watervole: (Clanger)
Judith Proctor ([personal profile] watervole) wrote2006-08-12 09:05 pm

bang goes another asthma medication

I tried another brand of asthma medciation last week. Alvesco - http://www.pharmafocus.com/cda/focusH/1,2109,21-0-0-FEB_2005-focus_news_detail-0-307845,00.html

It says "Significant amounts of existing inhaled corticosteroids remain in the mouth and throat where they commonly cause side-effects such as voice alteration, hoarseness and oral thrush. The small amount of Alvesco that does remain in the mouth is mainly inactive because it works only in the presence of enzymes found in the lungs, unlike other inhaled corticosteroids."

Which is why I've been waiting for the last six months for it to become avaialable on pescription as I'd been hoping it would be something I could take that would not trigger my voice trouble.

Sadly, as it said on the leaflet that came with it with regard to side effects:

"Between 0.1% and 1% of people who take Alvesco

* bad taste in the mouth
* cough after inhalation
* eczema or eczema-like rash
* hoarse voice
* irritation, inflammation, burning or dryness of the mouth or throat"

Yep. That's me. One puff was enough to trigger a burning feeling in the throat and a couple of days of distincly rough voice (my sister mistook me for my husband over the phone...)

And, interestingly enough, my peak flow dropped by 50 points the morning after I took it.

So, that's another asthma medication I can't take.

[identity profile] peaceful-fox.livejournal.com 2006-08-12 09:05 pm (UTC)(link)
I have trouble with inhaled medications, as well. They make me cough! They also give me a horribly dry mouth. Not good. Have you tried Singulair? I feel for you, as I have suffered from adult onset asthma (age 26. I nver had it when I was a child!) and it took me a long time to find medications that worked for me. (((HUGS)))
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[identity profile] watervole.livejournal.com 2006-08-13 08:24 am (UTC)(link)
Singulair. VEntolin? Yes?

I can use that. It's the preventer medications that I can't take as they're all based on inhaled steroids.

[identity profile] peaceful-fox.livejournal.com 2006-08-13 08:33 am (UTC)(link)
Singulair. VEntolin? Yes?

No. It's a pill I take once a day. I had severe asthma that would hospitalize me, and since taking this I haven't had an attack in over 5 years. In one year I ended up in accident and emergency 7 times, and that same year I almost died from my asthma. It's non steroidal, which is a plus.

I still take ventolin, when I need it, which averages 2-3 times a month. I don't wheeze much now (by much I mean a couple of times a month. I also don't cough). I was taking 4 different inhalers and a nasal inhaler before taking Singulair. I can honestly say that it saved my life.

Of course, as we both found out, not all medications work for all people. :-(

http://www.singulair.com/montelukast_sodium/singulair/consumer/asthma/index.jsp
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[identity profile] watervole.livejournal.com 2006-08-13 08:36 am (UTC)(link)
Ah, montelukast. I knew the name was familiar. I was in a trial for that many years ago. Sadly, one of the side effects was the most vicious stomach cramps I have ever had in my life.

In spite of being highly motivated, I had to abandon it after a week.

P.S.

[identity profile] peaceful-fox.livejournal.com 2006-08-13 08:35 am (UTC)(link)
Even though the site I gave you is from the US, it is also available, under the same name, in the UK.

[identity profile] supergee.livejournal.com 2006-08-12 09:41 pm (UTC)(link)
I use Advair and rinse my mout out before I exhale, as they instruct.
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[identity profile] watervole.livejournal.com 2006-08-13 08:25 am (UTC)(link)
The problem is that I can't rinse my vocal chords. That's where the damage really hits. In the past, I have had periods of complete voice loss from asthma medication.
kerravonsen: 7th Doctor frowning: *frown* (Doc7-frown)

[personal profile] kerravonsen 2006-08-12 11:18 pm (UTC)(link)
8-(