How much blue inhaler is too much?

[MamguWeatherwax]

I've got that bad cold / chesty cough that's going around and feeling quite wheezy this afternoon. I've taken my blue inhaler twice already this afternoon and can't remember how much is too much and in need of medical advice. No chance of getting hold of my GP, they'll say I need to contact them in the morning then wait for a GP to call me, but I can't do that because of work.

Sorry that was really poorly worded. What I meant is at what point should one seek further medical advice instead of just keep taking the blue inhaler?

How many puffs are you talking? Do you take a brown one also?

When you speak to the Dr's tell them it's your asthma and you need urgent advice they should advice you but they might say call 111

You should have an asthma plan which tells you how much and how often before seeking help.

if in doubt phone 111 for advice

You should have a plan.

But 10 puffs is equivalent to a nebuliser and if you've had 10 puffs you should be seeking medical help.

Usually it's 10 puffs then you need to seek medical advice.

But you know your body and seek advice if worried

Is it asthma you have? I have damaged lungs from a couple of other lung conditions (and take daily steroid inhaler) so I don't know if it's be the same but my respiratory nurse tells me that ten puffs a day of my blue inhaler (ie 5x2) is the maximum I should take and if that's not giving me enough relief I should get in touch with her.

I've had the bad cold/chest for nearly two weeks now and am quite poorly but managing not to exceed 10 puffs a day. I also do 'square breathing' to relieve symptoms, it might be worth you googling this, it can really help. Hope you feel better soon.

Thanks all. Weirdly I don't have an asthma plan. I should probably make an appointment just for that. I have an asthma diagnosis and have the symbicort inhaler 2 puffs twice a day - but realistically probably end up taking it more like 2 puffs once a day but definitely been better at that this weekend and today. I've used 3 puffs of the ventolin inhaler this afternoon so seems like it should be okay at the moment.

You can increase your preventer (brown) inhaler to take 2 puffs morning and 2 at night whilst you are unwell and this should help reduce your need for the blue inhaler. Do you not have a review every year (either online or in person)? If you haven't had a review then book an appointment with the asthma nurse at your practice to discuss the plan with her.

I also use an app to nudge me to take my preventative twice a day as otherwise I forget.

NHS app says ten puffs. If no improvement seek medical help and take another ten whilst waiting.

I'm newly diagnosed. Ended up taking 14 puffs in the early hours. Have now today got my preventer, which is 2 puffs twice a day. It's been drilled into me that this is the important one, and to use the spacer.

The change in weather to freezing really got to me.

Had a review relatively recently - I think it was around September time, but all they said was take brown inhaler (or red in my case) 2 puffs twice a day and use the blue as needed. They didn't really say how much was too much.

An app is a fab idea @GrammarTeacher. What app do you use?

@Mabelface yes I've definitely noticed the change in weather affecting my lungs.

Things seem to be okay since I took the blue inhaler 2 hours ago so hopefully it'll be fine overnight. If I'm having to use it frequently tomorrow though I'll give the surgery a ring.

Blue inhalers are no longer generally in favour. New guidelines will reflect this very soon.
You need inhaled steroids combined with a long acting reliever in one device which you can use as maintenance twice daily and for fast relief too as needed in place of your blue (which is only short acting). This treats the cause of the problem (inflammation) as well as the symptoms. Look up MART regime. Ask for an urgent asthma review.
Practice nurse.

If you take too much then your body gets over adrenalised and you start shaking and feeling incredibly ill.

I've had asthma since 2004 and never had an asthma plan, what's one of those?

I have always taken way more than the recommended dose of ventolin/salbutamol, but generally got away with it because I rarely needed steroids (and I was also using beclamethasone and salamol which is a long acting reliever).

I've just switched to fostair a few months ago. I use up to 8 squirts, but I still need my ventolin a couple of times a day as the fostair is next to useless if I'm actually tight and wheezy. GP said I can still use salbutamol on top of the fostair.

An asthma plan is a form and it tells you what to do in an emergency and the maximum dose to use.
I've moved away from a blue inhaler and just have a pink one that I can take 6 times a day

My plan is based on peak flow rather than number of blue puffs a day ( pretty much as needed, from memory 4 double puffs is quite a lot in one day )

Do you have a peak flow meter?

Do be careful. I ended up in hospital a couple of years ago using my ventolin too much with a chest infection/bad cold then clearing out some dusty wicker baskets under the bed. I just couldn't breathe at all. The congestion meant the ventolin didn't hit the spot - much as I knew that, I'd hit panic mode. DH drove me there (always a weekend!) and I was kept in for bp, heart rate and SATS. Given aspirin for good measure and sent home with loads of medication.

I loved Symbicort - only thing that ever really worked for me - but am now confined to Fostair.

Sounds like you need oral steroid burst. You shouldn’t really need your blue if preventer is working. I take Fostair and it can be used as preventer. It’s absolutely brilliant. Just had the worst cold in 5 years that went to my chest for a day or two and despite a horrible barky cough for a day my airways stayed open and I could breathe.

@Starry4321 I've been the same with the horrible cold I have now. As ever it went to my chest but I haven't had that awful can't breathe panic.

@MamguWeatherwax is your red inhaler Fostair? Took me a while to adjust to but my asthma is definitely under better control now. Good luck. And please, if you're worried about breathing at all, seek help straight away.

was also going to suggest this. It’s a good idea to have a peak flow meter and know where you are in it when you are well. This is a good indicator of when you might need further help.

Too much blue inhaler will make you feel shaky, as someone else has already said.

My asthma is under control now but in the past I have been woken up by the sound of my own chest - it was then that I knew I needed steroids… the cold air has triggered an asthma attack for me before so make sure you are keeping on top of your preventer and don’t leave home without a blue inhaler on you.

Please make an appointment with the asthma nurse for a review. Hope you are okay!

Agree with pp's about peak flow meter. I have one and know what level means I need to go to the GP for some steroids.

In my case my 'normal' is 600, 550 means I'm watching carefully, 500 means I need steroids and often antibiotics if I also have a chest infection.

But you need to know what is normal for you. Some people have good lungs at 300.