Albuterol and the shakes - Asthma Message Board

08-06-2001, 06:38 PM

About 2 months ago, I went to the dr for breathing trouble...basically it was just when I tried to exercise. He gave me an albuterol inhaler, and told me to take it about half an hour before i exercise. I do mostly running or taebo, one or the other. However I find when I take it I shake so bad while I'm trying to work out that I feel sick, and my muscles shake while I'm trying to strech that I feel like it's doing no good. Do any of you know of any other forms of medicine that I could ask my dr about that wouldn't cause such shakes and discomfort?

Caring · 08-06-2001, 06:56 PM

Albuterol is some pretty strong stuff. It is typically used for emergency, from what I have been told, though some doctors have patients use it for maintenance.

If I'm wrong, someone please correct me.

Anyway, a friend of mine, as well as myself, rarely use Albuterol because it IS so strong, and irritates our airways. She and I both use Azmacort. Pulmicort is also very good, and stronger than Azmacort, though the powder in Pulmicort is a heavier grain, and I cannot use it because I cough it right back up into my mouth and throat.

Some inhalers have ingredients that can cause tremors.
Definitely talk to your doctor about anything unusual you experience after taking any medications.

Hope this will be of help. Take Care now.
Sincerely,
Caring

rosalita100us · 08-08-2001, 06:04 AM

I agree with caring. albeteroul is strong, I am suprised your doctor subscribed it for exercise induced asthma. Ask him for an atrovent inhaler. it will open up your airway for exercise and won't make you shakey. I use combivent whichis atrovent and albeteroul combined. My son had an atrovent inhaler when he was younger he had exercise induced asthma.If someone is using albeteroul for maintance that means that their asthma is not under control. I use pure albuterol only when I am sick and that's with a nebuilizer and boy I cannot even have cofeee or i am so shakey I can't stand it.,

RTGEN · 08-14-2001, 10:41 PM

As an asthmatic and Registered Respiratory Therapist I can tell you I fully understand the shakes and how it makes you feel. The shakes are a side effect of the medicine because one of the things that bronchodilators do is relax the smooth muscle in your lungs. Because you have that smooth muscle in other parts of your body (especially your arms) in the areas of your body that you don't need relaxation you get an overmedication effect or tremor. Consistant or continued use of the albuterol will decrease the tremors because then your body starts to expect the medicine and then no longer reacts. If you don't quite understand what I am trying to say I can explain it in further detail in an email.

Albuterol 15-20 minutes before exercise is the absolute correct solution for exercise induced asthma. Exercise induce asthma is different in that it doesn't necessarily indicate you don't have your asthma under control if need to use your inhaler before exercising. Hope this information helps!

ion_man · 08-16-2001, 07:49 AM

Angeline,

Some of the best methods of asthma control are those that do not require medicine, like getting an allergy test, finding out what you're allergic to , and taking practical steps to reduce your exposure. One asthma tip I often see for exercise induced asthma is to try not to breathe through your mouth if at all possible. This causes your lungs to dry out and react. Breathing through the nose adds soothing moisture to the air during exercise. Hope this helps.