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Inhaler dosage WWYD?

3 replies

ScatterChasse · 19/03/2012 11:18

My asthma is mainly allergic, with pollens as my main triggers. I have Qvar (100), Serevent and Ventolin, and my asthma nurse is happy for me to change the dose of Serevent as needed (fromm 0 to 2X2 puffs morning and night), so through winter I don't tend to take it, unless I've been needing to use Ventolin.

Anyway, I have gone wheezy once or twice over the last fortnight or so (so I presume tree pollen season is starting, hooray) and have used Ventolin. I've now started taking one puff of Serevent morning and night, but because I haven't used anything other than Qvar for about 3 months, it's making my hands/arms quite shaky. I know it will go off after I've been using it for a couple of weeks, but I'm finding I still need to use Ventolin (which is also making me tremble).

My question is (finally!) should I go up to 2 puffs of Serevent morning and night? That would hopefully cut out the need to use Ventolin during the day, but I remember doing that before and lying awake feeling my heart racing, which wasn't pleasant. So am I better upping the dose when my body is used to this one, and just 'topping up' with Ventolin at the moment? Or would you go straight up to 4 puffs a day, and just put up with the side effects in the short term?

Thank you if you got through all of that! Smile

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magso · 19/03/2012 12:56

Can you ask/phone whoever mans your asthma clinic? In this situation on my plan I would up the Qvar but then I am on serevent all year round now and prior to this plan was using short courses of oral prednsolone every month. Tree pollens get me too so you have my sympathy.

magso · 19/03/2012 13:38

Sorry did not answer your question! Perhaps the middle road to try might be going to 2 puffs serevent in the morning and 1 at night when it keeps you awake ( I will confess to doing this when not too wheasy for the same reasons). I am not a doctor so really you are best to check with your asthma clinic.

ScatterChasse · 19/03/2012 16:42

I might try and give them a ring tomorrow then. I just felt a bit daft ringing when they're perfectly happy to let me get on with it myself! I'm already taking 4 puffs a day of Qvar, so can't up it.

2 morning and 1 night sounds a good idea, don't know why I didn't think of that!

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