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Inhalers and Exercise During Pregnancy

NKviewNKview member
in Health & Exercise

I currently run six days a week and I'd like to continue running during pregnancy. (I'll be TTC starting next month.) Unfortunately, I have asthma, so I take QVAR every day and I take Ventolin before I exercise. My asthma is well-controlled with the inhalers and I can run without taking Ventolin, but I breathe much more poorly.

 If you have asthma, did you continue to take inhalers while TTC and/or while pregnant? If exercise usually makes your asthma worse, once you got pregnant, did you still take your rescue inhaler prior to exercising?

 Thanks! 

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Re: Inhalers and Exercise During Pregnancy

  • tokenhosertokenhoser member

    I don't have asthma, but I had some breathing issues right when I found out I was pregnant and was prescribed a ventolin inhaler and a steroid inhaler; the doctor and pharmacist both said they were safe during pregnancy and that little inhaled medication hits the bloodstream.

    Ask your doctor or pharmacist, but it's entirely possible that you can either continue with your usual drugs or move to something pg-safe that will keep things under control. Exercise is so important to a healthy pregnancy - you don't want to give it up. 

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  • NKviewNKview member
    It's good to hear that both your doctor and pharmacist were okay with the inhalers. Since I won't be running as hard when I'm pregnant, maybe I won't need the rescue inhaler as often. It does make me feel a lot better to know that using the inhaler is an option, though.
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  • missycrissy3missycrissy3 member

    Hey NKview Im a respiratory therapist and just wanted to add my two cents. For what it is worth Qvar is a older medication. If you are having to use your Ventolin inhaler your asthma is not well controlled.

     My suggestion for you is Symbicort. Its a medication that has a steriod and a long acting bronchodilator. You take the medication twice a day and you can take this medicaiton while pregnant. You can also take ventolin as well. Never given a patient Qvar while pregnant but I believe it is safe as well.

    Hope this helps!

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  • fraglettefraglette

    I have asthma and run 7 days a week.  I took Ventolin years ago, but am currently on Albuteral.  I take it every morning.  I didn't give up running while TTC or once becoming pregnant and since my asthma is exercise induced, I always take my inhaler each morning before a run. 

    Although, as a side note - from implantation I found my running to be different.  I know that sounds funny, but literally 6dpo I ran a half marathon and it was my worst run ever.  I was dying of thirst the entire race - couldn't get enough fluid and I was just...slower.  My speed has continued to slow throughout the first trimester and I definitely need to carry water with me, even on short runs.

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  • NKviewNKview member
    imagemissycrissy3:

    Hey NKview Im a respiratory therapist and just wanted to add my two cents. For what it is worth Qvar is a older medication. If you are having to use your Ventolin inhaler your asthma is not well controlled.

     My suggestion for you is Symbicort. Its a medication that has a steriod and a long acting bronchodilator. You take the medication twice a day and you can take this medicaiton while pregnant. You can also take ventolin as well. Never given a patient Qvar while pregnant but I believe it is safe as well.

    Hope this helps!

    Thank you so much for the advice. I'm going to start seeing a new doctor soon, so I'll ask about Symbicort.
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  • NKviewNKview member
    imagefraglette:

    I have asthma and run 7 days a week.  I took Ventolin years ago, but am currently on Albuteral.  I take it every morning.  I didn't give up running while TTC or once becoming pregnant and since my asthma is exercise induced, I always take my inhaler each morning before a run. 

    Although, as a side note - from implantation I found my running to be different.  I know that sounds funny, but literally 6dpo I ran a half marathon and it was my worst run ever.  I was dying of thirst the entire race - couldn't get enough fluid and I was just...slower.  My speed has continued to slow throughout the first trimester and I definitely need to carry water with me, even on short runs.

     

    I've heard that changes in how you feel while running are some ladies' first symptoms of pregnancy. It's amazing that you could feel such a difference at 6dpo! I'm mentally preparing myself to run much slower. It's good to know that I'll need to carry more water!

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  • kmartinez80kmartinez80 member
    I also have asthma and I need to be on a steroid controller medication to keep my asthma in check (in addition to using my albuterol before exercising).  I was on my Advair and Albuterol all through my pregnancy.  My doctors (OB and Allergist) both said that the risks to the baby from the meds were far outweighed by the benefits of having a mother that was breathing.  Talk to your docs, but you should be fine.
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