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[Study] Use of steroid inhalers increases risk of NTM in some patients
MAC & Bronchiectasis | Last Active: Aug 22, 2022 | Replies (8)Comment receiving replies
Thank you Sue. I recently started Albuterol inhaler but it gives me shaky hands and fast heart rates (130 today). Maybe I should not use it. I am concerned what if inhaler gives me an infection. I don't have asthma but my doctor gave me Albuterol in case I have tight chest. I tend to have tightness in the chest when I wake up, maybe from mucus build up during the night. That was why I tested inhaler to see if it helps. I dare not use it again after today.
I am watching this right now:
Update on Bronchiectasis Treatments Including new Investigational Therapies
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b7-SYvCEFME
Replies to "Thank you Sue. I recently started Albuterol inhaler but it gives me shaky hands and fast..."
@sweethighland I agree with Sue @sueinmn that any drug you take has it's side effects, but you must weigh that against the positive effects it may have. Quality of Life is very important to all of us. It appears to me the inhaled steroid has a low risk of causing NTM infections. Maybe you could take a lower dose or less often and still be effective with a lower risk of side effects. You might ask your health providers their opinion. Bill
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Please! Don't let the very small chance (1/10th of 1%) that you might develop MAC stop you from using a helpful medication. Especially, given that you already have an infection that I assume is being treated, the antibiotics will keep a new one from settling in.
As for the albuterol, yes, it is great at making me feel shaky. Instead I use levalbuterol, which does not have the same effect. By the way, albuterol & levalbuterol are not steroids.
Also, if you are nebulizing saline, it is helpful to use a puff of albuterol or levalbuterol first to open the airways.
Remember, with every health and medication decision there are tradeoffs. Being able to breathe deeply and comfortably usually means you will feel better, be more active, be more able to exercise, and thus generally be more healthy.
Sue