21st June 2003
You should NOT NOT NOT NOT NOT be using a spacer with EITHER the Pulmicort or the Foradil.
Spacers are to be used with drugs that 'spray' from a pressurized cannister -- because the spray comes out too quickly oftentimes, and the spacer helps to let it slow down.
Pulmicort and Foradil are both powders, and using them with spacers would be completely pointless, since you'd actually have to work HARDER to get the drug into your lungs.
I have no idea why the antihistamine would make you sore, except maybe that it's letting loose trapped goo in your nasal passages that's running into your airway and irritating it. Is it worst in the morning and goes away more towards the evening? Do you notice any other symptoms? You said no cough.
Fortunately, antihistamines are not one of those drugs whose dosage you have to be tapered off of. You could try cutting the dosage down, yes, and seeing if that works better, still take it at regular intervals during the day but take half the regular dosage?
You could try a different antihistamine but you mention having taken 'antihistamines' before, and if you took different ones and got the same symptom, I'm not sure if this would help.
Most newer antihistamines work best when taken regularly -- they build up a kind of protective effect that keeps histamines from being released in the first place as well as blocking their action.
Spacers are recommended for use with anti-inflammatories like Flovent and Beclovent (QVAR) because the spray tends to deposit in the mouth and cause oral thrush (a yeast infection.) It also helps deposit the spray deeper into your lungs, but this only really works with a spray-actuated inhaler.
Singulair is another kind of anti-inflammatory that works on a different pathway with fewer side-effects. It's a pill, so taking it is pretty much idiot-proof, whereas taking an inhaler can be tricky for a first-timer, and even for old-timers, since our technique can get a little lazy after time. Singulair, like charleyhorse said, doesn't always work for everybody, but the upside is if it doesn't work for you, you won't be saddled with some wicked-nasty side-effects, since the drug is exceedingly safe.
Spacers are to be used with drugs that 'spray' from a pressurized cannister -- because the spray comes out too quickly oftentimes, and the spacer helps to let it slow down.
Pulmicort and Foradil are both powders, and using them with spacers would be completely pointless, since you'd actually have to work HARDER to get the drug into your lungs.
I have no idea why the antihistamine would make you sore, except maybe that it's letting loose trapped goo in your nasal passages that's running into your airway and irritating it. Is it worst in the morning and goes away more towards the evening? Do you notice any other symptoms? You said no cough.
Fortunately, antihistamines are not one of those drugs whose dosage you have to be tapered off of. You could try cutting the dosage down, yes, and seeing if that works better, still take it at regular intervals during the day but take half the regular dosage?
You could try a different antihistamine but you mention having taken 'antihistamines' before, and if you took different ones and got the same symptom, I'm not sure if this would help.
Most newer antihistamines work best when taken regularly -- they build up a kind of protective effect that keeps histamines from being released in the first place as well as blocking their action.
Spacers are recommended for use with anti-inflammatories like Flovent and Beclovent (QVAR) because the spray tends to deposit in the mouth and cause oral thrush (a yeast infection.) It also helps deposit the spray deeper into your lungs, but this only really works with a spray-actuated inhaler.
Singulair is another kind of anti-inflammatory that works on a different pathway with fewer side-effects. It's a pill, so taking it is pretty much idiot-proof, whereas taking an inhaler can be tricky for a first-timer, and even for old-timers, since our technique can get a little lazy after time. Singulair, like charleyhorse said, doesn't always work for everybody, but the upside is if it doesn't work for you, you won't be saddled with some wicked-nasty side-effects, since the drug is exceedingly safe.