I think this discussion just underscores the fact that asthma is a very personal disease and everyone has to find their own 'coctail' of wonder drugs. Unfortunately, one prescription just doesn't fit everyone. Jack, the most common preventative meds are the inhaled steroids (pulmicort, flovent and the combination puffers such as Advair which contain one of these steroids plus a long-acting broncodialator). The other route to go is with Singular or Accolate which are not steroids and work in an entirely different way, although they also reduce the inflamation which causes asthma. These meds don't work for everyone but if they do, they give you an alternative to inhaled steroids. Prednisone, as you know, is the 'big guns' reserved for when the dr believes your asthma could become life threatening. Your 4-day course sounds quite appropriate.

The other (probably most important) step in prevention is to discover what your triggers are and try to reduce exposure. This will vary greatly depending on what your personal triggers are -- allergies, irritants, respiratory infections etc. It can take a while to put the puzzle together sometimes.

As far as nebulizers are concerned - I have an at-home nebulizer. I only use it when things get really nasty -usually just before and just after I end up in the hospital for two weeks Yuck! The nebulizer is expensive, time consuming and a nuisance ... but if your lungs are so closed up that you can't get the other medication into your lungs, the machine can help a lot. Most hospitals still use nebulizers when people arrive with a several attack. Researchers tell us that we get just as much medication out of a puffer with a spacer - but then most of these researchers have never had an asthma attack ... personally, when things get ugly, I appreciate the nebulzier. I would just hate to have to use it all the time. good luck

Barb