Kids and Asthma,

[billybek]

Twice in the last year our boy (just turning 4) has been taken to emergency for breathing problems. The first time he had a cold and all I could see that he was powering down a bit. When we were flying to our destination, I noticed that his breathing was shallow/rapid and after taking him to emergency the doc told us he was having a bronchial spasm. A little time on the nebulizer and he was OK.
Happened again at the end of summer very similar circumstances with similar treatment.
After a visit to his family doc he prescribed Ventolin and another inhaler (yellow) for when he had a cold. We also made an appointment with the asthma clinic.
They did some testing (I wasn't there so I couldn't tell you what they did) and told us that he has asthma and changed his prescription to Singulaire and left us with the ventolin for immediate relief.
Shortly after starting the Singulair (chewable) we noticed that he was more wound up, couldn't concentrate or hold still for as long as he normally could, decrease in appetite and insomnia.
Called the asthma clinic to tell them this and they changed him over to another inhaler called Alvesco.
His behavior hasn't really improved and reading some of the information on this drug, makes me wonder if it is the best thing to have him on. The information that comes inside the packaging states that it is for people over 6 years of age.

I suppose that every case is different and not everyone reacts the same way to medications but I am wondering if you have any experience and feedback with this type of medication and their side effects?

[Hugo930]

I'll ask my wife when I get home next week. Our 9 year old was diagnosed with asthma when she was 2 or 3. We had issues early on, 2 hospital visits, one lasted 4 days, second one lasted 9 days.
Those were scary times, now she's great...completely under control.

[osidak]

My almost 9 y/o has asthma - got diagnosed when he was 3 or 4

Initially they put him on Singular but he started to experience leg cramping about a week after taking it. They switched him to pulmicort at that time and that seemed to do the trick. As of right now it controlled but the first 18 months we went to the ER a few times. We got better at catching it EARLY and also he learned if he stayed calm when things started to go south then we could catch it and get ahead of it.

His is allergic asthma (we made lots of changes around the house) but the environment still keeps us on our toes as we come into spring and go into fall. Colds perk up our ears as well.

He was on a nebulizer of pulmicort nightly and Zyrtec

About 1.5 to 2 years ago we got switched over to an inhaler of Asthmanex and he still takes Zyrtec nightly

Rescue inhaler is Albuterol which can and will make them jumpy and kill appetite if they start start taking it every 4 hours during times of "attack" Another rescue inhaler that is good and the above side effect are less is XOPENEX (lot more expensive though)

We used the XOPENEX if it was getting close to bed time or if he really just need to chill

It will be a little rough until you figure out all the tiggers and get it under control - just be calm cool and collected and your little one will follow along.

Might also want to get one of the little flow meters (don't know the official name) but his doctor was using one on him once - we asked to keep it. When he was healthy and happy we got a base line and if he ever says his chest hurt we will sometimes pull it out and compare and decide if we need to take further action.

On the plus side the kid doesn't let it slow him down - He runs a 7 minute mile with zero training (outside of his normal daily routine of play time fun)

[porsche4life]

^^^ Peak flow meter... Pharmacy should have one behind the counter, not sure on the script status, but your pharmacist can handle it for you.

[billybek]

Thanks for your replies.

There is nothing scarier than watching your little guy struggle for breath. It looks like they are running a race that they are not going to win....

I have asthma like symptoms from time to time and usually gets worse when I have a cold. I have Ventolin for immediate relief and Pulmicort as a preventor. I only use them when I need them. I never had a problem until I was in my mid thirties and noticed that I had trouble shaking the cough after having a cold.

I really am hesitant to keep my son on this medication when he doesn't show any signs of asthma most of the time.

[skunked]

I have asthma and so does my 5 year old daughter. We both take albuterol as needed, typically when we are active and have the tight chest/weezing symptoms.

They have a liquid version for kids but we found the inhaler work better.

[Erakad]

Indeed tough to watch your child suffer through asthma. When my daughter was young, over time I learned and was comfortable providing the same meds as the ER, gave her the nebulizer treatments at home, knew the algorithms, knew when to start/stop prednizone, knew when it really was time to go to the ER (luckily, rare). The key I found over time was to keep her from reaching for her rescue breathing meds, and keep her using the maintenance meds, in order to cut down the attacks. Eventually, they grow out of attacks...they learn the importance of maintenance.

[billybek]

Originally Posted by Erakad

Indeed tough to watch your child suffer through asthma. When my daughter was young, over time I learned and was comfortable providing the same meds as the ER, gave her the nebulizer treatments at home, knew the algorithms, knew when to start/stop prednizone, knew when it really was time to go to the ER (luckily, rare). The key I found over time was to keep her from reaching for her rescue breathing meds, and keep her using the maintenance meds, in order to cut down the attacks. Eventually, they grow out of attacks...they learn the importance of maintenance.

I am hoping he grows out of it and that we can maintain good health with minimum amounts of medication. That being said, when he needs it, he needs to be on the ramp up before it gets bad.

[pavulon]

Not saying Billy does but I'm amazed at the number of asthmatics who live in a house with a smoker (or smokers) and/or smoke themselves. Also amazed at the number of smokers (many 1-2 packs/day) on medicaid...but that's another thread.

[billybek]

Never been a smoker myself, but there was an older fella on the other side of our crescent that that always had a smoke in one hand and his inhaler in the other......
What part of this breathing is important thing are you not getting!

[azasadny]

Our 20 year old son has well controlled asthma, as does my wife. They take Zyrtec and Singulair.

[nynor]

Singulair can cause the symptoms you are describing. its mode of action is to prevent the asthma cascade, but can have several serious side effects.

pulmicort must be used everyday for it to be effective, it is a steroid.

albuterol is as described above. xoponex is also albuterol, but is a specific isomer that has less beta 1 activity and thus affects the heart less (in theory).

perhaps a longer acting formulation, like advair would be better: salmeterol and fluticisone. salmeterol is a long acting bronchodilator and fluticisone is a steroid.

in any case, i think a further consultation with your prescribing doctor is in order to discuss the unwanted side effects that your son is experience.

also, kids sometimes grow out of asthma. lets cross our fingers.

d.

[billybek]

Originally Posted by nynor

Singulair can cause the symptoms you are describing. its mode of action is to prevent the asthma cascade, but can have several serious side effects.

pulmicort must be used everyday for it to be effective, it is a steroid.

albuterol is as described above. xoponex is also albuterol, but is a specific isomer that has less beta 1 activity and thus affects the heart less (in theory).

perhaps a longer acting formulation, like advair would be better: salmeterol and fluticisone. salmeterol is a long acting bronchodilator and fluticisone is a steroid.

in any case, i think a further consultation with your prescribing doctor is in order to discuss the unwanted side effects that your son is experience.

also, kids sometimes grow out of asthma. lets cross our fingers.

d.

Thank you, great info.

I had a version of Pulmicort in a turbohaler that had a long lasting Salbutamol added to it that I absolutely hated. Went back to the regular Pulmicort.

[nynor]

Originally Posted by billybek

Thank you, great info.

I had a version of Pulmicort in a turbohaler that had a long lasting Salbutamol added to it that I absolutely hated. Went back to the regular Pulmicort.

you are welcome.

my next cert is going to be asthma educator through the NBRC.

let us know what you do and how it turns out. i am sincerely interested and curious.

[billybek]

Since my sons cold has pretty much passed, I have reduced (as per the doctors instructions) back to one dose of the Alvesco in the evening (as per the instructions with the medication).

He has settled down the last few days so I am not sure if the side effects were residual from the Singulair or from the Alvesco or even from the Ventolin.

I will have to really pay attention to his behavior when he gets his next cold and we ramp him up again. I probably need to start a journal that keeps track of this stuff. It is hard to remember everything.

[nynor]

the ventolin could have ramped him up. how often was he getting the ventolin?

[billybek]

One puff twice a day
I don't remember the dosage on that inhaler