Ventolin prescription- how is your DC's managed?

[Tansie]

Cos ours seems random and ad hoc.

Both my DCs are possibly mildly asthmatic. Neither have been beyond the GP giving both, separately, months apart, a blue Ventolin inhaler to ease some low-grade wheeziness. Neither have been to a specialist but to be clear, I don't think either of them need to see a specialist!

Both DCs, 13 and 15, occasionally use Ventolin for this wheeziness, by which I mean, one maybe one dose a week, the other one dose every 2nd or 3rd day (he's a hay-fever sufferer as well). This seems to help with the bit of tightness they get. They have no other health problems.

When they run out (I confess they share the inhaler!), I have to write a note to the GP's practice, drop it in, wait 4 or 5 hours, go back in, pick up the script and get it filled. I ask for 2 as one is supposed to stay in school with matron.

Is this how you manage yours under similar circumstances?

my daughter sound to have a similar level of asthma. We have her ventolin on repeat prescription. So send in the white part of the prescription to the doctors and pick up in 48hrs.

Side note but I have been told that needing to use ventolin more than once a week is a sign it isn't controlled so I would be considering discussing with the GP about getting a preventer inhaler.

The one using the inhaler possibly every other day needs reviewing. More than 3-4 times a week on a regular basis indicates poor control and suggests a preventer (steroid) inhaler may need to be introduced.

My DS has a ventolin inhaler he recently had a hospital admission for virus induced wheeze, he also has hay fever, the hospital have told me to start using his inhaler as soon as he has a cold but, in relation to his hay fever I was told not to use that but give regular anti histamine instead, His symptoms have improved dramatically and I have not used his inhaler recentley.

I also agree with sirzy sounds like uncontrolled asthma, speak to your GP there has been a lot of bad press recently on how asthma is managed by health professionals it's really important your DCs get the correct care they need. All children with a potential asthma diagnosis are supposed to have an action plan.

I thought I was doing everything right according to my GP nurse instructions only to find out when my DS was admitted to hospital everything I was doing was incorrect!! As a side nit my DS does not have an asthma diagnosis but is prescribed ventolin on repeat.

I now have a happy and controlled DS and know what action to take to prevent him getting worse.

DD age 14 has just got her first inhaler. Her breathlessness seems to be exercise induced, so she uses it several times a week if doing vigorous exercise. GP didn't really give us much guidance :(