Managing Asthma Inhaler

I am a severe asmatic. I had nebulizer treatments regulary until almost high school and if I get sick now they put me on it. It's not excessive. It's better to have it and not need it than need it and not have it.

they have belt loop holders for them if not get a cell phone case it will fit in that attaches to her belt and buy her a belt. :)

I don't think it's excessive to have one everywhere you need. It is frustrating dealing with insurance, but you can usually refill about every 25-28 days, or so, so you really don't have to wait for a month. When my son needed one as a baby and toddler, we had one for daddy's office, my purse, the diaper bag, and grandma's house. Granted, usually my purse or the diaper bag were with him, too, but there were occasions where that wasn't the case since we had extra diapers, etc. at the other places. 12 is young to have to remember something so important, especially if she can't carry a purse with her. You might talk to someone at the school and see what they recommend. It's scary and frustrating, I know. I've been with my son on several occasions when he has quit breathing, and have watched him turn blue, or even start seizing. I'm sorry you have to go through that, especially when you aren't there to protect her. You might talk to the doctor and see if you can get a sample or two, to help cut the cost of so many. The samples often only have about 15 doses, but it's better than paying $100 a pop for something that may not be used. GL! I hope you get some good ideas!

My granddaughter has had asthma since she was a baby and needs to have an inhaler with her. She's 10 and doesn't carry one with her. The school has one. Daycare has one. Mom has one which she carries in her purse and one kept always at home. I have two; one at home and one in my car. So 4 sounds reasonable to me.

My granddaughter's allergist wrote a prescription for multiple inhalers. We also have this many, in part, because her mother has refilled the prescription before the inhaler was empty. The prescription has a date after which you can get a refill even tho the inhaler you have isn't empty. We've found that with having several inhalers they last for months. Watch the expiration date to know when to stop using them. Hers have rarely been empty before the expiration date.

I suggest that the prescription was for just one in that some people, most likely an adult could carry one with them where ever they went. But this is not a reasonable expectation for a child with numerous activities. Call her doctor and get a prescription for as many as you need.

Our daughter had one at school in her backpack.. Could your daughter leave one in her locker?

And one our daughter left at home.. The pharmacist was great about helping us get 2 inhalers from the insurance. If we wanted any more we had to pay for them unless the other inhalers were empty..

Speak with your doctor or your pharmacist.. see if they can get 2 smaller versions of what she uses so you can have the 4 you need..
Since her asthma sounds more serious.. and she is so active, I would think they could figure a way to help you out..

Karen,

Have you thought about alternative and get your daughter off inhalers? I am a strong advocate to get kids off inhales with natural alternatives. Inhaler is an emergency relief, and should not be used an ongoing symptom management. I know kids who died of an attack at their own room when the inhaler was just two feet from them... Back to my point, there are natural alternatives that can stay in kids body for up to 72 hours and ward against asthma attack and help them stay off inhalers and live an active lifestyle.

I strongly suggest you take a look at some alternatives, and educate yourself. One of the natural products is Pycnogenol. It has been used in Europe as a prescription drug for over 65 years, and here in the US it is considered a nutritional supplement. Pynogneol as a product is one of the most researched natural products. It is an super antioxidant that is effective against over 125 different kind of chronic and degenerative illness. Here is a couple of links where you can find the information specifically on how it helps reduce asthma symptoms. The key in this matter is Pycnongenol naturally reduces inflammation without causing any side effects. Asthma is an inflammatory attack in the respiratory system.

J Asthma. 2004;41(8):825-32.
Pycnogenol as an adjunct in the management of childhood asthma.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15641632

Inhibition of NF-κB activation and MMP-9 secretion by plasma of human volunteers after ingestion of maritime pine bark extract (Pycnogenol)
http://www.journal-inflammation.com/content/3/1/1

Live Longer, Better.
(This book specifically talks about the science behind Pycnogenol (generally know as OPC). It is written in layman terms and filled with research as well.
http://www.marketamerica.com/index.cfm?action=shopping.wp...

Our company supplies the only isotonix Pycnogenol in the world. Isotonix supplements allows your have 90-95% absorption of the products in 5-10 minutes so they can work faster and better and is the next best thing to IV injection. I take these products to doctors offices. In one of the demonstrations, I help one of the nurses get rid of the miseries of allergy symptoms in less than 5 minutes. Here you can find more information.
http://www.marketamerica.com/product-2217/isotonix-opc3.htm

Feel free to write to me in private as well. I will be happy to help out in any way I can. Also, there are maybe lifestyle modifications that could help reduce the asthma symptoms as well. I can be most helpful if I have more info.

Y. Shi

No it is NOT excessive.
Remember... Asthma attacks... come on suddenly. Not always with any hint. And... Asthma is deadly.

I have asthma.
I keep them all over the house. Because, once in the midst of an attack... it is NOT like the person can just go cruising around casually to go and "find" it.... there is NO time to do that. Nor will the person have the capability... to even run around quickly... to go an get it.

Put it this way... when my Asthma is acting up or acute... I cannot even WALK out the door to get my mail nor even stand and walk to the fridge 10 feet away.

Whether it is sports asthma or asthma... Asthma is Asthma. Because anyway... for MANY Asthma suffers.... it IS exacerbated by strenuous activity... or cold weather or cold air. It ijustis that way, the nature of Asthma. So to me the 'categories' of Asthma... makes no sense. Because Asthma is asthma... and it affects everyone to varying degrees and it is never... predictable.
For me, I also get my Asthma... when or if I get sick with a common cold.Catching a cold... makes Asthma MUCH worse....

But yes, inhalers... per insurers... are issued per the estimation of when it should run out. For example, I went on a trip once and wanted to get 2 inhalers, filled at the pharmacy. They called me and said that the insurer would not warrant that, because technically... my previous inhaler should not have been run out, yet. BUT I explained to them, I am going on a trip etc. So then, my Doctor also reiterated the 'need' to the Pharmacist and they put through an exemption... for my prescription.
Many medications are like that... the insurer preconceives 'when' your prescription 'should' run out per dosages and frequency of taking it... and THEN... when the next prescription fill... would be. If TOO many are being filled within too short a time-frame... it can be suspicious... for a variety of reasons that you can imagine.

So... a way around that is... to have your Doctor, prescribe different types of inhalers. MANY Asthmatics... take one or two types of inhalers. One fast acting/rescue inhaler, and another for DAILY maintenance.
Sometimes Albuterol and then something else.
There are MANY different types, in inhaler medicine "families."

all the best,
Susan

if her asthma is that severe - she should be taking medicine to prevent the attacks - not just taking the inhaler when she is having an attack. asthma is that is managed well should not be using an inhaler more than about once a month. talk to her doctor - or ask for a referral to a pulmonologist if she is taking it more than that.

Talk to your doctor. If your child is using her inhaler more than occaisionally, she should probably be on other medication. The inhaler you are talking about is a short-acting inhaler for immediate relief. There are also long-acting inhalers she would take daily that are effective, as well as prednisone if her air flow gets really bad (get an air flow meter). Talk to your doctor about these! The short-acting inhalers can damage the heart over time- Hawthorn (herbal- the flowers & stems are better than the berries) can help with that. You do not want to be using the short-acting inhalers often. Only when she has an attack or can feel one coming on. That is why you need to talk to your doctor or a specialist (pulmonologist) about her asthma. She should have a health plan- the doctor writes this up- we keep a copy on our fridge and the school has one. It tells us when to give our child what medication and when to call the doctor or go to the ER. We have referred to it often. She could even ask the school for a medical exemption for a small purse to carry her inhaler if needed (make sure the doctor stresses on the health plan that she need access to one at all times if this is the case).

We refill the albuterol inhaler as soon as the insurance allows even if it has not run out so we can have extra, and ask the doctor of we need more when the refills run out.

If you can manage her asthma adequately, and if only sports-induced, she should only need an inhaler with her (or the teacher) for gym and one in her gear bag, although you never know when an attack might hit. My son has had them a few times running for the school bus on a cold morning!

Good luck and cross your fingers she grows out of it!

They have little "holsters" for inhalers, much like the ones they make to keep chap-stick on your key chain. Might be worth looking to find one of those and having her attach it to her belt loop or whatever on her clothes?

I'd agree with a PP...if you need 4 inhalers at one time...due more to the fact that you need them in different locations rather than due to her using them up, then be vigilant about the ones you have (don't lose them) and see if your doc will write the Rx for 3 months at one time. It should still last you 3 months, being that she will be alternating the one she is using most. (if she's using them more often and she's running out...it certainly means her asthma isn't under control and she needs additional meds). Also, be sure to refill the Rx at the right time and not "wait" until she runs out to refill it...that way you can kind of "stockpile" them so you can replace one as needed. As an asthmatic for many years, I know the necessity of having an inhaler available at all times...and if I realize I am without one (even if i haven't needed it for weeks) it will trigger an asthma attack!!!

I have a son with asthma too. I've done what Kimberly suggests. I've gotten ALL his refills at allowed intervals even though he didn't run out of the last one. But my sons asthma is very mild and as a Junior in HS he has never once needed his inhaler at school. We have them all over the house, he takes one to his Dad's house.

Have you talked to your ped and called your insurance to see if you can get a few extra?

Also keep an eye on the exp dates of each inhaler.

Has your ped given your daughter tips on things she can do while having an attack with or without her inhaler?

Maybe even if your insurance won't pay for another (dumb) perhaps you can get a script and pay for the whole thing, pricey, I know, but well worth the peace of mind.

:)

My son is 6 and has had an inhaler since he started Kindergarten. I asked the Dr to write the prescription so I can get two ($35 per inhaler). I keep one at school and one at home for him. He goes to the nurse when he needs it at school and he knows where it is at home. Can she just carry one in her pocket, they are fairly small.