or actually experienced a respiratory arrest. The former is not so uncommon. The latter is a medical emergency and needs further evaluation. I would discuss the event carefully with your specialist and try to determine the exact sequence of events to understand better whether you need to take other precautions as you go forward.