daughter addicted to her inhaler!!

[singrdance]

My 8 yr. old daughter freaks out if she can`t find her inhaler! She sleeps with the thing and carries it in her pocket wherever she goes! Her pediatrician told me to put her on pulmicort, but it does not seem to help, she is still using her inhaler 4-5 times a day! I worry about long term affects on her lungs and heart! What are we doing wrong???

[starion]

Pulmicort is a LONG TERM controller medication that needs to be used for weeks before significant improvement is noted.  It helps reduce the inflamation that is causing your child to have a hard time breathing.  It is NOT in the same category as albuterol, which is a quick-acting inhaler.  Using her inhaler 4-5x/day is a sign that her asthma is very poorly controlled and indeed needs an inhaled steroid.  Since she/you don't feel Pulmicort is helpful, ask the doctor if it is possible for her to try Advair or Symbicort (medications which have both the inhaled steroid and a 12-hour bronchodilator that can reduce her reliance on her other inhaler).  Many find this combination medication very helpful and are able to greatly reduce the use of the other inhalers.

Good luck!
Starion