Mr. Asthma

Question:

I am also on Serevent, and it works great for that full nights sleep.  My problem is with the inhaler, (probably the propellant).  Every time I use the Serevent, I cough really bad.  I even got an Aerochamber spacer, (no luck).  I can’t use Proventil for the same reason, (I use Alupent). Does anyone else have this coughing problem? Willis

Response:

writes: – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – ><<: I’ve been using serevent for the past few months.  I think it is great. ><<: I was supprised when my doctor wanted to get me off it.  He said that it ><<: was a really good drug, but unfortunately it is a reaaaaaallllyyyyy good ><<: drug.  It is a bronchial dilator.  I seems the problem is that if you ><<: continue to use this stuff and you get inflamation, you may not know it ><<: until it is severe. ><<Could you elaborate on this some? Do you mean the serevent ‘conceals’ the fact ><<that the user’s lungs are getting more and more inflammed and that when it ><<wears off you may find that you are really in bad shape? (instead of reducing ><<inflammation it ‘hides’ it???) >Serevent is a beta-2-agonist, and as such deals with bronchial spasm, NOT >with bronchial inflammation.  It is the same class of drug as Ventolin (or >Proventil, or any "rescue" medication) EXCEPT that it is very long lasting >(up to 12 hours) and it has NO value as a rescue medication. >Because it deals with bronchial spasm, it is very useful in staving off >asthma attacks, and is fabulous for dealing with nocturnal symptoms (you >can get a good night’s sleep).  But, because it does not deal with >bronchial inflammation, you can suffer from low level inflammation and not >be aware of it (because Serevent may keep your bronchial inflammation from >blooming into a full-blown attack). >I cannot fathom why a doctor would want to take a patient off Serevent if >it is working so well. Theoretically, a patient would take Serevent, and >would STILL keep taking their inhaled steroid, which DOES deal with >bronchial inflammation.  Both Serevent AND the inhaled steroid (Azmacort, >Beclovent) constitute a great maintenance combo.  This will also probably >substantially reduce Albuterol (Ventolin, Proventil) usage. >Dan Empfield

I’ve been using serevent recently and i think it’s great.  I agree whole-heartedly with Dan.  Serevent poses not problems that albuteral doesn’t.  Try it. Jeff Cassels

Response:

I’ve been using serevent for the past few months.  I think it is great. I was supprised when my doctor wanted to get me off it.  He said that it was a really good drug, but unfortunately it is a reaaaaaallllyyyyy god drug.  It is a bhronchial dialator.  I seems the problem is that if you continue to use this stuff and you get inflamation, you may not know it until it is severe. derrick

Response:

<<: I’ve been using serevent for the past few months.  I think it is great. <<: I was supprised when my doctor wanted to get me off it.  He said that it <<: was a really good drug, but unfortunately it is a reaaaaaallllyyyyy good <<: drug.  It is a bronchial dilator.  I seems the problem is that if you <<: continue to use this stuff and you get inflamation, you may not know it <<: until it is severe. <<Could you elaborate on this some? Do you mean the serevent ‘conceals’ the fact <<that the user’s lungs are getting more and more inflammed and that when it <<wears off you may find that you are really in bad shape? (instead of reducing <<inflammation it ‘hides’ it???) Serevent is a beta-2-agonist, and as such deals with bronchial spasm, NOT with bronchial inflammation.  It is the same class of drug as Ventolin (or Proventil, or any "rescue" medication) EXCEPT that it is very long lasting (up to 12 hours) and it has NO value as a rescue medication. Because it deals with bronchial spasm, it is very useful in staving off asthma attacks, and is fabulous for dealing with nocturnal symptoms (you can get a good night’s sleep).  But, because it does not deal with bronchial inflammation, you can suffer from low level inflammation and not be aware of it (because Serevent may keep your bronchial inflammation from blooming into a full-blown attack). I cannot fathom why a doctor would want to take a patient off Serevent if it is working so well. Theoretically, a patient would take Serevent, and would STILL keep taking their inhaled steroid, which DOES deal with bronchial inflammation.  Both Serevent AND the inhaled steroid (Azmacort, Beclovent) constitute a great maintenance combo.  This will also probably substantially reduce Albuterol (Ventolin, Proventil) usage. Dan Empfield

Response:

My officemate heard on the news last week that a new asthma inhaler was out.   She did not catch its name or if it was a steroidal-type inhaler.  The woman on the feature only used it once a day (which made me believe it was a steroid-type inhaler).  Has anyone heard of it? Emily

Response:

>My officemate heard on the news last week that a new asthma inhaler was out.   >She did not catch its name or if it was a steroidal-type inhaler.  The woman >on the feature only used it once a day (which made me believe it was a >steroid-type inhaler).  Has anyone heard of it? >Emily

Sounds like Seravent, actually it is used BID (twice a day). Pretty effective stuff, few side effects. It is designed as a maintenance drug (ie not for acute attacks).                                         Giovanni Lentini RRT                                         Perinatal Pediatric Specialist

Response:

> My officemate heard on the news last week that a new asthma inhaler was out.   > She did not catch its name or if it was a steroidal-type inhaler.  The woman > on the feature only used it once a day (which made me believe it was a > steroid-type inhaler).  Has anyone heard of it?

It could either be Serevent (long-acting Ventolin) which is not a steroid, but used by people who otherwise would have to take regular puffs of Ventolin; or it could be Flixotide which is currently available in Britain, but the last I heard it was not available in the States. If it is Flixotide, many asthmatics will be over-joyed – it’s a lot better than other inhaled steroid, IMHO, and a lot safer. I went on to it when I became pregnant, and I have had *no* side- effects whatsoever! — Anna      History repeats itself      It has to      Nobody listens                             Steve Turner (Formerly of ‘Pooh Bear’ quote fame.)

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