Asthmatics chime in

DiademChi · April 2011

Hi. I was just wondering how long you would wait to take your inhaler.

Before getting pregnant, I would take my albuterol inhaler at the earliest onset of symptoms. Now, my nurse recommenced I avoid taking it unless absolutely necessary.

I'm just having minor wheezing and have to work a bit harder to breath, but otherwise am okay. Normally I'd have taken my inhaler by now.

The doctor's office is supposed to call me back any minute for a better answer, but until then, what did your medical practitioners recommend?

GranolaGirl06 · April 2011

I have had asthma since I was 5 but I've mostly outgrown it at this point. I rarely ever have to take my inhaler, except for when I have a bad cold. However, is an inhaler unsafe during pregnancy? Because I honestly didn't know that and I would have just taken it if needed.

I know caffeine isn't suggested during pregnancy, but a little bit shouldn't harm the baby. I always found a little caffeine would help open up my airways and help me breathe better. I might try drinking just a little bit of some kind of caffeinated beverage and see if that helps. Hope it gets better for you!

DiademChi · April 2011

"Albuterol inhalers were given a pregnancy Category C rating because of potential problems in animal studies. When given to mice, albuterol caused birth defects, especially cleft palate. In rabbits, albuterol caused brain and skull problems. In humans, albuterol can increase the heart rate and blood sugar levels in the fetus."

Given that, I'm trying to be a bit more cautious. I've been very asthmatic my entire life, and I've even been prescribed steroids and nebulizers to aid my lung function in college. In the past few years, it's improved, but pregnancy is known to cause extra asthma problems for a 1/3 of asthmatic woman.

I will make myself a nice cup of black tea, as 200 mg of caffeine is the recommended limit when pregnant. I really wish the office would get off their lunch break soon.

agunnet · April 2011

Ive had asthma since I was 2, and Im still on medication for it, mainly albuterol. This is also my 5th pregnancy, and with the others I was one more meds, like theophylline, singular, as well as albuterol. All the pregnancies ended well with healthy children, no problems. My dr says to take albuterol like I normally would. If Im feeling tight, he says its better to use the inhaler because you could be lacking oxygen if you arent pulling in enough air, and you dont want to cut off the babys oxygen supply. excessive use means your probably need something else, like steroids or breathing treatments or more preventative meds like pulmicort which my dr says is safe during pregnancy. So when Im sick, or having a bad week I will add that into the mix..

GranolaGirl06 · April 2011

DiademChi:

"Albuterol inhalers were given a pregnancy Category C rating because of potential problems in animal studies. When given to mice, albuterol caused birth defects, especially cleft palate. In rabbits, albuterol caused brain and skull problems. In humans, albuterol can increase the heart rate and blood sugar levels in the fetus."

Given that, I'm trying to be a bit more cautious. I've been very asthmatic my entire life, and I've even been prescribed steroids and nebulizers to aid my lung function in college. In the past few years, it's improved, but pregnancy is known to cause extra asthma problems for a 1/3 of asthmatic woman.

I will make myself a nice cup of black tea, as 200 mg of caffeine is the recommended limit when pregnant. I really wish the office would get off their lunch break soon.

Wow, I honestly had no idea. I feel like such an idiot! I'm usually pretty good about checking meds, but I gotta admit, I wouldn't have thought twice about taking my inhaler if need be. I'm so thankful you posted this!!

I have noticed since I've gotten my BFP that I've been more short of breath, so now I'm wondering if it's related to my asthma. Anyways, I hope the tea works for you!

DiademChi · April 2011

agunnet:
Ive had asthma since I was 2, and Im still on medication for it, mainly albuterol. This is also my 5th pregnancy, and with the others I was one more meds, like theophylline, singular, as well as albuterol. All the pregnancies ended well with healthy children, no problems. My dr says to take albuterol like I normally would. If Im feeling tight, he says its better to use the inhaler because you could be lacking oxygen if you arent pulling in enough air, and you dont want to cut off the babys oxygen supply. excessive use means your probably need something else, like steroids or breathing treatments or more preventative meds like pulmicort which my dr says is safe during pregnancy. So when Im sick, or having a bad week I will add that into the mix..

I used to be on pulmicort, so good to know it's potentially safe if I need to go back on it. If I ever have major problems breathing, I certaintly won't hesitate to take my inhaler. Just wasn't sure if tightness was enough to warrant it.

The caffeine is already helping. I'm just mainly annoyed that with my asthma already flaring up, a mild workout on the elliptical (or even walking) is out of the picture right now.

HisKonstantine · April 2011

I've been an asthmatic since I was six years old. I never got used to an inhaler as it never fully helped my symptoms. I have a nebulizer that I've always used whenever I start to get wheezy. My doctors are not overly concerned with it, they just want me to keep them in the loop with whether it's getting worse at all.

The way they see it, if you can't breathe, that's not doing anybody any good.

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