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Original poster

anyone's asthmatic child on 4 puffs of brown inhaler twice a day?

42 replies

brimfull · 04/02/2007 09:58

ds has had his dose upped to try and combat the coughing.
He is already on singulair tablet daily which has helped a lot but he still coughs a lot.The asthma nurse wanted to add a green bronchodilator inhaler morning and night but was vetoed by the dr who increased his brown to four puffs morning and night.
I am interested to know if anyone elses child has improved on increased steroids.

OP posts:
fortyplus · 05/02/2007 23:27

Not really. ds2 is 1cm taller than ds1 was at the same age - ds2 isn't asthmatic, but he's a different build - ds1 has always been more stocky whereas ds2 is tall & skinny.
ds1 is 13 years and about 156cm, which is roughly 75th centile, so he should end up about 5'10" - 5'11".

Original poster
brimfull · 05/02/2007 23:32

well he sounds fine doesn't he.
Have just been reading about how it can delay puberty .

OP posts:
fortyplus · 05/02/2007 23:48

I have expressed similar concerns over the years, but the dose of steroids deliverd to the lungs is so tiny that it shouldn't cause any harm. After all, steroids are banned substances in sport, yet quite a few sportsmen & women are asthmatic.

Chandra · 06/02/2007 00:24

ggirl, according to the info leaflet and his weight he should be having at 20mg, hence the rant although... a part of me wants to believe GP underprescribed because probably it wasn't that bad?

chlochlo · 06/02/2007 07:49

Chandra- Ds was 2 in december he is on 20mg for five days then if he is still bad we drop it to 10mg then 5mg till it nothing.

DS was put on the seritide inhalor 6 months
ago and he also has singular and atrovent.

He's not managed without his four hourly ventolin yet though

USAUKMum · 06/02/2007 08:29

Okay, is my DS the only one on 6 puffs a day of the brown? Every time we've dropped it down to 4 this winter he has developed a cold and then cough and then no sleep ! So we up it again and everything settles down. Maybe a coincidence with timing??

We are scheduled to see the asthma nurse next month.

On the plus side we haven't had to use his blue much. During his cold about 2x daily.

Original poster
brimfull · 06/02/2007 22:44

USAUKMUm,my ds is on 8 puffs a day to avoid the ventolin and night time coughing so your ds is not alone.
SHitty time of yr,ds is just starting a cold.

The treatment is all about getting to the stage you're not needing the ventolin so sounds like you're managing his well.

OP posts:
USAUKMum · 07/02/2007 08:27

Ah. Thank you ggirl !! I had never heard that you are supposed to get to the place where ventolin not needed (DS just diagnosed in Aug when turned blue !). That is very good to know. DS has needed a blue puff once in the night the last few as his cold v. heavy.

On a related note, we bought an Airfree air purifier (from Grobag) back in Oct. It just stopped working just over Xmas and now they are replacing it. But wondered if anyone else had one and thinks it makes a difference. At first I was unsure, but when we had it he didn't need any puffs in the night when he had a cold and since it broke he has. Any thoughts? (would really like a full night sleep as he does seem to constantly have a cold )

gothicmama · 07/02/2007 08:36

my brown inhaler always goes up to 4 when I have a cold or cough has done since I was little, I find stopping the extra doses a day after I feel better works better than stopping as soon as I feel ok

Original poster
brimfull · 07/02/2007 08:37

Sounds intriguing usaukmum,how much was it?

OP posts:
Chandra · 07/02/2007 09:30

Thanks Chlochlo.

He was much better during the last 2 nights, still coughing, still out of breath, but not as bad as in the previous days... So I guess we can say that yesterday or today I should start weaning him. Problem now is... I don't have enough tablets...

USAUKMum · 07/02/2007 12:03

It was £139.95 - but I had a 20% discount at the time. So expensive, but when we got it my son was on 6 puffs brown and 2-3puffs of the ventolin a day. That reduced down and eased his nighttime breathing.

It is here airfree

tegan · 07/02/2007 12:30

Both my dd's (8.10 and 2.10) have brown puffers and are on 4 puffs twice a day which can be incresed to 6 or decreased to 4 if necessary.

dd1 also has a blue that she takes 3 puffs 4 times a day and dd2 has an atrovent which she takes 2 puffs 4 times a day.

suedonim · 07/02/2007 13:30

My ds was on 1G a day of inhaler steroids for months and took even more when he was put onto nebuilised steroids. It didn't stunt his growth - he's 6ft 4in!

chlochlo · 07/02/2007 15:09

thats what worries me about ds that all this medication will stunt his growth

He is closely monitored but hadn't grown last time but how much should a two year old actually grow over a few months.

Original poster
brimfull · 07/02/2007 17:15

suedonim,6'4,blimey if he hadn't had any steroids he'd be 7ft!

OP posts:
astronomer · 21/02/2007 09:11

Inhaler steroids are designed to break down once they leave lungs and get into general circulation, and as the dose given is small (micrograms) very little can be measured in the blood so steroid side effects are uncommon

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