How To Clean And Maintain Your Device
Make sure to keep the device dry, at room temperature, and closed when not in use. Do not wash the device or get it wet. If you want to clean the mouthpiece, wipe it with a clean, dry tissue.
A Turbuhaler® is a dry-powder inhaler available in an easy-to-use format.
Some Turbuhalers® feature a dose counter that shows the exact amount of medication left. If your Turbuhaler® doesnt have a dose counter, then check for a red indicator in the windows on the side of the device. When you see red in the window, there are approximately 20 doses left and its time to order a refill.
What Are The Possible Side Effects With Advair Hfa
ADVAIR HFA can cause serious side effects, including:
- fungal infection in your mouth or throat . Rinse your mouth with water without swallowing after using ADVAIR HFA to help decrease your chance of getting thrush.
- pneumonia. ADVAIR HFA contains the same medicine found in ADVAIR DISKUS . ADVAIR DISKUS is used to treat people with asthma and people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease . People with COPD have a higher chance of getting pneumonia. ADVAIR DISKUS may increase the chance of you getting pneumonia. It is not known if ADVAIR HFA is safe and effective in people with COPD. Call your healthcare provider right away if you have any of the following symptoms:
- increase in mucus production
- change in mucus color
- increased breathing problems
Important Safety Information For Advair
ADVAIR contains salmeterol, the same medicine found in SEREVENT DISKUS . LABA medicines such as salmeterol when used alone increase the risk of hospitalizations and death from asthma problems. ADVAIR contains an ICS and a LABA. When an ICS and LABA are used together, there is not a significant increased risk in hospitalizations and death from asthma problems.
You May Like: What Happens If You Smoke Weed With Asthma
Can Medicine Alone Help My Asthma
Not usually. Although medicines help a lot, they may not be able to do the job alone. You have to avoid the things that cause or trigger your asthma symptoms as much as you can. Asthma triggers can be found outside or inside your home, school, or workplace.
Improving the indoor air quality in your home is an important part of asthma control. Your indoor air can be more polluted than outside air. Our interactive Healthy Home can show you ways to improve the indoor air quality of your home. A healthier home can reduce your exposure to allergens and irritants.
You May Like: How Do You Control Asthma Without An Inhaler
Each Person’s Asthma Is Different
The NAEPP EPR 3 guidelines suggest moving patients up and down a “set of stairs.” It’s called the stepwise approach. The doctor decides whether to move you up and down the “stairs” depending on your symptoms.1
Your doctor may ask if your asthma wakes you up during the night and – if so – how often. He may also ask how often you are using your rescue inhaler , or if your asthma interferes with your daily activities.1 You can see how you are doing by taking the Asthma Control Test.2
Recommended Reading: Can You Join The Army If You Have Asthma
Things To Know About Albuterol
In serious cases, taking albuterol could cause your airways to tighten suddenly. This is called a bronchospasm and can make breathing difficult. This side effect happens immediately after using the inhaler. It can occur the first time you use a new canister. If this happens to you,call your doctor, and use a different asthma treatment.1-3
People withheart problemsshould be cautious about taking albuterol. Albuterol can cause changes in blood pressure, heart rate, and other heart disease symptoms. These effects are rare with the recommended dose of albuterol. Albuterol may also worsen conditions like thyroid problems, seizures, diabetes, or low potassium levels.1-3
Overusing your albuterol inhaler can worsen your asthma. Studies show that taking albuterol regularly can lead to worselung functionandasthma control. Albuterol is meant to provide occasional quick relief of symptoms, not long-term control. Using albuterol more than 2 days per week is a sign of poor asthma control. If you find yourself using albuterol often, consider discussing your asthma control options with your doctor.6
Before starting albuterol, tell your doctor about any prescription medicines, vitamins, supplements, or over-the-counter drugs you are taking. Certain medicines affect the way albuterol works, including other asthma drugs, other inhaled medicines,beta-blockers, diuretics, digoxin, monoamine oxidase inhibitors , and tricyclic antidepressants .1-3
Do I Have To Stop Exercising If I Have Exercise
While it may seem like having exercise-induced asthma means you cant be an athlete, this isnt true at all. In fact, as many as 30% to 70% of elite and Olympic athletes have this diagnosis.
Talk to your doctor about exercising or playing sports if you have exercise-induced asthma. Staying active and competing in sports are important parts of life. Its worth making sure you can do them safely.
Recommended Reading: Joining Military With Asthma
Please Review This Safety Information
Below you can learn about the risks and side effects of ADVAIR. This, however, is not all of the safety information, and it does not replace talking to your healthcare professional about your medical condition or treatment. Please see the complete Prescribing Information, including Patient Information, for ADVAIR DISKUS and ADVAIR HFA for more information or ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist.
How Often Should I Prime My Inhaler
You should prime your inhaler if it is brand new or if you have not used it in several days. Some inhalers also require priming if they have been dropped.6
Each inhaler that requires priming has specific instructions on how often to do it. Soft-mist inhalers , for example, should be primed if they have not been used for 3 days or more. Dry powder inhalers , however, should not be primed since full doses are loaded once you hear it click.7-9
Look at the information that is included with your specific inhaler to prime it correctly each time.
Also Check: Does Asthma Shorten Life Expectancy
What Are Bronchodilators
Bronchodilators relieve asthma symptoms by relaxing the muscle bands that tighten around the airways. This action rapidly opens the airways, letting more air come in and out of the lungs. As a result, breathing improves. Bronchodilators also help clear mucus from the lungs. As the airways open, the mucus moves more freely and can be coughed out more easily.
What You Need To Know
Short-acting albuterol and other beta-agonists should not be used regularly for the control of asthma. People who might benefit from being placed on an inhaled steroid like Flovent or Pulmicort or a combination agent like Advair include those who:
- Awake from cough more than 2 nights per month
- Use a rescue inhaler more than twice per week
- Have asthma symptoms more than twice per week
- Have symptoms that interfere with their daily activities
Additionally, it is important to know how to appropriately use your inhaler and how long your inhaler will last.
Don’t Miss: Albuterol Anti Inflammatory
Know The Signs Of An Asthma Attack
Youre having an asthma attack if:
- your blue reliever isn’t helping, or you need to use it more than every four hours
- you’re wheezing a lot, have a very tight chest, or you’re coughing a lot
- you’re breathless and find it difficult to walk or talk
- your breathing is getting faster and it feels like you can’t get your breath in properly
You may have all of these signs and symptoms. Or you may have just some of them. For example, you may not wheeze.
Know your early warning signs
An asthma attack happens when your symptoms get much worse. This can happen quite suddenly or can build up gradually over a few days.
You can stop an asthma attack before it happens, or make it less serious so you dont end up in hospital, by recognising when your symptoms are getting worse.
How Many Times Can I Use My Rescue Inhaler
These inhalers help prevent flares and keep symptoms from getting worse. Theyre called control inhalers because they have medicine that controls inflammation. Use yours as often as your doctor tells you to, usually once or twice a day: If youre supposed to use it two times a day, aim for 12 hours apart.
Read Also: Does Weight Affect Asthma
Will I Always Have To Take The Same Amount Of Medicine
Not always. You will probably take more medicine when you begin treatment to get control of your asthma. Work with your doctor to learn which medicine control your asthma best and how much you need. Once your asthma is well-controlled, your doctor may be able to reduce the amount of medicine you take. The goal is to gain control of your asthma as soon as possible and then control it with as little medicine as possible. Once long-term anti-inflammatory therapy begins, your doctor should monitor you every one to six months. This is to see how your asthma medicines are working and if your asthma is well controlled.
What Are The Two Main Types Of Bronchodilator Medicines
There are beta 2-agonists and anticholinergics.
Short-acting beta 2-agonists
In inhaled forms, these medications include:
- Albuterol .
- Levalbuterol .
- Albuterol and ipratropium bromide combination .
Short-acting beta 2-agonists are called “reliever” or “rescue” medicines because they stop asthma symptoms very quickly by opening the airways. These are the best medications for treating sudden and severe or new asthma symptoms. They work within 15 to 20 minutes and last four to six hours. They are also the medicines to use 15 to 20 minutes before exercise to prevent exercise-induced asthma symptoms. If you need to use your short-acting beta 2-agonists more than twice per week, talk to your doctor. This is a sign of unstable asthma and your doctor may want to change the dose of the long-term control medicines you take.
Long-acting beta-2 agonists
These medications include:
- Salmeterol .
- Formoterol .
- Combination medications: salmeterol and fluticasone formoterol and budesonide formoterol and mometasone vilanterol and fluticasone salmeterol and fluticasone and salmeterol and fluticasone . These contain both the long-acting beta agonist and an inhaled corticosteroid.
Side effects of beta 2-agonists include:
- Nervous or shaky feeling.
- Upset stomach .
- Trouble sleeping .
Anticholinergic drugs
Side effects of anticholinergic drugs are minor. The most common side effect is dry throat. If the medicine gets in your eyes, it might cause blurred vision for a short period of time.
Don’t Miss: What Do You Do When You Have An Asthma Attack
What Are The Different Types Of Delivery Devices For Asthma Medicines
You take most asthma medicines by breathing them in using an inhaler or nebulizer. An inhaler or nebulizer allows the medicine to go directly to your lungs. But some asthma medicines are in pill form, infusion form, or injectable form.
Inhalers
There are four types of asthma inhaler devices that deliver medicine: metered dose inhalers , dry powder inhalers , breath actuated inhalers, and soft mist inhalers.
- Metered dose inhalers have medicine plus a propellant. The propellant sprays the medicine out of the inhaler in a short burst.
- Dry powder inhalers do not have a propellant and do not spray the medicine out of the inhaler. The medicine is released from the inhaler when you breathe it in.
- Breath actuated inhalers have a dry powder or aerosol medicine. The medicine does not spray out of the inhaler. The medicine is released from the inhaler when you breathe it in.
- Soft mist inhalers do not have propellant, but they do spray the medicine out of the inhaler. They create a cloud of medicine that sprays out softly.
Different types of asthma devices
For inhalers to work well, you must use them correctly. But 70 to 90% of people who use inhalers make at least one mistake when using their inhaler.1 Inhaler mistakes can lead to uncontrolled asthma. Ask your doctor or nurse to watch you use your inhaler to make sure you are using it correctly.
Spacers and valved holding chambers
Nebulizers
Injectables
During An Asthma Attack
In a sudden asthma attack you can use your inhaler more and take up to 10 puffs. Wait 30 seconds and always shake the inhaler between doses. You can repeat this dose 10 minutes later.
Immediate action required: Call 999 or go to A& E now if you or your child:
- are struggling to breathe
- have asthma symptoms that are not getting better
Asthma attacks can get worse very quickly.
For treating severe asthma attacks, salbutamol can be given through a nebuliser. A nebuliser is a machine that delivers the medicine as a mist inhaled through a face mask. This will probably be given to you by your doctor.
You May Like: Side Effects Of Nebulizer Treatments
Common Questions About Salbutamol Inhalers
Salbutamol is a type of medicine called a bronchodilator. It works by relaxing the muscles of the airways into the lungs, which makes it easier to breathe.
When you have a puff of your salbutamol inhaler it works almost straight away to make your breathing easier. It carries on working for about 5 hours.
Most people will use salbutamol for many years. Once your breathing is better, it may be possible for you or your child to use salbutamol less often. But you should always have your salbutamol inhaler with you so you can use it as soon as you have breathing problems.
Do not stop taking salbutamol unless your doctor tells you to. If you stop taking salbutamol your breathing problems could get worse. Even if you only have to use salbutamol occasionally, keep your inhaler with you all the time in case you have a sudden attack.
Salbutamol is a type of medicine called a bronchodilator.
Almost everyone who has asthma or COPD is prescribed a bronchodilator inhaler or “reliever” inhaler to help their breathing.
There are 2 main bronchodilators:
- salbutamol
Will Medicine Help Me Breathe Better When I Exercise
Yes. Exercising, particularly in cold air, may cause airway swelling or exercise-induced bronchoconstriction . Quick-relief asthma medicines, taken before exercise, usually control this. If you need repeated doses of quick-relief medicine during and after exercise talk with your doctor. Your medicines may need to be adjusted. Thanks to these medicines, many Olympic and professional athletes have successful sports careers even with their asthma.
It is important for everyone, including people with asthma, to be as active as possible for good health. Talk with your doctor about how you can be physically active while keeping your asthma well-controlled.
Don’t Miss: Can You Join The Army If You Have Asthma
Other Uses For This Medicine
Inhaled albuterol is also sometimes used to treat or improve muscle paralysis in patients with a condition that causes attacks of paralysis. Talk to your doctor about the possible risks of using this medication for your condition.
This medication may be prescribed for other uses ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.
How Much Albuterol Is Too Much
Asthma can cause shortness of breath, coughing, wheezing, and tightness in the chest, so its nice to have something handy that can eliminate those symptoms fast. Thats probably why your albuterol inhaler has quickly become your best friend! But there can be downsides to getting too much albuterol.
The question is, how do you know how much albuterol is too much?
Recommended Reading: I Joined The Military With Asthma
How Often Do You Use A Rescue Inhaler
only How often is too often to use your rescue inhaler?When Should I Use My Inhaler? Arescue inhaler is supposed to relieve sudden symptoms, not control your asthma long term. If you’re using a rescue inhaler 2 days a week, or more than 2 nights a month, your asthma isn’t controlled. Talk to your doctor — you may need a control inhaler.
Whats The Point Of Testing Asthma Control
Well, theres no reason to move you up to the next stair a higher dose inhaler to help your asthma symptoms if you arent using the inhaler you already have. Your doctor may think you need more medicine, but your asthma could be worse because you arent taking your medicine every day.1
I know its hard to remember to use your inhaler every day. Life is busy with kids, work, school, and traveling. Throw in an unexpected twist like forgetting to set your alarm, staying up late to finish a project, etc. and you may be thrown off your schedule and forget your inhaler.
If you do, be truthful and let your doctor know. He or she wont be mad, they are just trying to figure out the best medicine for you.
If you have a tough time remembering to take your inhaler every day, is there anything that helps you remember?
You May Like: What To Do For An Asthma Attack Without Inhaler
How Can I Manage And Treat My Eib
With proper management, you can enjoy exercise and achieve your full potential. Proper management requires that you:
- Take steps to prevent symptoms
- Take medicine before exercising
- Do a proper warm up for 6 to 10 minutes before periods of exercise or vigorous activity
- Carefully watch your respiratory status before, during and after exercise
Children With EIB Inform teachers and coaches if you have a child with EIB. Kids with EIB should be able to take part in activities they just may need medication before an activity.
Athletes With EIB If you are an athlete, disclose your medicines and adhere to standards set by the U.S. Olympic Committee. Request a list of approved and prohibited medications from the Committee hotline at 1-800-233-0393.