uninsured with asthma and no albuterol

[ljproud]

Hi, for a long time my life has been very unstable and I've been transient but I enjoy good health. My girlfriend is not however so lucky and suffers from asthma. She's 24, and the last two times she's gotten an albuterol inhaler were emergency room visits in the last two years that she only recently finished paying back and were definintly emergencies. Although I still have health insurance, she's unable financially to see a doctor and her inhaler has been pretty empty for weeks. It brings me great pain to hear her struggle to breathe sometimes, especially at night and I was wondering the best way to go about getting her a prescription for an inhaler.
Currently she is staying in the sf bay area and there is a free clinic on haight street but they are booked up for a good while and she will be coming back to me in atlanta in the next week.
  thank you

[tmaurstad]

have her try to reduce her symptoms (and therefore need for the drugs) with the Buteyko breathing method. I learned it from the books "Asthma Free Naturally" and "Close Your Mouth" by Patrick McKeown (both available from amazon and highly recommended), but you can find some info on the exercises here: http://members.westnet.com.au/pkolb/but_strt.htm and here: http://www.btinternet.com/~andrew.murphy/asthma_buteyko_shallow_breathing.html

Good luck!

[Gorguruga]

I came across the following information about 2 years ago and although I haven't been able to test it for this condition myself I do know that the it helps with my backpain. For this reason I'm hopeful that you might find something useful by having a read through the following sites:

http://www.watercure2.org/ASTHMA.HTM
http://www.watercure.com
http://www.watercure2.com

I'm not affiliated with the sites in any way so please don't accuse me of that. They really aren't the best-looking sites in the world, but if what they say is true then I think we should all know about it.

[National Jewish]

Your girlfriend needs someone to not only prescribe an inhaler to take care of an attack, but to prevent an attack.  Most cities have some way to access medical care for this for those who have no insurance and are indigent.  I would suggest calling the local health board to find out what services are available.

[ljproud]

I will definintly do these things. Obviously I have internet access and I've tried at least to a certain extent, I've found breakdowns for albuterol but nowhere I could order it online without a prescription. I'm pretty sure Georgia doesn't have **** but she could've gotten medi-cal and the state probably would fill it in california. I don't know anything about the salvation army doing anything like that, but maybe the red cross somewhere. I feel like united way is kinda crooked that way and i dont really understand who to talk to about it. Thanks though, i'll continue to do what i'm doing..

[higgy]

One other thing to remember is that you don't judge how "full" an inhaler is by how it feels...most albuterol inhalers are good for 200 metered doses...beyond that she may not be getting the correct dose...they should NOT be used after the specified number of doses at all.  Your friend could go to a community health clinic where the fee is sliding scale based and prescriptions are often at a quite reduced price.  Albuterol isn't a very expensive medication.  Either way, she should be having followup care for the asthma if it isn't well controlled.

[ljproud]

I'm also interested in these sites that offer inhalers or requests for prescriptions and have it filled for under $25. Are all these sites scams? http://www.1stop-pharmacy.com/Albuterol.asp

[japdip]

Obviously you have internet access SO, search the drug companies that market the inhalers. There is always a place to check if you or someone you know needs help paying for their medication. In your area there MUST be a Dr. somewhere that would prescribe for her. What about the State Public Assistance Program ?? Salvation Army, local food banks, All can give information as to where you might find help for her. Good Luck !!