Rescue Inhalers & Cardiac Side Effects

[Old Hollywood]

Hi Everyone,

I have recently been diagnosed with asthma and was wondering if I could get the group's input on short-acting inhalers in the US. I have been reading that many or perhaps even all of the short-acting inhalers have some affect on the heart. For instance, they may cause rapid heart rate, palpitations, etc. In addition to asthma, I also suffer from a heart arrhythmia called sinus tachycardia (rapid heart rate). I have informed my Doctor of this condition, however I want to make sure that we select an inhaler that is relatively safe for me. Could someone please tell me which rescue inhalers tend to cause the least amount of cardiac side effects? Thanks in advance for your help!

Jennifer

[Titchou]

I can only tell you about the one I use - Albuterol. I have a very mild case of asthma and about the only times I use the Albuterol is before I jog and perhaps before I mow the greass if it has been dry and hot. I have had a couple of episodes of wheezing this spring like a lot of other folks in the states because of the horrid allergy season.
If I use my inhaler when I am having an attack or before aerobic exercise, I have no side effects. HOWEVER, if I use the albuterol and for some reason (phone call from mother, etc) can't go jog 15 minutes later, all heck breaks loose...hands tremble, heart races, dizzy, etc. So I've learned to just not let anything interfere with the activity I've medicated for...just my personal experience. Hope it helps.

[blondy2061h]

I use Albueterol. I want to use Xopenex for less cardiac side effects, but it's not availible in inhaler form. Albueterol makes me go into a sinus tachycardia rhythm if I take a lot of it during a bad attack. However, I'm pretty sure albueterol is the only one availible in an inhaler.

[tip2mol]

I also suffer from horrible cardiac side effects from Albuterol. I have found that I am only able to take one puff of albuterol. If I take the full two puffs, then my heart rate sky rockets to 150 - 160 and it feels as if it is going to jump out of my chest.
As far as breathing treatments, I definitely do better with the Xopenex than the Albuterol. The Xopenex does increase my heart rate up to 130- but still much better than the 150 - 160.
But like was said before, Xopenex is not available in Inhaler form.

[Kitten1980]

Yup... I have a heart defect and asthma. I've been lucky so far but Albuterol does seem to be the best of the not-very-good options. Your best bet might be to try to get your asthma controlled with daily medication so that you don't have to rely on rescue inhaler as much. I don't know that much about your cardiac situation but what I have is propolanol(sp?) which is a blood pressure / arrythmia controlling med that i can take if I have to use my rescue inhaler & it causes problems. It's not the best situation because it takes a while for the med to kick in so i try to not have to use the rescue inhaler. I am lucky that my asthma is fairly mild.