Acute Bronchitis and asthma exacerbation
Three weeks ago I got a sore throat and it gradually got worse and turned into bronchitis. I called my doctor and he put me on a course of prednisone and antibiotics . My asthma got bad and I was given a nebulizer along with Abuterol. I'm presently using my nebulizer twice a day.
I have never had my asthma get this bad and know nothing about exacerbations. I may have had this in the past a couple times when I got sick but it resolved with little treatment.
How long can I expect this flare up to last ? I have read that Abuterol should not be used more than twice a week. I'm currently on another round of a different antibiotic because of a sinus infection on top of all this. That feels a little better today after only two days of treatment.
Hi.
Welcome to our asthma community. And thank you for chiming in here with this, your first post. Sorry to hear that you are experiencing this. Glad to see that you talked to your doctor and are receiving treatment for your exacerbation.
I see you posted yesterday. Are you feeling better today? I hope there's been some improvement in your symptoms.
How long a flare-up lasts can vary from person to person, and even flare-up to flare-up. Usually, for me, once I am getting treatment for the flare-up -- such as steroids -- they usually start getting better within a few hours, and usually clear up within a day or two. Although, to feel totally better, it may take a while longer. If your flare-up continues to linger, it may be a good idea to touch base with your physician.
That said, albuterol is a rescue medicine to be used when you are feeling asthma symptoms. When you are feeling symptoms due to a flare-up, that is what it is there for. The general recommendation is to use it every 4-6 hours as needed. Is that how your doctor prescribed it for you?
Sometimes, when a flare-up is bad enough, my doctor allows me to use it even more frequently than that. But, if you are using it more than prescribed, that is when it is a good idea to touch base with your doctor -- who may want to tweak your treatment regimen to get you feeling better so you don't need it as often.
That said, the notion of using your rescue inhaler no more than twice a week is the goal of good asthma control. Still, even those with good asthma control may still experience occasional flare-ups (such as you are experiencing). And it is for these situations that you may use it more often -- although not more often than your doctor prescribes. Does this help? John. community moderator.thank you so much. You are welcome. John. community moderator.
Hi Sal! How are you feeling this week? Any improvement in how often you're using your meds? Thinking about you ... try to give yourself the time you need to recover, and hopefully your body will catch up soon. Hang in there! We're here if you want to talk. -Melissa, asthma team I’m no better ! Using Abuterol ever 4 hours. Chest is hurting. Feeling very uncomfortable. Oxygen is good so far. My doctor says call him next week if no improvement. He suggested Singuliar. I’m afraid to take it because of the Black Box warning and suicide issues that have been reported.
Hi. I see you are new to our community, having just joined up yesterday. Welcome!. Sorry to hear that you are experiencing this trouble with your asthma. Glad to see you are working with a doctor to get your asthma back under control. That said, I see you posted this yesterday. How are you feeling today? I do hope you are feeling better. Wishing you all the best. John. community moderator. Hi again. I would also like to address your concern about Singulair and the black box warning. It's important to consider both the potential benefits and risks of any medication, as I'm sure you know. Have you had a chance to discuss your concerns with your doctor? He or she can provide personalized advice and may be able to address your worries or suggest alternative options. On a personal note, I've experienced significant relief since starting Singulair and haven't encountered any adverse effects. It's made a positive difference in my life, especially during allergy seasons. However, everyone's experience with medication can vary, so it's essential to find what works best for you.
Ultimately, the decision is yours, but I encourage you to have an open conversation with your doctor to explore your options fully. If you have any more questions or concerns, feel free to share them here. We're here to support you through this process. All the best. John. community moderator.
