is this normal?

[yendor220]

I have been diagnosed with asthma and am taking a fast acting inhaler along with pulmicort. I am noticing that i have to use the fast acting inhaler maybe 3 to 4 times a day. Is that normal? I have never had an asthma attack, i just get shortness of breath.

 

[gcsjr]

Using your fast-acting inhaler 3-4 times a day is too many. You probably need to get back to the doctor to get your medications adjusted, either by switching to a higher dose of Pulmicort (or a different steroid inhaler), adding a longer acting bronchodilator (which works like your rescue inhaler but for up to 12 hours) to your regimen.

 

[snowdrift]

You say you've been diagnosed, but you don't say how long ago. It sounRAB like this may be very recent. It takes up to two weeks for a steroid inhaler to reach its full effect; it can take longer to get your asthma under good control if you've been having trouble for a while.

 

[alley67]

I agree with snowdrift. I had been having issues for probably years, and really suffering for a few weeks getting progressively worse when I was diagnosed last winter. It took 3 full weeks before I could stop using the albuterol every 4 hrs, and a few more weeks before I needed it only once or twice a week. Now I use it very often the week before my period but otherwise only for exercise. Assuming this is a new diagnosis, hang in there and ask for a follow up in a month. If it's not new, make an appt with your doc first thing tomorrow morning.