Newbie, Chronic Asthmatic, Addicted to Albuterol

[wheezer21]

Hello everyone, I am new to this board and find it very interesting, I am always looking for advice and suggestions for my asthma problems.
I was born with Asthma and was on Alupent as a kid, usually going to the ER twice a year is a normal event for me. I have tried all the meds I can think of, Singular, Advair, Albuterol, Prednisone, Asthmacort, I have a nebulizer in my home and use it often. I am overweight by about 100 lbs and I am working on it slowly, but as you all know it is tough with breathing problems.
I don't have health insurance so I have to pay cash for my prescriptions, I have friends that let me use there Albuterol inhaler prescriptions and I pay cash for them, I use about 4 inhalers per month weather I am sick or not. I hoard Prednisone in my medicine cabinet incase of an attack as well as neb treatments. The last few years my asthma has gotten a little better, my bosses brother is a doctor so he will see me when I am chronically sick and give me any samples avaiable, The last few times I had an eposode I requested the doctor give me Zithromax incase I just had an infection and this seemed to cure my problem. 2 weeks ago was my last attack, I started with 100mg of Prednisone and tapered off 10mg per day until better along with the zithromax, now I am sick again. I have a very stressful job and I am very dedicated to it, I sometimes think this could contribute to my Asthma flare up's, I thought about asking for Valium or something but dont want to use addicting drugs or sound like a drug addict, I also think using my inhaler is all in my head, when I am out of breath I take a puff, this may happen 20 times a day, I can't go anywhere without it in my pocket. Right now I am back on the Prednisone, 50mg yesterday, 40mg today, 4-5 nebs per day and my inhaler. I am also very allergic to certain things so I try to stay away from natural herbs and such. I am searching for an air purifier right now. I find it sad that it is so hard for someone like my self to find medications to control my asthma without a prescription, I think I should be able to get these sorts of things on **** or something. I have 27 years experience dealing with this disease and can usually tell doctors exactly what I need. Anyway sorry for the long post and sob story, but any help or suggestions would help greatly.
Yours truly,
Weezer21

[linda36]

Hi - you might want to try reading a book called Reversing Asthma (check it out on ****** or half.com). He uses specific examples of how he helped people who used a lot of asthma medications cut back. I have used many of the suggestions in the book and have reduced my need for medication/inhalers. He also gives diet suggestions which helped me lose weight. You might want to start there and once you lose a little weight you will be able to exercise more. I find exercise also to be very important - I think the stronger my lungs are the better able I am to handle attacks when they occur and exercise will also help you deal with the high stress from your job. I would really think about trying this approach before adding Valium or other drugs to your system.

[wrin]

1. At four canisters of Albuterol a month, there is no way humanly possible you are not exceeding the recommended daily dosage. You are putting yourself at risk for long-term cardiac side effects, perhaps resulting in death.

2. There is no such thing as a physical addiction to albuterol. Four nebs a day OR eight puffs a day is the recommended maximum. Exceeding this outside of a supervised (emergency room) environment is not recommended under any circumstances.

3. Hoarding prednisone and then starting yourself on obscenely high doses against medical advice is not going to improve your situation any. It's probably part of the reason why you're so overweight. Prednisone is a last-ditch emergency measure, not something that should be used chronically for control. A steroid inhaler is something that you should look into for control.

4. Examine your environment and see if you can make any environmental changes that would decrease the allergen load and your symptoms. Look at long-term therapy with anti-histamines, if you have a series of known environmental allergies.

5. Valium is not something that should be used to control asthma. It's a drug with the potential for abuse, and with your history of not following doctor's recommendations when it comes to dosing with medications, I would agree with you that it's a very, very, very bad idea for you to start on something that *does* have the potential for physical addiction.

[Titchou]

I so agree with WRIN. I think your weight problem is adding to your breathing difficulties as it is very hard to get enough oxygen to the body when the body is large.
PLEASE lose some weight, get away from so much Albuterol and try to stabilize yourself without as many meds as possible. The albuterol cannot help if the wheezing is weight induced.

[wheezer21]

Hey guys, Thanks for all the advice, concerns and feedback. I am going to do as Wrin suggested, but first finish off my last dose of Prednisone, I really only use it 2-3 times per year, but I "feel" better to have it in the cabinet just in case.
I have joined Lifetime Fitness, which is 24 hours so that should help with my funny schedule.
I have an appointment to have Culligan install an air purification system in my house this week, the one with the UltraViolet and Ozone bulbs, I have heard that this works wonders for allergies and such and I will be sure to let you guys know.
On the same note I am also having them install a reverse osmosis drinking water since my tap water tastes gross, I believe I will drink more water before and after meals.
Next step is to rearch this book that Linda36 reccomends. I really appreciate the input from everyone and I am going to work hard on this. I really don't remember ever using my inhaler as much as I am now and I have never been this heavy. This will be the hardes habit to break since it is so easy to reach for it when I become out of breath, but so hard to leave it places incase I really need it.
Take care everyone,
Wheezer21