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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To give dh's inhaler to ds?

34 replies

EveryoneButSam · 27/12/2022 10:42

Dh has a blue inhaler for hay fever, only uses it for about a month in the summer, so we have a couple in the house. Ds (16) has had a cold for a few weeks which doesn't seem to be getting any better, and has now started wheezing. This is really unusual for him - he doesn't have asthma, but he did get this wheezing once about 5 ago. The doctor gave him steroid tablets (not sure why this and not an inhaler).

The doctor is closed and so are the pharmacists by us. I know you shouldn't give prescribed medication to someone else, I've never done it before. I'm reluctant to ring 111 as it's currently the only option for people who are really ill and ds is mostly fine apart from a very snotty nose and this wheeze. WIBU to give him a fews puffs of dh's inhaler and see if that helps?

OP posts:
LolaSmiles · 27/12/2022 10:43

Given he isn't asthmatic, I wouldn't be giving him someone else's inhaler.

TomAllenWife · 27/12/2022 10:46

I do this, it's really not a big deal

wonderingwhatsnext · 27/12/2022 10:47

YANBU. My DC was prescribed and inhaler for viral wheeze, it is for things other than asthma.

AnneTwacky · 27/12/2022 10:48

Not a good idea to share prescribed meds.

You need to either ring 111, take DS to the nearest walk in centre or make an appointment at the out of hours GP if you think DS needs medical intervention.

SeenAndNot · 27/12/2022 10:48

I would. It’s not going to hurt him and is better than sitting in A&E for 8 hours if he gets worse.

Anotherbloomingchristmas · 27/12/2022 10:49

Yes. I would.
One dose and if necessary a second dose.

SeenAndNot · 27/12/2022 10:49

Obviously I’d follow up with gp appointment asap to discuss wheeze/ possible asthma

Aworldofmyown · 27/12/2022 10:50

It's fine and will do him no harm. I would get him to a Dr's tomorrow.

SuperPup86 · 27/12/2022 10:52

My mum has several respiratory issues so is prescribed blue inhalors regularly. Due to a mix up with her repeats a few months ago, she got several blue inhalors too many that she couldn't give back...so she gave one to us.

We've all had the awful viral flu thing in the past week and both mine and DH's chests have been awful. The blue inhalor has been a Godsend and I don't hesitate to use it when needed.

They're not just for asthma...worth seeing if it helps.

MrsVeryTired · 27/12/2022 10:53

Definitely. Get him to GP when possible but in the meantime use DH inhaler.

PlugUgly1980 · 27/12/2022 10:56

Definitely. We did exactly this with my 7 year old DS. I was very honest with GP and told him what we'd done when we booked an appointment to discuss what had happened. Why would you make a child suffer with shortness of breath, as long as you follow up with seeking medical advice.

tickticksnooze · 27/12/2022 10:57

Aworldofmyown · 27/12/2022 10:50

It's fine and will do him no harm. I would get him to a Dr's tomorrow.

How can you say that! Salbutamol is a prescribed drug that comes with possible side effects, more likely if misused.

MerryChristmasTree · 27/12/2022 10:59

How can you say that! Salbutamol is a prescribed drug that comes with possible side effects, more likely if misused.

Also, if you don’t use the inhaler properly it won’t do much good. Plus you don’t actually know it’s a wheeze, a lot of people don’t actually know what a wheeze sounds like.

tickticksnooze · 27/12/2022 10:59

If you're at the point of considering misusing prescription medication then you should be calling 111 or out of hours GP (if that's separate to 111 in your area).

FatEaredFuck · 27/12/2022 11:00

I would give 1 or 2 puffs. If it helps then call 111 so you can get a prescription

AnyRandomName · 27/12/2022 11:03

I'm not sure why there's so much drama.

Of course I would try to help with an available inhaler, and I'd also be going back to the doctor for more advice when it's open. And obviously seem urgent help if needed.

But in the short term of course I'd try a few puffs of an inhaler, we often do this and I know other medical families who do the same

FatEaredFuck · 27/12/2022 11:04

FatEaredFuck · 27/12/2022 11:00

I would give 1 or 2 puffs. If it helps then call 111 so you can get a prescription

I would call if it helps that is.

humpty74 · 27/12/2022 11:09

I react badly to the standard blue inhaler and get so dizzy I can't even stand up. It's really frightening. If it was fine to just take randomly you would be able to buy them in the cold and flu remedies in Tesco.

The only time it's even remotely ok to use someone else's inhaler is if it's identical to one you are prescribed and yours isn't available, and even then pharmacists tell you off.

Aworldofmyown · 27/12/2022 13:19

tickticksnooze · 27/12/2022 10:57

How can you say that! Salbutamol is a prescribed drug that comes with possible side effects, more likely if misused.

Show quote history

We have lots of experience with Asthma and inhalers in this house.
Op son is 16 so not a small child, 1 or 2 puffs won't harm him and will likely help.
I also said go see GP tomorrow.

justasking111 · 27/12/2022 13:36

Crikey drama llamas much on here. I'm surprised they're not OTC with pharmacy now. They helped during covid.

EpicDay · 27/12/2022 13:42

Categorically yes. I have had asthma since a young child in the 1970s, pre-inhalers. I used to take ventolin tablets and I remember a doctor once telling me that an entire ventolin (salbutamol) inhaler has less steroid in it than one tablet that I used to have to take as a child. Barring extreme allergy (which you wouldn’t know about until you took it even if a doctor prescribed it) it is practically impossible that a couple of puffs will do him any harm. Google correct inhaler technique so that he gets a proper dose and make a GP appointment as soon as you are able.

Abra1t · 27/12/2022 13:44

When I had very bad flu some years ago I used my daughter's salbutamol inhaler one night when I just couldn't get my chest to stop tightening. It worked to get me breathing more easily and I was fine.

Wellthankyou · 27/12/2022 13:46

EpicDay · 27/12/2022 13:42

Categorically yes. I have had asthma since a young child in the 1970s, pre-inhalers. I used to take ventolin tablets and I remember a doctor once telling me that an entire ventolin (salbutamol) inhaler has less steroid in it than one tablet that I used to have to take as a child. Barring extreme allergy (which you wouldn’t know about until you took it even if a doctor prescribed it) it is practically impossible that a couple of puffs will do him any harm. Google correct inhaler technique so that he gets a proper dose and make a GP appointment as soon as you are able.

The most sensible ,logical advice to be given!

FOJN · 27/12/2022 13:46

I used to take ventolin tablets and I remember a doctor once telling me that an entire ventolin (salbutamol) inhaler has less steroid in it than one tablet that I used to have to take as a child.

Ventolin is not a steroid and does not contain a steroid, it is a bronchodilator which, when inhaled, relaxes the smooth muscle of the airways.

FrankieWapp · 27/12/2022 13:47

I’ve used ds inhaler in the past, it will be fine. When we lived in Tenerife you could buy them over the counter.