Medications: had to try many inhalers till I found one that one worked

Me too.

This company's albuterol might be the same drug, supposedly, as another company's. But the formulation and delivery systems are different. Like you, tried 'em all (or so it would seem) and of the pack, found one that works - and it works especially well.: Ventolin.

In talking to other wheezers their experience is the same. Well-metered doses delivered in a fine-enough mist to get the job done when it arrives. Best solution for an emergency inhalater that I've found.

I've also found at the urging of two providers that a plastic chamber about the size of a hot-dog (several brands - mine is a Philips, available OTC) that diffuses the mist in air before being inhaled makes a ton of difference. It consists of a sealed port for the inhaler at one end, and a mouthpiece at the other with a whistle in between that warns if you're sucking the medicated air in too fast.

Result: the medication goes deep into the bronchia in a well-distributed fog rather than a concentrated blast, most of which gets stuck on the back of your throat and is of no effect.

The idea of combining fluticasone propionate and salmeterol in one formula is encouraging! Have used both but combining them for a controlled double-whammy makes a lot of sense. I'll tell my PCP.

Thank you, thank you, for passing this along!

The word that passes between us here on this forum has to be at least as valuable, and likely more valuable, than what the doctors hear from the pharmaceutical reps who visit their offices.

In the vast sea that doctors navigate, polluted by politics, the insurance industry, and big pharma, we do best when we can become well-informed advocates for our own health care, working pro-actively in partnership with good docs when we find them.

@chuckstran - I agree that using an aerochamber has been great for me. It was suggested by a pharmacist a while back. I did learn after keeping mine for several years, though, that you are supposed to replace them every 6 months.

Aerochamber! So that's what it is!

Less embarrassing for those going to the pharmacy to ask for one that they ask for it by name - my description of a hot-dog sized plastic thing to suck on probably wouldn't be as well received. 🙂

@lisalucier @chuckstran
I was going to ask the name of this device so thanks Lisa.

Lisa, Chuck do you know if it requires a prescription to get or is OTC?

@chuckstran - well, a "hot-dog sized plastic thing" certainly is more colorful and interesting than "aerochamber," though, I have to say.

An aerochamber kinda looks like something that could be over-the-counter, but it does need a prescription. I just mentioned in a portal message to my allergist that a pharmacist had told me it could be really helpful. The allergist said "sure" and prescribed it.

chuckstran, about the whistle in between inhaling the medication you mentioned that warns if you're sucking the medicated air in too fast: I will say that the first aerochamber I had did not have a whistle. I was quite alarmed the morning after I got my second aerochamber when it started whistling while my husband was still asleep on a Sat. morning, and I was using the inhaler in the master bathroom. No one at the pharmacy had mentioned this whistle feature. Of course, the whistle was giving me a useful message to change how I was using it.

So, if you have a situation where you would awaken someone with the aerochamber's whistle, that is something to be aware of.

@jc76 - Do you experience any side effects when you use the fluticasone propionate and salmeterol inhalation powder, USP (Wixela)?

I think we need to distinguish between emergency inhaler and inhalation therapy.

Some inhalers are emergency inhalers (albuterol, etc.) and intended to provide immediate relief during an asthma attack or to ward one off. I'll also use mine when I'm a little wheezy and anticipating that exertion might trigget an attack before a gym workout, fishing a trout stream or hiking.

Advair discs, synthetic steroid inhalers and others are meant to provide some sort of therapy to the lung or bronchia tissue and the relief doesn't occur until after the change prrovided by the therapy has taken place.

I've been to docs who simply say, "Inhaler, ty this for your asthma," without specifying what the purpose of the inhaler is. Up to us to read the fine print on the back side of the leaflet to find out what's going on, or press the doc for clear instruction on what it's for.

Thanks, @chuckstran - that is a wise idea to clearly differentiate between emergency/rescue inhalers and maintenance inhalation therapy.

For a medium-depth article about asthma treatment and the types of inhalers, see Mayo Clinic>Diseases and Conditions>Diagnosis and Treatment, scrolling down to the Treatment heading https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/asthma/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20369660

For a more in-depth explanation of asthma inhalers, see this Mayo Clinic article:

- Asthma medications: Know your options https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/asthma/in-depth/asthma-medications/art-20045557

Also tagging some other Connect members who may have some thoughts about having to try out multiple inhalers to find one that is effective for you @nannette @sueinmn @nana43 @onana @rits @sandy148.

@lisalucier
Lisa, No did not have any side affects.
I did not think I was going to find an inhaler that worked but Wixela (at least for me) does.

Those fast acting inhalers I was asked to try and use prior to doing a Sprint Triathlon (I was getting short of breath during swim). I would use it and did seem to dealy the onset of the symptoms but would just get them later in the swim. Atrovent would made me start coughing more and immediately after using.

I did not find any of them (except Wixela) worked well when sympstoms would start up on normal non race days where sinuses and bronchial area I could feel was irritated causing wheezing and coughing. I would use Wixela on those days and did work after about 30 minutes and lasted throughout the day for me.

The Wixela I don't ever see mentioned other than me. I thought I could mentioned it as another inhaler to asked your medical provider about. It does take about 30 minutes to work but after that it really brings me relief. I think like you mentioned having to keep trying to find something that works for you and your symptoms