How long does asthma medication take to work?

[IndieK1d]

Previously (as in between 2014 and 2017) I was told that I should see an improvement in 2 weeks. If not go back and speak to the doctor.

Just been told 2-3 months? Been on medication (that didn't work first time around) for 2 weeks and having to take Salamol (the blue one ) daily. Both NHS and Asthma+Lung websites state to see your GP if you're using your blue inhaler more than 3 times a week.

I told my GP that I'm taking anything up to 8 puffs a day. They've just told me to wait until March. I've just had to ask for another blue inhaler. My previous blue inhaler was prescribed 3 weeks ago . No one has questioned why I take so much of it.

I've seen very little (250 - 280) improvement in my peak flow.

I think I've had one day where I've not had any Salamol. They know the problem seems to be that the preventer wears off too quickly. (If I take it at 9am, I'm struggling by 4pm)

Have you only seen the GP or do you have an asthma nurse at your practice that you could speak to? Do you have a spacer device or are you taking the ventolin without it?

Preventers can take up to a month to be working at maximum effect, but you should see an improvement sooner than that. Using your reliever as much as you are suggests your asthma is not well controlled.
Is your preventer simply a a steroid inhaler? It could be that the dose needs increasing or needs swapping to a combined one with a steroid and long acting reliever.

4-6 weeks for a preventer inhaler (Usually brown or reddish in colour) .
Blue inhaler just treats the symptom hence why if using it regularly you need a preventer. The blue inhaler which I assume is salbutamol has a quick onset but wears off within a few hours so I wouldn’t expect it to last all day.

Do you have an as asthma nurse? Was it your GP that advised seeing you in March or is it the appointment booking system not allowing a sooner appointment? Are you new to a brown/ red inhaler or is the new treatment a different treatment like tablets? Is your PF usually a lot higher?
I’m not a dr but when I was in a similar position with a low PF and my new ( brown preventer didn’t seem to be making any difference- I was advised to used my blue inhaler a few minutes ( to give it a chance to open up my airways) before using my brown inhaler so that the brown inhaler got into my lungs properly, to be more effective. Have you been advised similarly? I still do this ( use my blue inhaler a few minutes before the brown) if my PF is unusually low or I’m struggling. However if you really are struggling and there has been not much improvement I would seek medical advice!

Definitely seek medical advice. Ring your GP and say you're having trouble breathing and need an urgent appointment.

If you have a brown/steroid inhaler you can up the dose. My asthma nurse told me to increase mine when I was struggling to 2 puffs am, lunchtime and pm.

Also get yourself a peak flow meter, you can get them from Amazon and start taking readings morning and evening to get a bit of an idea of what your levels are. You can print a chart off the internet to track your findings.

When my asthma is well controlled my peak flow readings are between 400-450, when I'm struggling they've been as low as 140.

My DP, who has no issues with asthma can get 600-700 on the peak flow.

It's also good evidence to present to your GP as proof of how badly managed your asthma is.

Hope you get some help.

Thank you. I don't have an asthma nurse. Just changed surgeries and was seen by a GP.

I do have a peak flow metre. And there's virtually no difference in taking nothing and taking the brown inhaler for me.

I have the brown inhaler. I'm finding (which I did explain to my GP yesterday) that if I take it at 9am, it'll only last until around 3/4pm.

It was the GP that advised March and had told me to just keep preserving with it.

My DS had a big improvement almost overnight when he went from orange twice a day to the salbutamol (which I think is combined blue and orange) twice a day. It sounds as though your asthma is not well controlled and that you need another appointment.

You need to see an asthma nurse and to find a preventer that works. I was using my salbutamol reliever several times a day thinking this was ok, then the asthma nurse explained this was damaging my lungs long term and got me to try symbicort preventer morning and night. Bingo I now only use my reliever every few months, after twenty odd years of using it daily. It's like I don't have asthma any more!

Hope you find something that works for you.

Book to see the asthma nurse at your surgery.

You need a new appointment now with someone who specialises in asthma.

Getting through your blue inhaler within three weeks is not good. If I were you I’d introduce a third dose of your brown inhaler at lunchtime. It’s perfectly safe to do so and if your theory about it wearing off in the afternoon is right you will get some relief fairly quickly. For what it’s worth, this seems unlikely to me. That’s not really how steroids usually work. But having an extra dose each day will deliver more steroid so you should still see an improvement after a week or two. If you don’t see an improving by mid January you should really push for an appointment. Not all medications work for all asthmatics. I was on the brown inhaler for years — on dosages the pharmacists seriously raised their eyebrows at — and it did nothing for me. After literally decades of living a badly compromised life — constant chest infections, unable to exercise, difficulty working, studying and socialising — I asked to try seretide (on the recommendation of a chance acquaintance) and it was like magic. After that my asthma control was so good, and on such low doses, the GP kept trying to give me the brown inhaler again. Obviously I said no!

OP

I used to work in cardiology but I did do some respiratory work.

Do you know if you are taking your inhaler correctly? Most people don't. You may well be one of the ones who do but just in case. Lots of people get the salbutamol into their mouth but not into their lungs.

If you can taste the salbutamol you are not taking it properly.

Shake your inhaler
Take a deep breath in, then a deep breath out
Put the inhaler in your mouth but don't press it yet
Start to breath in then press the inhaler and continue breathing in for as long as you can
when you can't breath in anymore hold your breath to a count of 10 (if you can)

If you need more do it all again

I have just been given a new inhaler and asthma nurse wants to see me in two weeks to make sure the dosage is ok. It’s a combination inhaler - preventer and reliever in one - which she’s put me on as the old preventer wasn’t controlling it alone. I still have a ventolin for attacks. Ask your GP about a combination inhaler.