Is anyone else confused about all those inhalers?

@sueinmn I’m trying to research and figure this out . I stopped the trelogy for 10 days . Felt I had to take it . I just need the right protical

@alicebrew1 What specifically are you trying to figure out? Are you experiencing side effects? Do you feel it is not effective for you? Why was it prescribed? How long ago? Do you have other health conditions? Have you talked to the prescriber about your concerns?

@alicebrew1 I used to use Trelegy and when I was at NJH for BE and MABC, the ID Dr and Pulm told me they would like to see me get off it since I got off them once before and due to inhaled corticoids inhibiting the lung immune system. With BE, there is a higher risk of NTM infections with inhaled steroid use. Years ago, I was diagnosed with reactive airway disease (at NJH) and later with asthma (by local Pulm)-which may or may not have been confused with BE. NJH recently retested me for asthma (NOx and methyl choline challenge) and results were negative for asthma. The Pulm there recommended Anoro. Unfortunately, my insurance doesn't cover Anoro, so my local Pulm put me on AirSupra which is short acting, about 4-6 hours. Though, I have now been able to reduce my use of the AirSupra, I would still like to eliminate inhaled steroids completely. My local Pulm has suggested I try Brinsupri to help with the inflammation-among other things, but I'm wondering if that too could reduce immunity in the lungs. I don't know, so interested if that topic has come up.

Great information, Sue. Thanks!

Trelegy seems to help me more that Breyna (generic of Symbicort), but if I don't rinse my mouth and gargle for at least ten times immediately, my voice would be hoarse for the rest of the day. So now I do all that within one minute after inhaling Trelegy, the hoarseness seems to be much less. Also Trelegy is SO EXPENSIVE! I really have to depend on the samples from the Doctors, otherwise, in the meantime, I have to use other much less expensive medication.

Thanks. I am new to shortnesss of breath (SOB) issues, although I have had MAC for a long time. The only time I used my inhaler I had irritation in my mouth so never used it again. I will try again with the mouth rinse.

@suzieq11 in addition to rinsing, you might want to try a tongue scraper. This seems to really make a difference for me.

@kathyjjb My UMASS pulmonologist told me no more inhalers due to their introducing more unkind pathogens into my lungs. This was a few years ago that he told me that. I have always listened to him. Nebulizing four times a day is his RX for me plus antibiotics . I have had MAC and many other pathogens along this journey. I don’t know if the no inhaler use is a new protocol for people like us. Irene5

@irene5 Hi Irene, I think if there's a pill that helps those with inflammation, it's better than the inhaled steroid (who knows since Brinsupri is so new). I think a lot of people still need the inhalant. For me, I still need 1-2 times per month during allergy season. Though the Brinsupri and Montelukast have almost eliminated my airway inflammation. The reason, I don't like the inhaled steroids is due to the negative effects on lung immunity. When I went to NJH last year, my ID doctor told me that she wanted me to go off the inhaled steroids-for that reason. She thought I could after going through a 20 year NJH file and saw that I did it before. But this time, I needed the Brinsupri and Montelukast to make that possible.