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Asthma treatment options? CFC-free inhalers maybe?
11 years ago
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My husband has asthma that's bad enough to affect him at least once a week, but not bad enough to kill him (yet), nor is it common enough to warrant preventative measures. It was never really a problem for the longest time because he'd just breathe calmly until it passed, and if it didn't, he'd take a hit from his inhaler. Done. Back to normal. WELL. Those pesky inhalers gotta be bad for the ozone layer and stuff, so in 2012, they stopped selling them (I say them but there was literally only one where we live, and it was taken off the shelf. Now there's nothing).
It was especially frustrating for me to find out about it because I didn't know until we needed one. He wakes up at 2ish in the morning and can't breathe. He tries to use his inhaler, but it's all out, so I offer to go get a replacement inhaler from the drug store. I'm a little worried because, unlike his usual asthma incidents, this one seemed especially bad. I didn't want to leave him, but alas, it was the only solution. I drove to 4 different stores half asleep in my damn PJs trying to find a damn inhaler and no one had one!!! So I got a dumb nebulizer thing that's really inconvenient to use but it does work. He's been using that since, but not as often as he should, because it's just so annoying to use. You have to assemble it every time, and pour in the dose and then the vapor kinda just goes wherever, and then you have to thoroughly clean it when you're done and technically, you're supposed to clean it every single day whether you used it or not but fuck that..
So anyway. :I Are there any CFC-free MDI inhalers for sale anywhere? Preferably in the USA? If not, is there anything comparable? When you wake up in the middle of the night unable to breathe, groggy and half asleep, a fast acting inhaler is just so nice. He doesn't wanna go to a doctor because he's stubborn (though I may just have to make him, if that's what it will take). It's not quite severe enough to warrant preventative, daily medicine, and the allergy tablets aren't quite fast enough. Unfortunately, his trigger is dust and fine particles... We use AC filters that specifically target dust, change it regularly, have bi-weekly in depth cleaning done, run air purifiers and somehow dust still finds its way into our life. We can't get away! Is there hope? Is there a CFC-free inhaler or a similar alternative that doesn't require a "how to assemble" booklet to read at 2 AM?
It was especially frustrating for me to find out about it because I didn't know until we needed one. He wakes up at 2ish in the morning and can't breathe. He tries to use his inhaler, but it's all out, so I offer to go get a replacement inhaler from the drug store. I'm a little worried because, unlike his usual asthma incidents, this one seemed especially bad. I didn't want to leave him, but alas, it was the only solution. I drove to 4 different stores half asleep in my damn PJs trying to find a damn inhaler and no one had one!!! So I got a dumb nebulizer thing that's really inconvenient to use but it does work. He's been using that since, but not as often as he should, because it's just so annoying to use. You have to assemble it every time, and pour in the dose and then the vapor kinda just goes wherever, and then you have to thoroughly clean it when you're done and technically, you're supposed to clean it every single day whether you used it or not but fuck that..
So anyway. :I Are there any CFC-free MDI inhalers for sale anywhere? Preferably in the USA? If not, is there anything comparable? When you wake up in the middle of the night unable to breathe, groggy and half asleep, a fast acting inhaler is just so nice. He doesn't wanna go to a doctor because he's stubborn (though I may just have to make him, if that's what it will take). It's not quite severe enough to warrant preventative, daily medicine, and the allergy tablets aren't quite fast enough. Unfortunately, his trigger is dust and fine particles... We use AC filters that specifically target dust, change it regularly, have bi-weekly in depth cleaning done, run air purifiers and somehow dust still finds its way into our life. We can't get away! Is there hope? Is there a CFC-free inhaler or a similar alternative that doesn't require a "how to assemble" booklet to read at 2 AM?
╭━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━⊱⊹ ☽ ★ ☾ ⊹⊰━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━╮
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I can help pin down what may work best for him, but first I need a few questions answered (if you like you could PM me to keep it private):
1. How many days a week does he suffer from an asthma attack?
2. How many times a month does he wake up in the middle of the night with an asthma attack?
3. Does his asthma interfere with his normal activities (no, minor limitation, some, major limitations)?
1. I think once a week is a safe guess. Sometimes more than once, sometimes less, but probably once on average. These are all typically mild ones though. He rarely has one that's bad enough to make me worry.
2. Less than once a month. Maybe a few times a year.
3. I'd say about 60% of the time, no. He can usually continue what he was doing. Other times he has to stop and sit down. Like tonight, he was hanging a light fixture and the dust from the drill triggered his asthma (or maybe it was the dust in the room; we had just emptied the entire room and were working on cleaning it to remodel it). He is now sitting at his computer and he's still affected by it, coughing and clearing his throat, but he's able to .. sit and browse the internet.. :P I don't think he'd be very comfortable if he tried to continue hanging the lights though.
But, if it's anything like you describe, I could probably talk him into it. 200 discharges would certainly last a decent amount of time. I just hope prescription refills are that easy!
He has had asthma his whole life as far as I know, but I guess he never got a prescription for it when he was young because they were easily available? Im not sure on the exact history.
He could go to a walk-in clinic and get a prescription; more than likely they would need to perform an airway test to measure his "FEV1" This is not a complicated procedure and is not expensive at most places (he will blow into a tube to measure the flow of his breathing).
Is he currently taking albuterol?
The symptoms you describe make me think he has intermittent / mild asthma; leaning more towards mild as you described he is affected in his daily activities. An FEV test will help pinpoint where he falls in the spectrum.
If he already has albuterol as his rescue inhaler, I would venture to say he needs a low-dose inhaled corticosteroid like flovent MDI. If you have prescription insurance, or state-run medical (like medicaid) these inhalers will be cheaper.
If you have any further questions don't hesitate to ask; I'm always willing to help.
I'm not entirely sure what it has in it. From what I was reading about asthma, I think he probably has mild.
If you could go to a walk in clinic, that would be even better! We have one that is very close to us. He'd like that. I think I'll call them when they're open next to see if they can help. I have Medicaid, but he doesn't, unfortunately, so he'll have to decide if he wants to pay over double what he was before. I think it would be worth it personally, just watching him wheeze >> Especially if he happens to have that one bad one and either can't wake me up or cant use his nebulizer.
Nebulizers in general are not effective because most of the drug ends up in the stomach (90%). Unless, the nebulizer has a "chamber" attached.. something like "Aerochamber" is a good choice and very effective.
However, for now I would call the walk-in clinic when they are open; explain the situation, and find out how much everything will cost. Inhalers without insurance can be pricey. Perhaps he could apply for medicaid?
If he continues asthmanefrin keep an eye on his blood pressure and if he experiences chest pain he should stop and see a doctor right away.
He could keep using the machine, which man those things work good, but if he wants an inhaler, and they aren't sold there like they used to be anymore, he might just have to go see a doctor and get a prescription.
Good luck :C asthma sucks.
And nebulizer refills are cheaper than inhalers are now.
Though, they now make portable hand held nebulizers!
They are super neat!
I have to go for an asthma check up at least 4 times a year or they will not refill my prescriptions.
The idea though is for the doctor and patient to work towards a solution where the medicine is no longer required.
So careful monitoring must be done to achieve this.
Best of luck though! I think it's great that your hubby can pull himself out of an attack without medicine :D
In order for you to get an inhaler you need a prescription.
Aaaand those buggers are EXPENSIVE. I honestly think the real reason they have been pulled from the shelf is so that people are required to buy the expensive stuff.
Do you use an inhaler? I'm curious how much expensive is. Maybe if I told him how much they cost now, he'd learn to live with his nebulizer. :P It's really not THAT bad I think, but he hates it. It does suck that it requires so much cleaning, but it IS fast acting, which is nice.. Not as nice as the inhaler, but, if it's a fraction of the price... >>
Albuterol sulfate (rescue inhalers) are less expensive, but 240 puffs (120 doses) runs between $40-60
Preventative care (ex: advair, proair) generally runs about $90+
A case of Albuterol for the nebulizer is about $15
I hope this helps! And yes I do use inhalers uwu;
But, when I used to have advair my prescriptions were $180 a month.
Crazy! Abs that's just one of the medications I used!
I had to quit the stuff cold turkey as it burned my savings up :S
Anyway, inhalers require a prescription. Find a local clinic, they are typically 25-50 dollars to visit the doctor and get started on treatment for what is a LIFE THREATENING condition.
If you already have a nebulizer, a 30 day supply of albuterol solution will cost around 4-8$ (The nebulizer solution is amazingly inexpensive but nebulizers are... not terribly portable.)
There was an old alternative, primatene mist (Pseudoephedrine inhaler, pseudoephedrine is the active ingredient of real sudafed) which did work as a bronchodilator and was available over the counter. I do not know if these are made but if they are and you go this route be careful with them, while they may be a bronchiodilator they are notorious for spiking blood pressure and can cause tachycardia if you are not careful.
Source - I worked in hospital/retail pharmacies for the past 7 years.
I'm trying to find a pharmacy that will fill my prescriptions for less than $50+ @3@
However between all three none of them run less than $50
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Hi
I very rarely use my inhaler. I have a calming technique I use when I have an asthma attack that works really well for me. Plus the fact that I don't live in Alaska anymore where I couldn't breath outside during winter.
Rather than create another post I'll stay here, it sounds like you've gotten lots of good advice and as someone who's been rushed to the hospital due to asthma, I echo the suggestion to see a doctor and all that.
I've been on so many preventitive and emergency inhalers and used to get regular allergy shots it was kind of insane. My asthma is mostly allergy-triggered and moving to a warmer climate has been the best thing for it.
The first being "QVar". Its a preventative, twice a day (one in the morning, one before going to sleep) inhaler. This mainly helps keep my air ways clear, and prevents me from needing my rescue inhaler more often. Even when it is pretty dusty/smoky.
The 2nd being "ProAir (R) HFA". This is my rescue inhaler. I only have to use this if I'm having an asthma attack. In the 15 years i can remember having asthma (I'm 20), i've only had to use it twice, mainly because of the QVar.
I have both these as a prescription from my doctor.
I hope this helps.
The QVar is mostly for convenience. It holds the asthma at bay (So to speak). It helps to allow me to do physically demanding work for MUCH longer periods of time than if i wasn't on it. Also, the area i live in, we have a fair amount of dust, as well as the more than fair share of wild fires that produce a crap ton of smoke. Here's an example of what i mean: http://cdogone.deviantart.com/art/m.....-sun-469867126 That is as bright as the sun got all day that day because of the smoke. That fire raged for roughly a week.
Using the QVar: Shake for about 5 seconds. 2 puffs, hold for 15 seconds, exhale.
The days i don't use it(mostly because i forgot to refile the prescription), I feel rather light headed after walking up a flight of stairs, or even turning a wrench for a few seconds to long.
The ProAir however is used for when i need it. It's mainly used to settle my attacks down, or keep me breathing well enough to get to the hospital. And is just as easy to use.
I know the nebulisers.
the best idea with it is to keep 2-3 kits, then you cycle them in and out.
and make sure you at lease soak them in vinegar or Bleach water soultition between uses to kill the buggers. Rinse before use.
best advice is to get an Rx from a Dr. most that I know of are on the generic 4.00 list
If this is a long term thing, which it sounds like it is, you will want to ask a doctor about corticosteroids, which as the name implies is a steroid that reduces inflammation. It's a different inhaler used twice a day for long term management. Corticosteroids are not to be confused with anabolic steroids, which give you funny looking arms and roid rage. Those are totally different.
I seem to recall that the pill type control medicine "singulair" or something doubled as an allergy medicine, so you might want to find out about that too.
All of these were covered by my insurance for like $5 or $10 co-pay per bottle or inhaler, since they are prescription drugs. Being prescription drugs, you must be diagnosed by a doctor and they must determine which drugs/dosage are right. I don't know how you were getting them before without having seen a doctor, but they are normally not an over the counter item for reasons evident about 30 seconds after you use them.
With my insurance it cost me $50 a month instead of the $90.
Best to take your husband to a pulmonary doctor since they are best suited to dealing with asthma.
From a search on the Mayo Clinic website:
Dry powder inhaler. These inhalers don't use a chemical propellant to push the medication out of the inhaler. Instead, the medication is released by breathing in a deep, fast breath. Available types include a dry powder tube inhaler, a powder disk inhaler and a single-dose powder disk inhaler.
Linky:
http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-.....s/art-20046382
For me it helped to use "Gelomyrtol" Capsules on a daily base. Also: vaporator is not actually that much needed, if you just use a hot water-bowl (1-2l of water) with 1 spoon salt and a towel for inhalation, or like to visit the Sauna regularly.
Otherwise, he could also ask his doc to switch to "Symbicort", which is a combination of smalldose cortisol and Beta-2 Mimetics on a powder-based inhaler, so: no gas.
Question is what is available for you, as those are medications i get over here in Europe.
And compressed air molecules are way too big to be practical, inhalers would have to be pretty darn big ig they used compressed air.
Co2 is also not a very good idea.
Best bet is that hopefully they might make a misting one someday
compressed air won't work in something so tiny because it can't fit. air molecules are huge compared to ideal propellants. in the same container, compressed air might not even get past 3 puffs.
Learn something new every day!
Bad on me for lumping other molecules into the "air" category ;u;
I apologize for not looking it up the first time around.