Who's taking what medication???

What medications are you all using to control your asthma?

I have been using the adavair diskus for about a year now and so far, it's awesome! If anyone else is using adavair, have you noticed any side effects?

Also, has anyone tried any homeopathic remedies?

I'm on singulair and an inhaler with marginal results

I'm suppose to use Advair but I'm scared of it,  Everytme I try to use it after I inhale it, I get really dizzy.  I need to go back to the doctor.  I'm having asthma attacks about 5 days out of 7.

I'm using Alvesco and it's helped me a lot. The doctor said that I can also use Ventolin if I get asthma attacks, but so far it's been unnecessary.

I don't by any stretch have severe Asthma. I've used Ventolin since I was little.

As for homeopathic, a couple years ago I had someone suggest Oil of Oregano. You basically take the lid off the bottle and inhale a deep breath of the stuff. For me, it's about 75% as effective as Ventolin. Works best if I take it before the attack gets too severe.

Hi :-) My name is Natalie :-)

I had suffered with severe Asthma symptoms my whole life until I met a fantastic Palmonoligist. I do not get asthma from doing excercise but I have 3 major triggers: 1.Cold air 2.Preservatives,particularly in certain fruit juices 3. cold or flu.

Two years ago I landed in the emergency ward & ICU hanging on by a thread. They thought I had Pneumonia but it turned out to be accute Bronchitis. It gave me a BIG wake up call as I came pretty close to going to heaven.

I had used many of the preventitives you have all mentioned but the Palmonologist that revived me in hospital and became my Dr said that Asthma although not curable should not effect ones life any more as there is a fantastic preventitive on the market. I had thought that using my pump once a day or so was normal for an Asthmtic but to quote her she said " that went out with Symbicord" It is expensive but I have chosen quality of life and ability to breath instead of focussing on cost.Since being on the preventitive Symbicord (160) . . . 2 puffs morning, 2 puffs at night I have not had to use my Ventolin/Ventese pump once. That has been in 2 years. Of course I still avoid the triggers as far as possible and double my Symbicord inhalations when I feel I am getting a cold or flu.

Symbicord has given me back my quality of life :-)

I've done a bunch of full-bore intro posts in the past two days, so I guess I'll keep this one light, and just talk about my asthma meds, LOL.

I just started on Advair and Singulair about a week ago.  I think the idea, in the long-term, is to first get the worst of my asthma symptoms under control, then to try to scale back to one controller medication -- at least, that's my idea, LOL, what my doc thinks might be something else entirely!

Prior to the past few months, I'd been without health insurance for quite a while -- so I was trying to get by on occasional samples of controllers, with albuterol as a rescue inhaler (even if I was completely broke, I would still find a way to pay for my rescue inhaler, since it has, in fact, saved my life a couple of times).  I also haven't really been able to exercise anywhere near enough -- exposure to auto exhaust (endemic in any urban area, and pretty darn bad in Louisville), fine particulates, and cold air all make my asthma flare up, so while it wasn't under control, it was hard to get any exercise in.

Predictably, I've had a bad case of bronchitis at least a couple of times a year for the past few years, so once I finally got health insurance and a regular GP, I decided controller meds couldn't wait any longer (they wound up waiting a few months, actually, because of my completely insane work schedule, but that's my own fault -- priorities, priorities, I know :D).

So, now I've got Advair, which has been good to me in the past, and Singulair, which seems really promising -- and, perhaps most importantly, for the first time in like three or four years, I feel confident that I'll be able to enjoy my life a lot more and start really exercising again.  I don't know if I'll make it back to my old peak -- 30 miles a day on a bike, 5 days a week, plus horseback riding -- but I'm sure as heck gonna try!

Cdog asked about homeopathic remedies -- I haven't tried those, but I do seem to find that certain aromatic oils at least have a temporary, palliative effect.  The oil of bergamot in Earl Grey tea seems to help, actually, which strikes me as funny (and gives me an excuse to be a tea junkie).  It's not enough by itself, but with the meds, it's sort of a nice boost.

My lungs are still getting themselves back in gear, so we'll see how things look after a week or two more.

Hey everyone.  Sorry no contact lately, My daughter just had a baby and I have been indulged in our new family member "Ethan";  what a joy for us.  Anyway, I have been on Advair for 3 years and  my Dr., last week decided for me to try Symbicort when my Advair runs out.  I also take Protonix for reflux , since that is my main asthma trigger and cold,weather fronts, infections being the additional triggers for me. FYI-FYI-FYI "ASTRA ZENECA"  Pharmecuetical company may assist in covering medicine you cannot afford otherwise (makers of symbicort).  For all asthmatics there is a GREAT book with Great vitamin and nutrition remedies that REALLY WORK!!!  called  "Reversing Asthma"  by Dr. R.  Forshein.   I can tell you, when I skip my vitamin regimen is when I will undoubtedly get my worst respiratory infections! Vitamin C 1000mg daily is a must and b complex and betacarotine.   Eating whole foods helps extremely well.  You will learn alot about your chronic illness of the immune system and anti-inflammatory  methods to live by.  It changed my life and my husband even believes these methods work as he has seen me on and off this regimen.  Take out of it what you feel is working and practical for you to stick too.   I feel that only what I will realistically stick too will be effective.    If some of the methods seem too rigid for your practical lifestyle, than you chose what parts will be easy for you to stick too.  Remember,  any part of this book's info you can incorporate into your lifestyle is worth it!  As a nurse,  Only go to a  Dr. that works well with your needs!    Best  to all !  

I was on Advair twice a day and albuterol if I went into an attack.  The advair worked at first, but after a while, I started feeling dizzy and was still getting the chest pains back again, so I stopped taking it.  I do fine most of the time, except for in extremely cold weather and when I exercise hard.  The albuterold works but sometimes I need 2 puffs, not just one.  I haven't had an asthma  attack for some time up until last weekend when I was out in the cold air for more than 5 minutes. 

I've been on Advair 250/50 for about a year and a half. I've tried a lot of things that never really help, especially in cold weather, that's when I'm the worst. I was having an attack just about every morning. Since the Advair, my attacks are very few and a lot less in severity, even in cold weather. The thing that I've noticed even more is that I'm getting less lung infections. I used to be good for pneumonia twice a year.

I know what you mean about the cold air for sure.  It sends me into a fit.  Every winter I was getting bronchitis 2-3 times and sometimes pneumonia.  This year was the first that I haven't gotten it in quite a while.  :)

Oh -- man, I hear the cold air thing.  It hits me like a ton of bricks, too.  And, of course, Cold Air season ends just in time for the start of Ozone and Smog Season, LOL!  I pretty much can't cope without some kind of controller -- my lungs are just too reactive.

I had to stop taking Advair, because it makes my throat hurt even if I rinse my mouth, etc., but the Singulair is still treating me well.  It's the best thing I've ever taken for my asthma (especially since it helps with my upper-respiratory allergies as well -- I have that intractible asthma/nasopharyngeal congestion combo).

I have been totally amazed at how much of a difference a good controller medication makes -- literally nothing has ever worked as well for me as Singulair.  I had to do my Muay Thai class yesterday without it, and I was really amazed how hard it was -- and that I survived, LOL.  I don't think I'd have tried it if I'd been off the stuff for more than a day (the protective effect seems to linger, to some degree, for a day or two)-- and I don't think I'll be doing it again without.  Going to pick up my refill tonight!!!

Jlant, I so hear you about Vitamin C, B complex vitamins, and beta-carotine -- especially the Vitamin C part :D  If nothing else, it really seems to help me fight off chest colds that could very easily turn into bronchitis or pneumonia.

BTW, Jlant -- congrats on the new addition!  Is Ethan your first grandchild?