If you are asthmatic, does a decongestant make you worse?

[katymac]

DD (asthmatic, 19) has a rotten cold/sore throat & has been taking a decongestant and is feeling much worse - her peak flow has dipped to 'take prednisilone' levels so she will ring the asthma nurse in the morning to see if she should start her tablets (she has been doubling up on preventer for the length of the cold)

DH (also asthmatic) never takes a decongestant as he says it makes him worse

Should I suggest stopping the decongestant or is DH just imagining it?

Any ideas?

I was told not to use the nasal spray decongestants as they can make the symptoms worse.

I feel for your dd. It's awful when you get to the 'needing steroids' situation.

For me personally I find the nasal sprays really helpful. I have quite severe allergic cough variant asthma and it helps me to feel I can get more air in. On a daily basis I take seretide, ventolin as needed and Singulair tablets. I think everyone is different.

That's nice and,umm, decisive - one of each

She is taking sudafed

I'll ask her to mention it tomorrow on the phone

no on it's own it shouldn't make asthma worse. but the ones combines with ibuprofen could.
decongestant nasal spray works better btw and is less harsh

No ibrprofen - although generally she can take it

I wish asthma didn't exist

I use a preventer and reliever but take Sudafed when I need to. It make a difference especially when the pollen count is high.

yes she takes ventolin, beconase (??i think that's the hayfever nose one), serevent (is that purple??), singulair & hold antibiotice & steriods at home in case

It was the asthma nurse who told me not to use the spray

weirdly it was the asthma nurse who told me to use the spray and not tablets...
so I guess take whatever works for you

She has stopped taking them and she is a little better

So who knows!

Yes my DS was diagnosed with asthma after we gave him a decongestant which caused a massive attack, up until this we weren't even aware he had asthma. We were told this was the trigger so to avoid at all costs.