I have had mild asthma since childhood...never been hospitalized, but often have wheezing and tightened airways after exposure to certain allergens. Exercise-induced asthma is actually my main problem. Not to be gross, but swimming helps immensely...since I started back a few months ago, I am coughing big chunks of mucus that previously seemed to be buried deep in my lungs.
However, I believe better management of my asthma could result in better/longer/more intense training, and better results in meets.
I was using my rescue pump (albuterol) only
as needed, and that sometime meant I went weeks without using it. My doctor recommended that I use it before my other medications to open up the bronchial tree. So right now, I am taking the following...
1) Albuterol...2 puffs twice day
2) Atrovent...2 puffs twice a day
3) Asmanex twishaler (steroid spray)...2 puffs twice a day
4) Alvseco (steroid spray)...2 puffs twice a day
5) Flonase (nasal steroid spray)...2 puffs twice a day
Years ago I was taking Intal...it was taken off the market due to environmental concerns with the delivery system, and my pulmonologist says it was shown to have negligible benefit. I heartily disagree, and thought it was one of the nest things to manage my exercise-induced asthma. So I ordered two inhalers from a Canadian online pharmacy.
Anybody have any other suggestions? I prefer to stay away from theophylline or anything with serious side effects.
Years ago I was taking Intal...it was taken off the market due to environmental concerns with the delivery system, and my pulmonologist says it was shown to have negligible benefit. I heartily disagree, and thought it was one of the nest things to manage my exercise-induced asthma. So I ordered two inhalers from a Canadian online pharmacy.
Research agrees with you: Intal is effective for prevention of exercise-induced asthma (much less effective for non-exercise induced asthma). Back in the day (before steroid inhalers were a thing), my brother and I took Intal twice a day. For prevention of exercise induced asthma, it often seems to be prescribed differently: eg 2 puffs 15-20 minutes before exercise.
Other 'official' recommendations are pre-treating with albuterol before exercise, long-acting bronchodilators, and leukotrine modifiers like Singulair (see above link, or google exercise induced asthma).
No personal experience of the Singulair, pre-treating helped but still had breakthrough symptoms (and exercising every day = using inhaler every day), thumbs up to long-acting brochodilator. I switched from a regular steroid inhaler to a combined inhaler (steroid + long-acting bronchodilator) - the Australian equivalent of Advair (we call it Seretide here).
Of course, your mileage may vary.
I miss my Intal too. I take an oral medication for my asthma (also used for allergies). My asthma isn't really bad but I do take 2 puffs of Albuterol (or whatever is passing for Albuterol these days) before swimming.
I find that in the outdoor swimming I do during the summer, I don't think I notice much of a difference between using the inhaler and not (I've forgotten a few times) but in the indoor pool--can notice immediately the difference.
I've tried to stay away from steroid inhalers and oral steroids for asthma.
Inhal was made in England at just one factory (as I understand) and when all the people starting yelping about the environment--that's when it was phased out.
I don't find the new Albuterol inhalers as effective with their new propellant as the old stuff.
