Asthma meds anyone any knowledge?

[dosydot]

Just been to see the paediatritan and DS 22 months has been diagnosed with asthma and has got to start on inhalers.

I am a little bit anxious about this, was reading through info leaflet that comes with Orange inhaler(flixotide) and it says not recommended for children under 4 years.

Has the paed wrongly prescribed or is the leaflet wrong?? am I being paranoid?

I just don't want to get this wrong and make DS worse

bump

he may be using his discretion, doctors often do. Maybe check with the surgery, and ask for a consultant referral. If it was a consultant paed you saw already I'm pretty sure he wouldn't prescribe the wrong thing, but check with your gp.

Thanks it was the consultant paed I saw, I guess I am nervous about giving long term meds to DS

Dosydot - I'm not medically trained and am not familiar with flixotide - I am an asthmatic though and have been since a child.

Many drugs aren't licensed for very young children (think of the ethical implications of a double blind study on very young children and you'll realise why this is so hard to do) - some are used off license though in certain circumstances. Also, many asthma drugs have been used for decades and the side effects are well documented and considered very safe. I'm not sure if either of those considerations apply to flixotide though, to be fair.

Have you seen Asthma UK site yet? It should be listed on the leaflet provided with the inhaler. It's a really useful organisation with lots of information on site - there's a special parents section with lots of info about the condition which may reassure you.

Most importantly, there's also a helpline staffed by trained asthma nurses who are incredibly helpful and friendly. Do call it (the number is on the site) and discuss it with them.

The other thing to be aware of is that asthma, as long as it is controlled effectively, really isn't a very big deal 99.9% of the time. The trick is to find the right balance of medication, keep up the preventers (even when there's no symptoms), and make sure you're taking the medicine in the right way. Often worth making an appointment with your surgery's asthma nurse as they often know more about administering the inhalers to small children than the GPs do and have lots of great advice and techniques.

Hope this helps and that you get the answers you need.

have you tried other things to compliment medication? eg, removing carpets and other allergens [if you have pets] hypoallergenic bedding. Obviously it is important to take the meds prescribed, especially with a little one. Inhalers are pretty good because they just affect the lungs, not the whole body, so you get a smaller dose. good luck.

yes also an asthma sufferer here from the age of 8. Was severe as a child now I am meds free and only have it mildly.

There are two doses of Flixotide, one for children (which DD1 has) which is, I think, 50mg, and one for adults which is either 100 or 200 mg. It sounds like you've been given the adult one by mistake by the pharmacist (which happened to me once). You might take it back and ask.

Thanks for all your help will definately contact asthma uk thanks,
We have been given the 50mg flixotide but it is in that leaflet that it says for over 4
Thanks again for your reassurance

your gp could always give the consultant a quick call to check.