What should I do? Please help.

[MadiBogden]

Hello. I'm 16, 5'6 and 118lbs. I've had asthma since I was little and I just got a diagnosis that it was moderate persistent asthma but has worsened since I've had that diagnosis so I'm sure it's severe now. I'm on Advair 250/20 as a preventor and I have Ventolin HFA as a rescue inhaler. I take Advair twice a day, but sometimes forget to take it. I don't believe it helps prevent any symptoms or attacks whatsoever. Also, the Ventolin doesn't seem to help whenever I'm having an attack. Before I use to take the inhaler and my coughing and shortness of breath and tightness would go away almost instantly. Now it's not helping and if it does it barely does anything. I'm thinking this medication isn't doing anything or helping me. I wanted to know what I should do. If I need to try other medications. I wanted to see if my doctor would think about duoneb? I got told it would be a big help if I did a few treatments a day. Also my heart rate goes up to 180 when I have an attack but my o2 levels are good. They dropped to 92 for once second once then back up to 98. My normal is 96-98. And is it common to have sleep apnea along with asthma because I wake up with a very painful sore throat? If anybody has an answer to my questions please help me ASAP!

[Tammy2009]

There is another reliever you can use with ventolin called atrovent (not sure it is in duoneb as I'm not familiar with that product).  

When my asthma got bad I was using both of them and found that worked much much better ..... Ventolin wasn't working on me either.

Get the doctor to watch you take your inhaler as well to make sure your technique is good and you are getting medicine into your lungs.  

Also think about allergies and if anything has changed in environment or diet to maybe cause your asthma to worsen.  

Hope that helps!

[evewisewoman]

Hello MadiBogden,

I just finished reading your comments. You asked what you should do.
Well, I would go back to the doctor that prescribed the Advair 250/20
and the Ventolin HFA.  If you are not getting relief from these products,
your doctor needs to know this.  There are other asthma products on
the market. You could also ask your doctor if duoneb is right for you.
I have asthma myself. I didn't have asthma when I was little, I developed asthma as an adult. Anyway, I would definitely go back to the doctor
that prescribed you these asthma meds. Tell him or her that you are not
getting relief from these meds. I would also mention the fact that your
heart rate goes up to 180 when you have an asthma attack. This is
important information for the doctor to be aware of. Then ask the doctor
for his or her advice as to the next step. I wish you well.  Eve