I've had a really tight chest and trouble breathing, so I went to the student health center this morning, and it's suspected that I have asthma, probably allergy related, so I was prescribed an inhaler to help with my symptoms. The prescription says "Albuterol HFA" -- what type of inhaler will I get when I fill my prescription?
Its an inhaler.
In the past when i had asthma i used Ventolin Inhaler when needed to.
Its a very simple device. whenever you feel an abnormal short of breath just open the cap, expire, press the inhaler while you inspire and sustain breath for a while (so the air with the medicine is retained inside your lungs just for some seconds) and it has a immediate or almost immediate effect.
Also, i heavily advise you to go to an alergologist to check your condition, and also do a exam that measures your lung capacity just to be sure everithing is ok.
when i was a kid i did one of those lung capacity exams once a year to check asthma progression.
oh.. and by the way, you might want to do some allergy tests on your skin , or bloodtests to check if you have allergy.
but sometimes asthma doesnt come of allergy, it can be triggered by weather, practicing heavy exercise, or some other things that can damage the lungs.
try to undestand wath triggers the simptoms.
Swimming helped me a lot to cure asthma
good luck.
If you have any doubts just post. i will be here from time to time.
Had asthma for 14 years. Been without simptoms for another 14
Actually, it's usually the cheaper one. Since the HFA came on the market, it's no longer generic. The days of $11 albuterol are gone. They are all in the $30 up range now with the HFA propellant.
Actually, it's usually the cheaper one. Since the HFA came on the market, it's no longer generic. The days of $11 albuterol are gone. They are all in the $30 up range now with the HFA propellant.
It's not on my insurance plan. It's one of the more expensive ones. It's $40 vs. the $30 for Proair or Xopenex.
Last edited by missyou009; 10-10-2012 at 06:43 PM.
I should have been a bit more clear in my response. I find it frustrating that often times we have to take the medications insurance dictates based on allowability instead of the ones that the doctors originally prescribe.
I've had that happen to me more than once. My doctor prescribes one thing and because of the high insurance cost or the fact it isn't allowable I end up having to go back to the doctor to have the script changed. Unfortunately, asthma meds have been some of my most expensive over the years.
Interesting. ProAir is $40 on my insurance but the pharmacy price without insurance is $37 so the cost differential isn't much for me. I have to pay almost $40 anyway. The ventolin is cheaper from Canada but you have to pay shipping. Oh well...until one of them goes generic....which will be a long time since they are all new with the HFA.
I take Proventil which is pretty much the same. As titchou mentioned you may need a daily preventative. I have cough variant asthma that was brought on by allergies and take two different ones. Symbicort and Spiriva.
I take Proventil which is pretty much the same. As titchou mentioned you may need a daily preventative. I have cough variant asthma that was brought on by allergies and take two different ones. Symbicort and Spiriva.
Yeah...I feel like I might have CVA since I've had a chronic cough for quite some time. I'll see how I do with the Ventolin and reevaluate at a later date.
Holy moly! It was quite chilly today, especially this morning -- it was about 40*F, and the cold air made my cough way worse! Each time I left my apartment to go to class, I had a 5 minute coughing fit!! One time it was so bad that I practically started choking!!
Last edited by missyou009; 10-12-2012 at 12:43 PM.
Welcome to the wonderful world of CVA! I'm not sure if Ventolin will help you with the cough, but it helps me break up the thick mucous that builds up at my vocal cords and causes hoarseness.
Welcome to the wonderful world of CVA! I'm not sure if Ventolin will help you with the cough, but it helps me break up the thick mucous that builds up at my vocal cords and causes hoarseness.
It seems to be somewhat effective, but it's definitely not a cure-all. What is usually the treatment for CVA? And how is CVA diagnosed?
The cold weather is a killer on my lungs. I end up wearing face masks (ear loop fleece or filtering types) when I go out in the winter. I get funny looks, but they really do help.
With my chronic coughing from the asthma flares, it really wears on me. My typical treatment is daily Advair (500/50 or 250/50) and the albuterol. I used to be on Singulair as well, but I'm now receiving Xolair shots that allowed me to go off of the Singulair. This week, I switched from Advair to Dulera. I'm waiting to see how well it works for me over the next few weeks. During the worst of the winter, I'll use the nebulized albuterol instead of just the inhaler.
Hmm...I'll probably go back to the health center and see what they can do. And if I don't get much help there (which is unfortunately quite likely), the next time I go home I'll go to my PCP.
