Question:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text –   Coughing all night, and sputum production are the symptoms and not the   disease.  Asthma is a disease characterized by inflammation of the airways   and has "early" and "late" phases.  "Early" phase reaction responds to   bronchodilators, like ventolin.  Late phase needs steroids to stop the   vicious cycle of inflammation. Part of the late phase is having increased   numbers of cells that secrete mucus.   You son needs a few days of steroids and he’ll stop coughing.  Honey will   not help; guifenasis is essentially a placebo;  but prednisone or   methylprednisolone will stop it cold.   Must it be one of these oral steroids, or will the inhaled form work? How   many days are required?  Only your doctor should answer that.  I have found with my 6 year old  daughter that oral steroids are more effective.  I’m talking about a  short duration burst of steroids that knock down the inflamation.  After  the attack is under control, we use inhaled Intal, which is an  anti-inflamitory, non-steroid drug.  It is very effective in children.    The oral steroid pills don’t seem to cause many of the side effects in  children that adults complain about.  Probably because kids can’t express  how they feel about asthma.  Hope this helps.  Jim

By steroid pills that have few side effects, I suspect that you’re referring to the infrequent use of short bursts of prednisone. This is a common approach to acute care of asthma in children (and adults). The use of oral steroids over periods of longer than approx. 10 days is associated with more severe risks and side effects and is therefore reserved for the more serious and stubborn cases. If bursts of prednisone are necessary frequently, that is a sign that the preventative use of Intal is not sufficient and that the use of an inhaled steroid may be indicated. That was certainly the case with our children. For us the choice was simple. The way I figure it is that they are much better off with relatively low, local doses of inhaled steroids than they are with frequent, high doses of systemic oral steroids; and they certainly can do without the anxiety and fear associated with frequent trips to the Emergency Room, IVs, etc. — Mark Feblowitz,   GTE Laboratories Inc., 40 Sylvan Rd.  Waltham, MA 02254

Response:

Coughing all night, and sputum production are the symptoms and not the disease.  Asthma is a disease characterized by inflammation of the airways and has "early" and "late" phases.  "Early" phase reaction responds to bronchodilators, like ventolin.  Late phase needs steroids to stop the vicious cycle of inflammation. Part of the late phase is having increased numbers of cells that secrete mucus. You son needs a few days of steroids and he’ll stop coughing.  Honey will not help; guifenasis is essentially a placebo;  but prednisone or methylprednisolone will stop it cold. Jon

Response:

Coughing all night, and sputum production are the symptoms and not the disease.  Asthma is a disease characterized by inflammation of the airways and has "early" and "late" phases.  "Early" phase reaction responds to bronchodilators, like ventolin.  Late phase needs steroids to stop the vicious cycle of inflammation. Part of the late phase is having increased numbers of cells that secrete mucus. You son needs a few days of steroids and he’ll stop coughing.  Honey will not help; guifenasis is essentially a placebo;  but prednisone or methylprednisolone will stop it cold.

Must it be one of these oral steroids, or will the inhaled form work? How many days are required?

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Coughing all night, and sputum production are the symptoms and not the disease.  Asthma is a disease characterized by inflammation of the airways and has "early" and "late" phases.  "Early" phase reaction responds to bronchodilators, like ventolin.  Late phase needs steroids to stop the vicious cycle of inflammation. Part of the late phase is having increased numbers of cells that secrete mucus. You son needs a few days of steroids and he’ll stop coughing.  Honey will not help; guifenasis is essentially a placebo;  but prednisone or methylprednisolone will stop it cold. Must it be one of these oral steroids, or will the inhaled form work? How many days are required?

Only your doctor should answer that.  I have found with my 6 year old daughter that oral steroids are more effective.  I’m talking about a short duration burst of steroids that knock down the inflamation.  After the attack is under control, we use inhaled Intal, which is an anti-inflamitory, non-steroid drug.  It is very effective in children.   The oral steroid pills don’t seem to cause many of the side effects in children that adults complain about.  Probably because kids can’t express how they feel about asthma.  Hope this helps.  Jim

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Coughing all night, and sputum production are the symptoms and not the disease.  Asthma is a disease characterized by inflammation of the airways and has "early" and "late" phases.  "Early" phase reaction responds to bronchodilators, like ventolin.  Late phase needs steroids to stop the vicious cycle of inflammation. Part of the late phase is having increased numbers of cells that secrete mucus. You son needs a few days of steroids and he’ll stop coughing.  Honey will not help; guifenasis is essentially a placebo;  but prednisone or methylprednisolone will stop it cold. Must it be one of these oral steroids, or will the inhaled form work? How Coughing all night, and sputum production are the symptoms and not the disease.  Asthma is a disease characterized by inflammation of the airways and has "early" and "late" phases.  "Early" phase reaction responds to bronchodilators, like ventolin.  Late phase needs steroids to stop the vicious cycle of inflammation. Part of the late phase is having increased numbers of cells that secrete mucus. You son needs a few days of steroids and he’ll stop coughing.  Honey will not help; guifenasis is essentially a placebo;  but prednisone or methylprednisolone will stop it cold. Must it be one of these oral steroids, or will the inhaled form work? How many days are required?night time cough that keeps you up is a sign of chronic asthma. Once

asthma is under control the patient and family members needs to start a preventative program of medications and peak flow monitoring. Both of which can reduce the oset of acut ATTACKS

Response:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I have been having a miserable week.  I can’t stop coughing and can’t get to sleep.  I’ve been to my Dr. twice.  Currently I am on 40 mg of Prednisone a day,500 mg 3x’s a day, Nebulizer with Albuterol every three hours,10mg Clariton, 3 puffs twice a day of Nasalcort and three puffs twice a day of Aerobid-M. My actual breathing is ok, I just can’t stop coughing.  I have been resting for days now and this is not getting any better.  Does anyone have any ideas? I am desperate for sleep and to return to a normal life.  I’ve already taken  4 1/2 days off for this episode… I can’t live like this. Thanks in advance, Christie

I’ve had similar episodes and the only thing that seems to stop the coughing for me is a cough syrup with codeine, like Duratuss.  The codeine will help you get some rest too.  Good luck. Susan —

Response:

My son has asthma that is cold-induced.  The first time he had an attack I was advised not to give him a cough suppressant because he was wheezy.  From then on I have never given him any cold medications. As advised by his doctor, whenever he gets a cold now I start him on his puffers (and I pray he doesn’t have an attack). Whether this has any relevance to this particular issue, I don’t know. But, meanwhile, if anyone has any advice/comments concerning cough suppressants and wheeziness, I would appreciate it. Wanda

Response:

Christi: 1. Read my message under   ASTHMA: BIG NEWS. 2. You may send a SASE to POB 12, scottsdale, AZ 85252 to receive important information. If you suffer much, put your phone, I will try to talk to you about it. Don’t give up. I helped my son and family member. Joseph

Response:

I would also suggest you ask your doctor if adding a dose of 2% lidocaine hydrochloride (about 2cc’s) to your nebulizer treatment about every 6-8 hours would help. It works to numb the area to prevent cough.

Response:

My son has asthma that is cold-induced.  The first time he had an attack I was advised not to give him a cough suppressant because he was wheezy.  From then on I have never given him any cold medications. As advised by his doctor, whenever he gets a cold now I start him on his puffers (and I pray he doesn’t have an attack). Whether this has any relevance to this particular issue, I don’t know. But, meanwhile, if anyone has any advice/comments concerning cough suppressants and wheeziness, I would appreciate it. Wanda

Wanda, My Dr. has given me the same advice – says that when I cough I *need* to get the sputum *out*, and that suppressing the cough can be *dangerous*. FWIW, Mike

Response:

My son has asthma that is cold-induced.  The first time he had an attack I was advised not to give him a cough suppressant because he was wheezy.  From then on I have never given him any cold medications. As advised by his doctor, whenever he gets a cold now I start him on his puffers (and I pray he doesn’t have an attack). Whether this has any relevance to this particular issue, I don’t know. But, meanwhile, if anyone has any advice/comments concerning cough suppressants and wheeziness, I would appreciate it. Wanda

You might ask about an expectorant such as guaifenesin which helps loosen the mucous without suppressing the cough. I find that when I take it, I don’t have to cough quite so hard to bring up the mucous.  Also drinking lots of fluids helps. Good luck, Georgia — == Practice agrees with theory more in theory than in practice == == Paul Atkins                                   Georgia Grant ==  

Response:

My son has asthma that is cold-induced.  The first time he had an attack I was advised not to give him a cough suppressant because he was wheezy.  From then on I have never given him any cold medications. As advised by his doctor, whenever he gets a cold now I start him on his puffers (and I pray he doesn’t have an attack). Whether this has any relevance to this particular issue, I don’t know. But, meanwhile, if anyone has any advice/comments concerning cough suppressants and wheeziness, I would appreciate it. Wanda

Swallowing a teaspoonful of thick honey can stop that painful ‘bark’ in the cough.  Also avoid chocolate, especially plain chocolate.

Paul Wheatley, Sunny Southport, Merseyside (: Teach a wise man something new, and he can only be but wiser

Response:

My son has asthma that is cold-induced.  The first time he had an attack I was advised not to give him a cough suppressant because he was wheezy.  From then on I have never given him any cold medications. As advised by his doctor, whenever he gets a cold now I start him on his puffers (and I pray he doesn’t have an attack). Whether this has any relevance to this particular issue, I don’t know. But, meanwhile, if anyone has any advice/comments concerning cough suppressants and wheeziness, I would appreciate it. Wanda

        Many cold preparations contain a decongestant and/or anti-histamines which i think inhibit the free flow of mucus ( as nature intended) from the lungs and bronchial tubes. When the mucus dries up, i imagine it becomes so thick that coughing wont loosen it or bring it up , causing  your sons asthma to worsen.      Twice i used these type of cold preparations and   wound up in the hostpital with a severe asthma attack. My doctor and the hospital physicians disagreed with my theory. However,the  many times that i just stuck to my   asthma medication and let the cold run its course i had no problem. Coincidence ? I dont know, but as long as i have asthma i’ll never use any kind of cold preparation when i have a cold.     I hope your son grows out of his asthma, and wont   have to deal with such a terrible desease.      Good luck       Tom Accardo t

Response:

I have been having a miserable week.  I can’t stop coughing and can’t get to sleep.  I’ve been to my Dr. twice.  Currently I am on 40 mg of Prednisone a day,500 mg 3x’s a day, Nebulizer with Albuterol every three hours,10mg Clariton, 3 puffs twice a day of Nasalcort and three puffs twice a day of Aerobid-M. My actual breathing is ok, I just can’t stop coughing.  I have been resting for days now and this is not getting any better.  Does anyone have any ideas? I am desperate for sleep and to return to a normal life.  I’ve already taken  4 1/2 days off for this episode… I can’t live like this. Thanks in advance, Christie

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I have been having a miserable week.  I can’t stop coughing and can’t get to sleep.  I’ve been to my Dr. twice.  Currently I am on 40 mg of Prednisone a day,500 mg 3x’s a day, Nebulizer with Albuterol every three hours,10mg Clariton, 3 puffs twice a day of Nasalcort and three puffs twice a day of Aerobid-M. My actual breathing is ok, I just can’t stop coughing.  I have been resting for days now and this is not getting any better.  Does anyone have any ideas? I am desperate for sleep and to return to a normal life.  I’ve already taken  4 1/2 days off for this episode… I can’t live like this. Thanks in advance, Christie I’ve had similar episodes and the only thing that seems to stop the coughing for me is a cough syrup with codeine, like Duratuss.  The codeine will help you get some rest too.  Good luck. Susan —

Hi Christie, The codene sounds good, but I just want to share with you, that a week before I had my first attack about a month ago I had bronchitis.   The MD gave me hycodan.  It almost stopped my breathing.  I stayed up all night, wealking around and drinking water hoping to flush it out of my system.  Yep-  I react strongly to the liquid form.  I don’t know if this is relevent to your case, but codene does suppress the cns system.  If breathing is hard it occurred to me that the codene could possibly aggravate things.  Anyone else have any ideas on this?   Be well, breathe well. Janet

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