Flovent

[missmonise]

Hello Everyone,

My stepson has moderate to severe asthma. He has been using the pulmicort respules since he was 1. Now that he is 5 the insurance company will not pay for the respules. He can only get the turbohaler. He is not good with using an inhaler without a spacer and as you know, the turbohaler cannot be used with one. I was wondering if I can get any feedback on the Flovent inhaler. We feel as if he needs to use a regular inhaler with a spacer until he is able to effectively inhale the powder. He has been on the turbohaler for a little over a week and he has been coughing and wheezing with a runny nose so I don't think he is getting the medication. He had to use his xopenex yesterday and today. He goes to the doctor tomorrow and I am going to ask her about switching him to Flovent. Any feedback is appreciated.

Also, has anyone noticed any negative effects with switching from a nebulizer solution to an inhaler?

Thanks!

[suthrngrace]

My son who is now 5 used a flovent inhaler, with aero chamber from age 18 months - 3 years. At age 3 we moved and changed doctors who changed his meds. She was concerned about Flovent, because it can stunt growth. But I think most oral steroids have that side effect. I had no complaints when he was on the medication, but it did not seem to work any better than his current medication, which is advair. I think you are absolutely correct about it being difficult for some younger children to get enough of the powder medications. My mom also takes flovent as maintenance med, and she has never complained. Hope this helps....

[Titchou]

You are aware that Advair is a steroid also, aren't you?