No Voice Using Symbicort
Hi,
I've been using the Symbicort Inhaler for many years. It seems to be the only inhaler that works to control my asthma. I've recently added Montelukast 10mg tablets to the mix, and the combination is working very well. I haven't even needed any Ventolin at all for nearly 4 months!
My problem is that using Symbicort as instructed I have little to no voice. I have to force my voice out to even be heard (husband has no problem with that 😀 and that strains my throat. And yes, I use a spacer, I rinse my mouth and gargle afterwards and even clean my teeth. It's become my daily ritual.
I'm getting to the point where I don't want to use Symbicort any more. I been to my doctor and we've tried everything that's available here in Australia, but nothing has had the desired effect on my asthma as much as Symbicort. Hence I keep going back to it.
But I would really like to be able to speak in my normal voice.
Does anyone have any suggestions?
Thank you in advance (hopefully)
Hi. Thank you for sharing your personal experience with us and for your inquiry. And congratulations on going 4 months without needing your Ventolin. I know from my own personal experience how nice that must feel for you. Sorry that you are unable to use your voice, perhaps due to this inhaler that has helped you so much. I do have an idea that may help you, that is if it is something you have not tried yet. I am wondering if your doctor would refer you to see an ENT (https://asthma.net/living/ear-nose-throat). These are doctors who's specialty is the throat. An ENT may be able to actually take a look at your throat to see what actually is going on. And this person should be able to help you determine if it is indeed your inhaler causing it or perhaps something else. And perhaps this doctor may have other ideas that may help you. This may be something worth trying as opposed to just stopping a medicine that is helping you so much. Of course another idea may be trying another similar medicine. Are any of these ideas something you have tried or would consider? John. asthma.net community moderator
Thanks John. Good idea. I'll be seeing my doctor again soon, so will raise that option with her. In the meantime, since the combination of Symbicort and Montelukast seems to be working so well, I'm going to try the combination of Intal Forte (the non-steroidal option) and Montelukast, to see if that makes a difference. Thinking that the problem is the steroid component. Unfortunately, Intal has been discontinued here in Australia, not sure if it's available anywhere else though. Once my supply of Intal runs out, I'm back to square one. I suppose that the problem may not be with the steroid, but some other ingredient, but from my research on the net, that's what it seems to be.
Hi Corinne, I haven't seen the nebulized version here in Australia. Have you any experience taking Intal in conjunction with Montelukast? 
I do take both of those medications concurrently and have been for over a year. I haven't had any adverse effects personally, and if I am correct they work on different pathways for inflammation. I didn't even know they had an inhaler form myself (U.S.)! -Corinne, moderator
Thank you for the update. You may be right, that it is the steroid component that is causing your symptoms. And you are definitely not alone there either, as others in the community have discussed this same thing. Thankfully with asthma there are other medications worth trying to see if they help. Intal was once a top-line option for asthma, although it has been discontinue in most countries. I not like when they discontinue medicines, as it takes away an option for us. Do keep us posted on how the Intal works for you. Wishing you all the best. John. asthma.net community moderator.
