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Medical Forum / Diseases and Disorders / Asthma / April 2006For what it's worth
I have had asthma for three years - it started when I was taking an antibiotic, Avelox. It started with severe shortness of breath and my doctor switched my antibiotic to Biaxin. The asthma got worse and I went to the ER where they gave me a breathing treatment along with several prescriptions for inhalers, prednisone pills and the whole shebang. They told me I had emphysema and I told them I want proof so I had a test for emphysema which indicated that I did not have emphysema. I couldn't use the inhalers containing steroids so have been using the albuterol twice or three times a day ever since. Four days ago I took two pills containing pseudoephedrine, 30 mg. Six hours later I took two more. I did not need to use my inhaler at all. The next day I took two pseudoephredrine in the morning and two more in the afternoon. No inhaler needed. Yesterday I did not take the pseudoephredrine and did not need the inhaler but today I took some because I felt the need to use my inhaler. It worked again. I have not used the inhaler for four days and wonder if the pseudoephredrine is the reason. Ora > I have had asthma for three years - it started when I was taking an antibiotic, > Avelox. It started with severe shortness of breath and my doctor switched my [quoted text clipped - 18 lines] > > Ora Ora, Based upon your post, it appears to me (unless you are lying) that pseudoephredrine is the reason. However, you should continue the experiment for several more months in order to be sure. I should note that pseudo means "being apparently rather than actually as stated: sham, spurious." Webster's Dictionary  SignatureNEWSGROUP SUBSCRIBERS MOTTO We respect those subscribers that ask for advice or provide advice. We do NOT respect the subscribers that enjoy criticizing people. > I have had asthma for three years - it started when I was taking an antibiotic, > Avelox. It started with severe shortness of breath and my doctor switched my [quoted text clipped - 16 lines] > I have not used the inhaler for four days and wonder if the pseudoephredrine is > the reason. I suppose the Sudafed could just be stimulating the same receptors as the albuterol and so providing the same effect (plus a lot of systemic effects that you probably don't need). If both work I'm not sure why you would consider the Sudafed to be more desirable. Another (I think more likely) possibility is that your symptoms are having some contribution from nasal congestion which is being treated by the Sudafed. If this is the case, depending on your other medical issues, there may be better medcine for you (or maybe not). As for the diagnosis: Emphysema involves a fixed defect of the airways and so normal spirometry casts a lot of doubt on that diagnosis. Asthma is by definition reversible and intermittent so a normal test does not rule it out unless it is done while having significant symptoms. It might be a good idea to go back and see someone to explore the correct diagnosis and best treatment options. FWIW: Pseudo- in "medical-ese" means "like" - as in something that is like whatever the suffix is but is not it. In this case it means that pseudoephedrine is similar to ephedrine but not the same. >> I have had asthma for three years - it started when I was taking an antibiotic, >> Avelox. It started with severe shortness of breath and my doctor switched my [quoted text clipped - 21 lines] >effects that you probably don't need). If both work I'm not sure why >you would consider the Sudafed to be more desirable. Two main reasons come immediately to mind. Availability and cost. Sudafed and generics are readily available and do not require a prescription. >Another (I think more likely) possibility is that your symptoms are >having some contribution from nasal congestion which is being treated [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] >might be a good idea to go back and see someone to explore the correct >diagnosis and best treatment options. I belong to an HMO and they set the guidelines. I would like to explore the correct diagnosis but the provider would need to be motivated and they generally take the "symptom relieving"/"universal" approach. Furthermore the Albuterol requires a prescription and most providers have an agenda for asthma which leans strongly to pulling out the prescription pad. I don't know the criteria for prescription meds vs. OTC but have the impression that OTC's are potentially less hazardous than prescription meds. Ora "I belong to an HMO and they set the guidelines. I would like to explore the correct diagnosis but the provider would need to be motivated and they generally take the "symptom relieving"/"universal" approach. Furthermore the Albuterol requires a prescription and most providers have an agenda for asthma which leans strongly to pulling out the prescription pad. " Suit yourself. "I don't know the criteria for prescription meds vs. OTC but have the impression that OTC's are potentially less hazardous than prescription meds." Don't bet on it. |
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