ACT Timing

Posted by lorrainewenn @lorrainewenn, Apr 12 8:03am

When is the best time to do ACT? I do my first Treatment in the morning but am having a hard time determining when to do the second one. I know that you should wait 2 hours after eating but how close to bedtime? Sometimes I do ACT at 10pm!

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narelled23 | @narelled23 | Apr 12 9:15am

Same here! Just finished now at 10.20pm. Difficult to find best time for second one...I think so long as I do it, it really doesn't matter.

snoei | @snoei | Apr 12 11:04am

I was diagnosed with bronchiectasis one year ago and have learned a lot, yet have questions. We all respond differently to ACT and timing. Morning ACT works best after I am rehydrated from the overnight. Evening ACT I tackle by 7:30 because I never obtain immediate results and want to be finished coughing by bedtime at 9:30. Yep, I'm a morning person.
I recently asked my pulmonologist how I can know I'm doing adequate ACT. He said that's a good question and that I have not been sick since diagnosis is a good indication.
I agree with narelled23, what is most important is that we do it.

scoop | @scoop | Apr 12 11:36am

Timing of the p.m. session is something that I struggle with also. Airway clearance works best when saline neb is preceded by a bronchodilator, such as levalbuterol or albuterol. The latter taken too close to bedtime interferes with sleep. The half life of levalbuterol is 4 hours, which means that after 4 hours 50% of the drug remains, after 8 hours 25% of the drug remains etc. So it can't be taken too close to bedtime.

I wondered about nebbing levalbuterol before dinner and then once dinner digested, nebbing 7% saline, since the bronchodilator will still be somewhat in my system. Anyone try this?

Sue, Volunteer Mentor | @sueinmn | Apr 12 1:55pm

In reply to @scoop "Timing of the p.m. session is something that I struggle with also. Airway clearance works best..." + (show)

Have you contemplated asking for a long-acting beta agonist such as formoterol? It does not interfere with sleep the way a short-acting one does (in my case, it also does not worsen my essential tremor.)
Overall with the LABA my airway function has improved 4% over previous readings - amazing considering I have asthma and bronchiectasis.
Sue

sweethighland | @sweethighland | Apr 12 2:44pm

In reply to @sueinmn "Have you contemplated asking for a long-acting beta agonist such as formoterol? It does not interfere..." + (show)

May I know what is LABA?

scoop | @scoop | Apr 12 3:55pm

In reply to @sueinmn "Have you contemplated asking for a long-acting beta agonist such as formoterol? It does not interfere..." + (show)

Hi @sueinmn I take symbicort twice a day. Before clearance I am do not think it opens me up as much as nebulized levalbuterol. What time do you take your LABA (Long acting bronchodilator)?

Sue, Volunteer Mentor | @sueinmn | Apr 12 6:48pm

In reply to @scoop "Hi @sueinmn I take symbicort twice a day. Before clearance I am do not think it..." + (show)

Fifteen minutes or so before airway clearance. I trade off not as much opening for less tremors - albuterol/levalbuterol can make it impossible for me to hit the keys on my phone or tablet, or use a pencil or paint brush, or safely operate my sewing machine (never mind being able to thread it - haven't done that for years.)
Sue

Sue, Volunteer Mentor | @sueinmn | Apr 12 6:53pm

In reply to @sweethighland "May I know what is LABA?" + (show)

Glad you asked that!
Here is an explanation of the various kinds and combinations of inhalers prescribed for Asthma, Bronchiectasis, COPD and Emphysema:
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/is-anyone-else-confused-about-all-those-inhalers/
It is almost 2 years old, so almost time for an update to add new drugs and new brand or generic names.

camilleups | @camilleups | Apr 12 7:32pm

In reply to @sueinmn "Glad you asked that! Here is an explanation of the various kinds and combinations of inhalers..." + (show)

I do not seem to produce much of anything at night. I am very successful in the morning right after getting up. Am I jeperdizing my progress by skipping nightly nebulizing??