Inhalers

[celtic_mom]

Good news - I just read in an article dated March 11th, that xopenex will be available in inhaler form by the end of the year.

[blondy2061h]

Woohoo!!!! I was really interested in Xopenex, because Albueterol makes me sick to my stomach and shaky and tachycardic. I asked my doctor to let me try xopenex, but she said my asthma is too severe for xopenex, and I should be using albueterol. Maybe now that it will be availible in an inhaler I have it for just when I need a little boost.

[celtic_mom]

Originally Posted by blondy2061h

Woohoo!!!! I was really interested in Xopenex, because Albueterol makes me sick to my stomach and shaky and tachycardic. I asked my doctor to let me try xopenex, but she said my asthma is too severe for xopenex, and I should be using albueterol. Maybe now that it will be availible in an inhaler I have it for just when I need a little boost.

Interestingly enough, when I was in the hospital I had very little response to two albuterol neb treatments, while the first xopenex treatment gave me significant relief. I was under the impression that xopenex was a better treatment - period (just more expensive, that's why it's not used as much). Plus, I, like you, had horrible tachycardia and shakes on the albuterol. I was told that the xopenex is a lot easier on your heart than albuterol.

[blondy2061h]

Interesting. I wouldn't imagine cost is an issue, because I have great insurance and my doctor readily put my sister on it (she had bronchitis, but doesn't have asthma). I then asked to go on it too, and they said that medicine needs to shake you up a bit to work, and that xopenex would do nothing for me. Maybe I'll ask again next time I go.

[blondy2061h]

Oh yes, and last time I was in the ER it took 6 albueterol treatments, 2 doses of pred, and 3 inhaled steriod treatments to bring me out of the attack, and no one even thought to try xopenex.