Inhalers for Allergies? - Allergies Message Board

dreams in neon · 06-08-2009, 02:39 PM

Hi everyone,

I spoke to my GP this morning about the fact that my allergy med alone was not helping my symptoms during the afternoon, evening and nighttime hours. She decided to prescribe a nasal spray and an inhaler (Albuterol) in addition to my allergy med.

Do any of you take an inhaler for your allergies? My GP believes an inhaler will help my dry cough due to allergies as well as coughing fits I have whenever I take a deep breath, laugh, am around dust or out in the cold.

Titchou · 06-08-2009, 02:50 PM

Well, albuterol is actually an asthma inhaler that is a bronchial dialator. It opens the airways when they constrict. Rhinocort was a nasal inhaler for allergies that was on the market a while back but it was discontinued. It's available only as a spray now.

Are you only going to a GP for your allergies? Sounds like you may need an allergist and a pulmonologist.

dreams in neon · 06-08-2009, 03:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Titchou

Well, albuterol is actually an asthma inhaler that is a bronchial dialator. It opens the airways when they constrict. Rhinocort was a nasal inhaler for allergies that was on the market a while back but it was discontinued. It's available only as a spray now.

Are you only going to a GP for your allergies? Sounds like you may need an allergist and a pulmonologist.

I am not seeing an allergist because during the past 2 years I've been taking Fexofenadine (my allergy med), it has worked well in controlling my symptoms.

It is only recently that I started having problems with congestion, sneezing, dry cough, dry throat and headache for the majority of the day.

Should I ask my GP about changing the Albuterol to Rhinocort? If she tells me to take Albuterol instead, will it help my dry cough and coughing spells? From what I was told, it would, but as far as I know, I do not have asthma.

Titchou · 06-08-2009, 07:39 PM

Rhinocort and Albuterol are two entirely different medications. Albuterol is a bronchial dialator normally prescribed for asthma attacks. Rhinocort is a nasal spray used to control nasal allergies. Sounds to me like you need a full allergy workup and a pulmonry function test.

dreams in neon · 06-08-2009, 08:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Titchou

Rhinocort and Albuterol are two entirely different medications. Albuterol is a bronchial dialator normally prescribed for asthma attacks. Rhinocort is a nasal spray used to control nasal allergies. Sounds to me like you need a full allergy workup and a pulmonry function test.

In that case, Albuterol should help control my coughing, so I will follow my doctor's advice as far as that is concerned. She also prescribed a nasal spray (whose name I can't remember), so that should help cover all of my symptoms.

As far as seeing an allergist, I will do that if the Albuterol and nasal spray do not give me any relief in addition to my allergy med.