[rdwebb]

So today I go for my checkup with the family doctor. I've smoked for almost 25 years and the last two colds I had, left me with a month long cough and trouble breathing. Yup, you guessed it, now diagnosed with asthma; the viral induced kind. So now, on top of psych meds, I get inhalers and steroids. I go to my pdoc tomorrow, but has anyone had reactions between the asthma stuff and psych meds?

[disguise123]

call back the doctor, you need to ask them, a pharmacist may know too.
But are the steriods and inhalers only for a short term ? (until the next time your sick)

[rdwebb]

They are for short term, unless it doesn't go away in the next month. I go see my pdoc tomorrow, so I think I'm going to hold off starting on them until he and I talk.

[(JD)]

IDK... not sure what good any of it will do if you're still smoking...are you quitting? If you're taking medicine for anxiety, the inhalers will counter that I bet, because it revs up your system.

[abience]

rdwebb,

I have regular asthma and have had no interactions with my psych meds. But if you are uncomfortable with combining them talk to the pd or pharmacist.

Good luck.
A

[Yoda]

Here is a link you may find useful. I hope the meds help your symptoms. I have had asthma all my life and I hate it.

http://asthma.about.com/lw/Health-Me...a-Symptoms.htm

[rdwebb]

I'm on my first day of no smoking, actually. I put on a patch this morning. I go see my pdoc at lunch today and we can talk about meds. You're right, anxiety shot thru the roof when I did the inhaler. My legs and hands shook badly for about an hour after. I'm supposed to do that four times a day, at least until it's under control, so perhaps pdoc can get me thru this first part. I have to take care of the physical, but not forget the emotional or else I won't take care of the physical, if that makes any sense at all! Thanks everybody for your input!

[Perna]

I'd make sure with your doctor whether you have asthma or COPD; smoking usually causes COPD (chronic bronchitis or emphysema), asthma is usually allergy-based. They're very different with different outcomes. I'm glad you have started the stopping smoking process, good luck!

[rdwebb]

She called it asthma, but I know she probably didn't want to label me with anything else until we see if it improves with no smoking. I did talk to my pdoc. He said the inhaler and steroids would amp me up a bit, so he gave me a low dose (25mg) of Trazedone to help with sleep. And of course, said to call if I had any issue. So far (and this is just today) the medication cocktail is doing alright. As for the quitting smoking, it's day two. I haven't had a cigarette, but it would be sooooo good. I just keep taking it hour by hour and sometimes minute by minute.

[serafim_etal]

I have asthma and am a smoker. Asthma can be triggered by allergies, but it can also be triggered by upper respiratory infections (viral or bacterial), exercise, and extremely cold air. Doctors don't diagnose COPD if the condition is not chronic, that's a key part of COPD. The fact that you have had two colds, and the cough went away after the first one indicates a reactive asthma vs COPD...COPD does not go away, ever.

Congratulations on the quitting smoking...I haven't been able to do that (allergic to the patch and the lozenges make me nauseous)!

[Perna]

That's good to know, serafim_etal. I have asthma but don't have allergies, it's adult-onset (I was in my 50's when I got it) and I think was caused by an imbalance caused by too many antibiotics when my appendix burst and I had bad stuff wandering around inside for 5 months afterwards. My grandmother died of emphysema so I obviously inherited her "weak" lungs and the stress on them made them crack. It's hard now because I never know when/why I might start needing my rescue inhaler more/less, there's rarely any rhyme or reason that's discernable.

[Gus1234U]

i used acupuncture to stop smoking, it worked very well for me, no withdrawals and no relapsing, hope you have good results, what ever you do~!! it's worth it,,,

[rdwebb]

So far, just the upper respiratory infection induced kind. I guess it's merely reactive so far. I've done ok with smoking, had about 4 in the last week, chewed some nicotine gum because I ran out of patches and can't afford more. A friend gave me the nicotine gum. I'm giving it a shot.
The prednisone makes me jittery. The albuterol makes me jittery. This is kind of an anxiety nightmare. I'm going to wait it out and see how things go.

[Perna]

What maintenance inhaler are you on? The ventolin/albuterol is for flares and, theoretically shouldn't be needed that much, especially if the prednisone is doing its job. But when you are weaned off the prednisone, what inhaler will you be using daily?

[rdwebb]

Albuterol is the inhaler. It's red with a white top. I go off prednisone in 4 days, so she said to stop the inhaler and see "when I need it". I guess that will show if it's just related to colds as a smoker. I'll have to ask then if there's something daily. I just haven't explored a lot of info on this; guess it causes me too much stress to think of it as yet another daily maintenance thing.

[(JD)]

So glad you have quit smoking...and please try to change your thinking (it's NOT so good to have one) ... it will make it easier to totally quit and like that you have!

I began with allergic asthma...but due to the bouts with bronchitis caused from reactions, I was dx'd with COPD back in the 80s. My lung capacity is quite reduced and I need to weigh only 135 lbs for my lungs to work efficiently for my body. I weighed that in 10th grade (I'm 5'8") ... I can't move a spirometer at all. nil nada zip. But I do really well considering. However, if you can avoid having your asthma develop further, you'd be much better off.

I wish you well on your jouney.

[rdwebb]

Thank you for your story. I hate that your breathing has gotten so bad. If I could go back to 16 year old me and smack that first one out of my hand, I would do it! But at least I can try to smack 42 year old me.

I slipped and smoked one last night, so I bought the higher does patches and threw out the pack I broke down and purchased. So, back on the wagon now. My breathing feels easier with the no cigs, albuterol, and prednisone.

There are 30 rehab programs for drug and alcohol abuse. I wish the medical community and insurance companies would realize what a powerful drug and addiction nicotine is and start something like that for cigarettes.

I'm keeping in touch with my psychiatrist every 2 days or so, just to make sure my asthma meds and the stress of no nicotine don't adversely affect my bipolar status too much. I don't need to cause more "emotional" issues and I don't need to use my bipolar as an excuse to smoke. Geez, this being a grown up can suck sometimes. Ha!

[(JD)]

You're absolutely correct in the addictive power of nicotine. It is processed the same way with regards to the "feel good" chemicals as heroine and codeine I think.

"Psychoactive effects

Nicotine's mood-altering effects are different by report: in particular it is both a stimulant and a relaxant.[31] First causing a release of glucose from the liver and epinephrine (adrenaline) from the adrenal medulla, it causes stimulation. Users report feelings of relaxation, sharpness, calmness, and alertness.[32] Like any stimulant, it may very rarely cause the often catastrophically uncomfortable neuropsychiatric effect of akathisia. By reducing the appetite and raising the metabolism, some smokers may lose weight as a consequence"

Try to eat more nightshade foods.... as nicotine is the same alkyloid as found in potatoes, tomatoes, sweet and hot peppers, eggplant, tomatillos, tamarios, pepinos, pimentos, paprika, cayenne, and Tabasco sauce. It may also help with the cravings.

[yellowted]

what inhalors have you been given? ones containing beclometasone(these come in 50, 100, 200 and 250 mcg) or salbutamol are for asthma, the steroids in this barely reach your bloodstream as they are inhaled directly into your lungs so have little chance of mixing with any other meds you take orally. copd is usually helped with tiotropium. but be careful, tiotropium is sometimes given for for long term severe asthma too but in this instance it is given alongside both beclometasone and salbutamol(salamol)
I am on the highest recommended dose of beclometasone (2000mcg) and take salamol as required(2-6 times a day) and because my asthma was still uncontrolable i now take 18mcg of tiotropium a day too! this has made it much more tolerable as i only have milder attacks and usually only a few times daily where before it was up to 10 times a day! i do not have copod, i have never even tried a cigarette, but do have severe asthma related to allergies!

[rdwebb]

This first inhaler is ProAir HFA, which my doctor told me was Albuterol. It makes my heart race a bit, but it works to make it easier to breathe. My father had allergy related asthma as a child, but I've never had the first allergy. This is all me doing it to myself with stupid cigs. It makes me want to run around and scream don't smoke. Except I would get too winded from running and couldn't scream due to having an attack. Ah, at least there's humor.