Could you please answer the question that was asked? The question: If a medication takes 7-14 days to become effective, why did the doctor tell her to give the medicine for only 2 days and then stop?
Hello and sorry for the late reply.
Xopenex is a rescue inhaler, that means you have to use this when he has an episode of Asthma. Flovent is a steroid inhaler. This are preventive inhalers. The type of drug commonly used in preventer inhalers is a steroid. Steroids work by reducing the inflammation in the airways. When the inflammation has gone, the airways are much less likely to become narrow and cause symptoms such as wheezing.
Steroid inhalers are usually taken twice per day. If there is an exacerbation (flare-up) of asthma symptoms, he may be advised to take the preventer inhaler more often.
It takes 7-14 days for the steroid in a preventer inhaler to build up its effect. This means it will not give any immediate relief of symptoms (like a reliever does). After a week or so of treatment with a preventer, the symptoms have often gone, or are much reduced. It can, however, take up to six weeks for maximum benefit.
So, give Xopenex as long as he has the attacks and let him take flovent regularly. Please discuss these options with your doctor, he can guide you.
Hope this helped and do keep us posted.