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        New Message Board Archives >> Medications, Treatments, Therapies 2005 >> Albuterol and Clusters
        
(Message started by: Donna_D. on Jun 7^th, 2005, 3:00pm)

Title: Albuterol and Clusters
Post by Donna_D. on Jun 7^th, 2005, 3:00pm

I've been having problems with Seasonal Allergies and have had to start using Albuterol Breathing Treatments and an Albuterol inhaler.

My CH is the worst it has been in a while.

Coincidence or could it be the meds?

I would appreciate any input.

DD

Title: Re: Albuterol and Clusters
Post by Margi on Jun 7^th, 2005, 3:09pm

Donna, I'm about to lose my connection here so I have to make this fast...

Mike used an inhaler for allergies too - bad idea. It not only made his CH worse, it also causes rebound...um...snot. Sorry, no time for political correctness here. But try something else for allergy if you can - those things are habit forming and make things worse in the long run!

best of luck to you!

Title: Re: Albuterol and Clusters
Post by gMike on Jun 7^th, 2005, 11:23pm

I've used Albuterol for years for asthma. I find that it gives me a generalized headache above the eyes. I wonder if it could bring on a cluster attack just based on the "normal" headache it causes.

Best I've found for seasonal allergies is a year-round dose of Singulair. It keeps me from having asthma attacks triggered by allergies.

Mike

Title: Re: Albuterol and Clusters
Post by Donna_D. on Jun 8^th, 2005, 3:48am

That is what I have, asthma brought on by allergies. I think the albuterol is making the CH worse. I will check into the Singulair.

Gotta do something!

Thanks for the info!

DD

Title: Re: Albuterol and Clusters
Post by Lizzie2 on Jun 8^th, 2005, 5:17am

Ditto on the Singulair - I'm not even a month on the stuff, but it has helped much more in a preventative fashion.

I was actually doing great with asthma for the past few years until last April - I got the attack from hell while just sitting in a hospital bed. I don't really wheeze with mine as much as start coughing and feel like I have no air. The coughing (when it's bad...leads to throwing up - which is just no fun.)

The NP for ENT (I had just had that 2nd sinus surgery) determined that I was having some bronchospasm, and he started me on an albuterol neb. He then gave me a lecture on the fact that I no longer use Advair - well...no...I used it temporarily a few years ago - but my family doc took me off it when I didn't need it! My inhaler is MaxAir - pirbuterol. I'm not really sure if it differs a whole lot from albuterol (never had that kind of 'rescue' inhaler).

Anyways...I tend to be the opposite. I get worse headaches (though maybe not clusters) when I have the asthma attacks. I did pretty well the last time I had that neb...in the hospital they run it with about 8lpm of O2 as well - wonder if that helps at all. :)

Never really noticed a connection with my inhaler. I do find that when I have sinus infections - God help me with CH....It seems to trigger many more attacks than usual, they switch sides more, and they seem worse.

So far...I think the Singulair has helped the best - I had to get prior authorization from my doc for the pharmacy to fill it, but once I did that then I was fine.

Hugz,
Lizzie :)

Title: Re: Albuterol and Clusters
Post by nani on Jun 8^th, 2005, 11:46am

Yes Donna, check into Singulair. My daughter swears by it. I can't say I ever noticed a connection with my asthma meds and CH. I used Alupent as a rescue inhaler and the dr would give me a steroid inhaler when it got really bad. Fortunately, I haven't had any asthma issues in about 5 years. Good luck, hun...keep us posted.

Title: Re: Albuterol and Clusters
Post by mynm156 on Jun 8^th, 2005, 12:34pm

on 06/08/05 at 11:46:09, nani wrote:

I used Alupent as a rescue inhaler.

ALUPENT been on that for a while huh? DAMN talk about some serious CARDIAC side effects.

Title: Re: Albuterol and Clusters
Post by Lizzie2 on Jun 8^th, 2005, 12:38pm

on 06/08/05 at 12:34:54, mynm156 wrote:

ALUPENT been on that for a while huh? DAMN talk about some serious CARDIAC side effects.

Never heard of that one - what's it do? (Mechanism of action, class...ya know...that stuff that we nerds like to know...) Just curious! I could look it up, but sounds like you're quite familiar - and it's easier to ask you! ;)

L2 :)

Title: Re: Albuterol and Clusters
Post by mynm156 on Jun 8^th, 2005, 12:43pm

Singulair is a medication used to help prevent Asthma attacks and has been helpful to alot of patients with Asthma. However, you should still have a rescue medication available and for that a Bronchodilator such as Albuterol (industry drug of choice) is what you are going to need. You may want to try Levalbuterol/Zopenex this is a high breed bronchodilator though it is more expensive. Singular will probably help you because It seems to work very well with Allergy related Asthma.

Title: Re: Albuterol and Clusters
Post by mynm156 on Jun 8^th, 2005, 12:51pm

on 06/08/05 at 12:38:11, Lizzie2 wrote:

Alupent is a bronchodilator and Bronchodilator stimulate two types of cells in your body Beta1 (Heart) and Beta2 (Lungs) Alupent/Metaproterenol has been around for a long time. It has pretty strong Cardiac side effects what it does is it stimulates the sympathetic nervous system (Fight or Flight responce) Your Airways open up, your blood vessels constric and your heart rate goes up and your heart also beats harder. Zopenex has the least amount of cardiac side effects but is pretty expensive. Albuterol has the next least Beta1 side effects.

Title: Re: Albuterol and Clusters
Post by broomhilda on Jun 8^th, 2005, 1:50pm

Singulair worked great for my son too Donna, just watch out, he got insomnia from it, needless to say, hes not on it anymore :)

Title: Re: Albuterol and Clusters
Post by mcf69 on Jun 8^th, 2005, 11:15pm

I've used Albuterol for years and have always got a generalized headache after using it, I think it has to do with the fact that it is a stimulant. Try advair, it works as a good preventative.