Printable View
| I use to take albuterol infrequently, but in the last few weeks need it several times a day. What can I do to get back to my old dosing routine? | |
|
When you need an inhaled fast-acting medicine, such as albuterol, more and more frequently, it is an alert that your asthma is not under good control. Talk to your doctor about starting or increasing a "controller medicine" and identify your asthma triggers.
Albuterol is a bronchodilator and relieves symptoms by relaxing smooth muscle around the airways in the lungs. It does not decrease airway inflammation which makes your bronchial tubes more sensitive to allergens and other triggers. Taking an inhaled steroid, such as Flovent® or Pulmicort® and/or a leukotriene modifier, such as Singulair®, decreases inflammation. An oral steroid, such as prednisone, may be needed on a short-term basis to get your asthma under control. Asthma medicines become less effective when infections, such as sinusitis, are present. Low-level, chronic indoor allergen exposure to pets, molds, dust, etc, or exposure to irritants such as tobacco or wood smoke, makes asthma harder to control. |
|