Question:

"d" <rmt79…@yahoo.com> wrote in message

news:1cebd7d2.0111241039.3746ff6c@posting.google.com… > I was in the hospital in March of this year for 7 days due to a > serious lung infection that developed due to HIB bacteria.  I almost > died from that infection,  rather than take a chance I’d get the > vaccine if it could help at all.

Is the vaccine safe in adults? Was your H. influenza type B? If so, would the vaccine have prevented it? If so, what schedule would you have had to follow – booster every 5 years since childhood? — CBI, MD

Response:

On 24 Nov 2001 10:39:03 -0800, rmt79…@yahoo.com (d) wrote: >I was in the hospital in March of this year for 7 days due to a >serious lung infection that developed due to HIB bacteria.  I almost >died from that infection,  rather than take a chance I’d get the >vaccine if it could help at all. >Sorry to be such a long response but with all the surprise and >disbelief from the consulting doctors I visited I felt it important to >share my story of the HIB infection.  If the vaccine doesn’t hurt you, >try whatever you can to prevent it – I wish I’d known! >Kathy, Austin Texas

Thank you for your input. I do have a few comments, however. Not to doubt you, but are you SURE you had Haemophilus influenzae type B? I mean specifically type B, not nontypable H. flu, which is FAR more common. Call the microbiology lab at your hospital and ask them specifically if it was type B or nontypable. The vaccine only protects against type B. Also, Haemophilus is frequently found in sputum samples as a co-inhabitant, and even in patients in the ICU is not necessarily a pathogen. Indeed this is why it’s called "influenzae," because it was found in pulmonary secretions of patients with pneumonia in the early 20th century and was believed to be the cause of influenza, before they knew about the virus. Admittedly, your presentation, diagnostic test results, and hospital course does sound more like a viral or mycoplasma infection than Haemophilus, and it may very well be that the Haemophilus was an innocent bystander. Especially if it was nontypable. Usually in complex cases such as yours, no one will ever know what really caused your infection.

Response:

" MS" <m…@nospam.com> wrote in message

news:tvo0ahhbgkdi23@corp.supernews.com… > It has been recommended to me by an allergist to get a vaccine for the H. > Influenzae Type B bacteria. > In an antibody test for that IgG my result was 0.57 ug/ml, whereas the > reference range is 1.0 or more. > I didn’t even know there was an influenza bacteria, I’ve only heard of the > virus by that name. > What kind of infections does that bacteria cause? Is it a common bacteria? > Does the vaccine work well in preventing infections?

    Haemophilus influenzae in frequently found in the     healthy human throat and is also associated with     infection of the respiratory tract.  It is the cause of     a small proportion of cases of acute pyogenic     meningitis in young children.     (Bacteriology Illustrated.  Gillies and Dodds,      Churchill Livingstone.) – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text –

Response:

" MS" <m…@nospam.com> wrote in message

news:tvt26m3h53gm23@corp.supernews.com… > Something was written about Type B. Is the type of H. Influenzae protected > against by the vaccination not the same that causes sinus and lung > infections? If so, then I don’t see what the point would be of me getting > such a vaccination.

The vaccine is against type B, which causes the invasive diseases like meningitis. Many of the H. flu infections that people get are other types, not covered by the vaccine. — CBI, MD

Response:

"PF Riley" <pfri…@watt-not.com> wrote in message

news:3bfd51bc.530628463@news.nwlink.com… > I have never heard of an allergist recommending Hib vaccination for an > adult either, but it is a curious fact that nowadays infectious > epiglottitis is more common in adults than in children thanks to the > vaccine.

Correct me if I am wrong (I may be), but as I recall those infections are mostly gram positives. — CBI, MD

Response:

On Fri, 23 Nov 2001 17:27:05 -0500, "CBI" <00docATmindspringDOTcom> wrote: >"PF Riley" <pfri…@watt-not.com> wrote in message >news:3bfd51bc.530628463@news.nwlink.com… >> I have never heard of an allergist recommending Hib vaccination for an >> adult either, but it is a curious fact that nowadays infectious >> epiglottitis is more common in adults than in children thanks to the >> vaccine. >Correct me if I am wrong (I may be), but as I recall those infections are >mostly gram positives.

True, I think Group A strep can cause epiglottitis, too, but I’m not sure which is more common in adults. But either way I guess the case would be that H. flu epiglottitis in children exceeded all-types epiglottitis in adults prior to the vaccine.

Response:

On Fri, 23 Nov 2001 09:22:38 -0800, "              MS" <m…@nospam.com> wrote: >Are all infants now vaccinated with that vaccine? When did they start >vaccinating children for that? If one didn’t have that vaccination as a >child (I was born in 1952), wouldn’t it perhaps be a good idea to have it as >an adult, especially for someone who suffers from frequent respiratory >infections?

Haemophilus immunization is routine these days. The vaccine has been around since the mid-1980’s. And no, it would not be a good idea to get the vaccine, because it was made for and studied in children up to age 6, and it protects against INVASIVE disease by type B strains, not sinus infections from nontypable strains. >By the way, what are they symptoms of infectious epiglottis?

You get a really bad sore throat, high fever, and severe pain on swallowing. Of course, having said that, I’m sure next time you get strep throat you’ll be sure it’s epiglottitis!

Response:

I was in the hospital in March of this year for 7 days due to a serious lung infection that developed due to HIB bacteria.  I almost died from that infection,  rather than take a chance I’d get the vaccine if it could help at all. I suffered from three concurrent bouts of acute bronchitus and two trips to the ER for asthma attacks prior to being hospitalized on my 3rd ER visit.  Like to mention I’ve never had asthma in my entire life – just popped up in November of 2000 and I attributed it to bronchitus initially.  January 2001 comes around and another bout of acute bronchitus appears, more antibiotics prescribed.  In March another asthma attack out of the blue but this was more serious – I lost all of my strength and barely made it to the ER.  After the traditional treatments failed to control my asthma – XRAY taken, no signs of any pneumonia etc. my ER doctor was baffled at why the steriods and numerous respiratory treatments failed to work.  He calls in an internist who was completely baffled as well and advises me that I’m not going home because my lungs have not improved.  Internist swears that it is viral and didn’t put me on any IV antibiotics or take a sputum sample in the first few days – just prescribed seriously high levels of iv steriods every 6 hours (125mg) respiratory therapy every 2 hours and oxygen 24/7. After three days of hospitalization and still not improving (rapidly declining) I demand to at least have him try an antibiotic to see if it helps (I do not take antibiotics regularly but in this case I felt like I was dying).  Dr. says well at this point it can’t hurt and gives me one 500mg Leviquin. Next day I’ve improved significantly.  He then decides to take a sputum sample (which by the way was the most alien lime green sputum I’ve ever seen in my life!) and they determine that I had HIB. I felt weak from November 2000 until my hospitalization in late March 2001 and truly believe HIB was the cause for my declining health and the onset of the adult asthma which has not improved.    I am 38 years old with no history of asthma, did have recurrent bouts of bronchitus as a young child but none as a teen or adult.  This was a horrible infection and my own internist didn’t believe that I had it until I assured him it was found in a sputum sample at the lab.  Took me over 4 months to recover and I’m finally getting back to normal and learning to live with the asthma that developed. Sorry to be such a long response but with all the surprise and disbelief from the consulting doctors I visited I felt it important to share my story of the HIB infection.  If the vaccine doesn’t hurt you, try whatever you can to prevent it – I wish I’d known! Kathy, Austin Texas – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -pfri…@watt-not.com (PF Riley) wrote in message <news:3bff29c8.651444744@news.nwlink.com>… > On Fri, 23 Nov 2001 17:27:05 -0500, "CBI" <00docATmindspringDOTcom> > wrote: > >"PF Riley" <pfri…@watt-not.com> wrote in message > >news:3bfd51bc.530628463@news.nwlink.com… > >> I have never heard of an allergist recommending Hib vaccination for an > >> adult either, but it is a curious fact that nowadays infectious > >> epiglottitis is more common in adults than in children thanks to the > >> vaccine. > >Correct me if I am wrong (I may be), but as I recall those infections are > >mostly gram positives. > True, I think Group A strep can cause epiglottitis, too, but I’m not > sure which is more common in adults. But either way I guess the case > would be that H. flu epiglottitis in children exceeded all-types > epiglottitis in adults prior to the vaccine.

Response:

On Thu, 22 Nov 2001 05:45:34 GMT, Steven Litvintchouk <sdlit…@earthlink.net> wrote: ….. >But vaccinating doesn’t seem to me like a good strategy for preventing >sinusitis, any more than prophylactic antibiotics would be.  It’s more >important to understand why the mucus secretions are stagnating in the >sinus cavities, instead of draining freely.  With poor drainage, even if >you become immunized to H. Influenzae, some other bug(s) will start >multiplying in there anyway.

I think this is a key point about sinusitis that should always be kept in mind. (newsgroups  trimmed)

Response:

On Wed, 21 Nov 2001 20:20:00 -0500, "CBI" <00docATmindspringDOTcom> wrote: >" MS" <m…@nospam.com> wrote in message >news:tvo0ahhbgkdi23@corp.supernews.com… >> It has been recommended to me by an allergist to get a vaccine for the H. >> Influenzae Type B bacteria. >> In an antibody test for that IgG my result was 0.57 ug/ml, whereas the >> reference range is 1.0 or more. >> I didn’t even know there was an influenza bacteria, I’ve only heard of the >> virus by that name.

The bacterium Haemophilus influenzae was named about a hundred years ago before the influenza virus was discovered. The discoverer found it in pulmonary secretions of influenza patients and thought it was the cause of influenza. >> What kind of infections does that bacteria cause? Is it a common bacteria? >> Does the vaccine work well in preventing infections?

Type b specifically causes invasive bloodstream infections, meningitis, and epiglottitis, mainly in toddlers. Serious disease has been nearly completely eliminated due to the vaccine. >Ask your allergist why? >H. flu is a bacteria that causes ear infections, blood infections, and >meningitis in infants. It is a common respiratory pathogen in adults but >does not cause the life threatening infections. Hence, it is not recommended >for kids past the age of 5, even if they have never been vaccinated. I have >no idea why he would do this test or suggest this vaccination in an adult.

I have never heard of an allergist recommending Hib vaccination for an adult either, but it is a curious fact that nowadays infectious epiglottitis is more common in adults than in children thanks to the vaccine. PF

Response:

On Thu, 22 Nov 2001 05:45:34 GMT, Steven Litvintchouk <sdlit…@earthlink.net> wrote: >MS wrote: >> The reason why, is that I catch a lot of respiratory infections,  certainly >> more than the average person. So, he gave me a few tests for antibodies. The >> others all came out in the normal range, but this one low. He didn’t seem to >> think it would make a great deal of difference in my health, but that it >> might be a good idea to get that vaccination. >> For someone who gets sinus infections a lot, sometimes bronchitis as well, >> wouldn’t it perhaps be a good idea to get the vaccination? >I believe that H. Influenzae is a common isolate in acute sinusitis.

That would be non-typable H. influenzae, against which H. influenzae type b immunization offers no protection. PF

Response:

"PF Riley" <pfri…@watt-not.com> wrote in message

news:3bfd51bc.530628463@news.nwlink.com… > I have never heard of an allergist recommending Hib vaccination for an > adult either, but it is a curious fact that nowadays infectious > epiglottitis is more common in adults than in children thanks to the > vaccine. > PF

Are all infants now vaccinated with that vaccine? When did they start vaccinating children for that? If one didn’t have that vaccination as a child (I was born in 1952), wouldn’t it perhaps be a good idea to have it as an adult, especially for someone who suffers from frequent respiratory infections? By the way, what are they symptoms of infectious epiglottis?

Response:

"Don Brady" <dbr…@pobox.com> wrote in message

news:70r9O2190bMT=AEwDrc8DLPvjuRk@4ax.com… > (newsgroups  trimmed)

It’s a topic completely relevant to each newsgroup it was posted to, Don. Nothing wrong with expanding the discussion to more than one relevant newsgroup. By cross-posting it to a couple newsgroups, we have had the participation in this discussion of two knowledgeable doctors who do not usually contribute to alt.support.sinusitis, CBI and PFRiley. I am glad they contributed to this discussion, as they seem very knowledgeable on the topic. I am glad I crossposted the discussion.

Response:

"CBI" <00docATmindspringDOTcom> wrote in message

news:9tjhkp$80s$1@slb7.atl.mindspring.net… > H. flu is #2 behind Strep pneumoniae (really #’s 2&3 with viruses being #1). > This would seem to suggest that immunization with Pneumovax would be more > help. > — > CBI, MD

I already had a pneumovax vaccination,. some years back. I think one of the antibody tests the doctor recently did was for that, and my level was normal. Only my H. influenzae antibodies were low, from the tests. Is the H. influenzae vaccine effective in preventing infection from that bacteria? If so, and it’s the second most common bacterial infector, seems to me that it might be a good idea for me to have the vaccination. No? Something was written about Type B. Is the type of H. Influenzae protected against by the vaccination not the same that causes sinus and lung infections? If so, then I don’t see what the point would be of me getting such a vaccination.

Response:

On Fri, 23 Nov 2001 09:30:28 -0800, "              MS" <m…@nospam.com> wrote: >"Don Brady" <dbr…@pobox.com> wrote in message >news:70r9O2190bMT=AEwDrc8DLPvjuRk@4ax.com… >> (newsgroups  trimmed) >It’s a topic completely relevant to each newsgroup it was posted to, Don. >Nothing wrong with expanding the discussion to more than one relevant >newsgroup. >By cross-posting it to a couple newsgroups, we have had the participation in >this discussion of two knowledgeable doctors who do not usually contribute >to alt.support.sinusitis, CBI and PFRiley. I am glad they contributed to >this discussion, as they seem very knowledgeable on the topic. I am glad I >crossposted the discussion.

Your crossposts have worked out reasonably well, so far. But my follow-up was relevant only to this newsgroup.     Trrimming newsgroups is an accepted practice.    I have to try to be resposnsible in cross-posting. Follow-ups to others’ posts (other than mine)  will contine to be cross-posted.

Response:

It has been recommended to me by an allergist to get a vaccine for the H. Influenzae Type B bacteria. In an antibody test for that IgG my result was 0.57 ug/ml, whereas the reference range is 1.0 or more. I didn’t even know there was an influenza bacteria, I’ve only heard of the virus by that name. What kind of infections does that bacteria cause? Is it a common bacteria? Does the vaccine work well in preventing infections?

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -MS wrote: > "CBI" <00docATmindspringDOTcom> wrote in message > news:9thjr6$j2j$5@slb0.atl.mindspring.net… > > Ask your allergist why? > > H. flu is a bacteria that causes ear infections, blood infections, and > > meningitis in infants. It is a common respiratory pathogen in adults but > > does not cause the life threatening infections. Hence, it is not > recommended > > for kids past the age of 5, even if they have never been vaccinated. I > have > > no idea why he would do this test or suggest this vaccination in an adult. > > — > > CBI, MD > The reason why, is that I catch a lot of respiratory infections,  certainly > more than the average person. So, he gave me a few tests for antibodies. The > others all came out in the normal range, but this one low. He didn’t seem to > think it would make a great deal of difference in my health, but that it > might be a good idea to get that vaccination. > For someone who gets sinus infections a lot, sometimes bronchitis as well, > wouldn’t it perhaps be a good idea to get the vaccination?

I believe that H. Influenzae is a common isolate in acute sinusitis. Along with Strep. Pneumoniae, Staph. Aureus, and Pseudomonas, those four seem to be among the most prevalent causes of bacterial sinusitis these days. But vaccinating doesn’t seem to me like a good strategy for preventing sinusitis, any more than prophylactic antibiotics would be.  It’s more important to understand why the mucus secretions are stagnating in the sinus cavities, instead of draining freely.  With poor drainage, even if you become immunized to H. Influenzae, some other bug(s) will start multiplying in there anyway. — Steven D. Litvintchouk                   Email:  sdlit…@earthlink.net     9-11. Answer the call!

Response:

" MS" <m…@nospam.com> wrote in message

news:tvo0ahhbgkdi23@corp.supernews.com… > It has been recommended to me by an allergist to get a vaccine for the H. > Influenzae Type B bacteria. > In an antibody test for that IgG my result was 0.57 ug/ml, whereas the > reference range is 1.0 or more. > I didn’t even know there was an influenza bacteria, I’ve only heard of the > virus by that name. > What kind of infections does that bacteria cause? Is it a common bacteria? > Does the vaccine work well in preventing infections?

Ask your allergist why? H. flu is a bacteria that causes ear infections, blood infections, and meningitis in infants. It is a common respiratory pathogen in adults but does not cause the life threatening infections. Hence, it is not recommended for kids past the age of 5, even if they have never been vaccinated. I have no idea why he would do this test or suggest this vaccination in an adult. — CBI, MD

Response:

"CBI" <00docATmindspringDOTcom> wrote in message

news:9thjr6$j2j$5@slb0.atl.mindspring.net… > Ask your allergist why? > H. flu is a bacteria that causes ear infections, blood infections, and > meningitis in infants. It is a common respiratory pathogen in adults but > does not cause the life threatening infections. Hence, it is not recommended > for kids past the age of 5, even if they have never been vaccinated. I have > no idea why he would do this test or suggest this vaccination in an adult. > — > CBI, MD

The reason why, is that I catch a lot of respiratory infections,  certainly more than the average person. So, he gave me a few tests for antibodies. The others all came out in the normal range, but this one low. He didn’t seem to think it would make a great deal of difference in my health, but that it might be a good idea to get that vaccination. For someone who gets sinus infections a lot, sometimes bronchitis as well, wouldn’t it perhaps be a good idea to get the vaccination? Even if not life-threatening, for someone who gets respiratory infections a lot, they are a big drain on the quality of life. Is the vaccine effective?

Response:

" MS" <m…@nospam.com> wrote in message

news:tvorkiii9a4tdd@corp.supernews.com… – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> "CBI" <00docATmindspringDOTcom> wrote in message > news:9thjr6$j2j$5@slb0.atl.mindspring.net… > > Ask your allergist why? > > H. flu is a bacteria that causes ear infections, blood infections, and > > meningitis in infants. It is a common respiratory pathogen in adults but > > does not cause the life threatening infections. Hence, it is not > recommended > > for kids past the age of 5, even if they have never been vaccinated. I > have > > no idea why he would do this test or suggest this vaccination in an adult. > > — > > CBI, MD > The reason why, is that I catch a lot of respiratory infections, certainly > more than the average person. So, he gave me a few tests for antibodies. The > others all came out in the normal range, but this one low. He didn’t seem to > think it would make a great deal of difference in my health, but that it > might be a good idea to get that vaccination. > For someone who gets sinus infections a lot, sometimes bronchitis as well, > wouldn’t it perhaps be a good idea to get the vaccination? Even if not > life-threatening, for someone who gets respiratory infections a lot, they > are a big drain on the quality of life. > Is the vaccine effective?

It is effective in preventing invasive disease in infants. Those same infants then regularly get less invasive disease (like sinusitis and bronchitis) as teens and adults so the immunity is not long lived. I don’t think there is much, if any, data in adults. If the previous natural infections did not produce an antibody response then I don’t know why one would expect the immunization to do better. — CBI, MD

Response:

"Steven Litvintchouk" <sdlit…@earthlink.net> wrote in message

news:3BFC90F1.184958E2@earthlink.net… – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> > The reason why, is that I catch a lot of respiratory infections, certainly > > more than the average person. So, he gave me a few tests for antibodies. The > > others all came out in the normal range, but this one low. He didn’t seem to > > think it would make a great deal of difference in my health, but that it > > might be a good idea to get that vaccination. > > For someone who gets sinus infections a lot, sometimes bronchitis as well, > > wouldn’t it perhaps be a good idea to get the vaccination? > I believe that H. Influenzae is a common isolate in acute sinusitis. > Along with Strep. Pneumoniae, Staph. Aureus, and Pseudomonas, those four > seem to be among the most prevalent causes of bacterial sinusitis these > days.

H. flu is #2 behind Strep pneumoniae (really #’s 2&3 with viruses being #1). This would seem to suggest that immunization with Pneumovax would be more help. — CBI, MD

Response:

Question:

Dear Friends,        My girlfriend is 32 and was recently diagnosed with asthma.  She has been hospitalized once and has had a few other serious incidents in the 6 months since the diagnosis was first made.  She has encountered several difficulties and I was hoping some of you might have some suggestions. <snip        Thirdly, despite very careful attention to rinsing her mouth following inhaled steroid useage, she frequently gets large painful canker sores.

I went through a phase of getting mouth ulcers in my 20s.  I havn’t had any for years now without an obvious cause (like injuring the lining of my mouth when trying to extract something caught between two teeth).  In the end I concluded that they were caused by a mixture of a stressful job, a poor diet (too much beer & too little fruit & veggies) and possibly communal living (I now have my own house).  When I started in the job I have now (sort off) they went away.  If what your girlfriend has are ulcers (rather than oral thrush) the treatment I had may help. It was called ‘Adcortyl in Orabase’ and is a thick gunk which forms a protective layer over the ulcer with a low dose of some kind of cortisone.  The protective layer reduces the pain and the cortisone helps them to heal.  It’s now an over-the-counter medicine in the UK so presumably it’s pretty safe. If, however, she has oral thrush she needs a completely different kind of medicine to clear it up.  The doctors think they are probably caused by whatever virus is also causing the sinusitis (&/or cough).  We have tried treating them with topical children’s liquid benadryl, oral anesthetic sprays & coughdrops, iron, B-2, and finally this nasty pink stuff her HMO calls "miracle mouthwash".  All to no avail.  Have any of you experienced painful canker sores in the course of an asthma attack, and do you have any advice for how to prevent or get rid of them quickly.  They sound trivial but are actually very painful and significantly reduce quality-of-life.

Yes they do.  Only other thought – has she checked with her dentist?  He may have better ideas on helping her get rid of them.  Presumably she hasn’t any misaligned teeth which are rubbing as I reckon that can cause them as well if the general health is run down. It’s all very well to say ‘eat fruit & veggies’ but a mouth full of ulcers makes one reluctant to eat *anything* as lots of foods sting. Hope they go away soon. — Surfer! http://www.nevis-vieww.demon.co.uk http://www.nevis-vieww.demon.co.uk/flash Hopeful anti-spam: alter double ‘w’ to single ‘w’ to view site & send Email.

Response:

        First of all, she has chronic sinus infections which are always painful and usually lead to bloody mucus.  Have any of you ever encountered successful non-surgical interventions?  We have heard differing medical opinions on whether or not asthma causes the sinus infections or the infections cause asthma flare-ups.  I’ve been on Medline a lot and found several recent papers suggesting asthma & chronic sinusitis are both aspects of an immune deficiency/malfunction, which makes sense but unfortunately does not seem to have spurred any treatment advances.

Chronic sinisutis can be an asthma trigger.  She shopuld ask for a referral to an ENT.         Second, we’ve found the most critical period of time for keeping things under control is at the end of a prednisone taper.  Does anyone have advice for how to stay healthy after a long (or short) prednisone taper (from 60 mg/day to 0 over 21 days, for example).  We fear a sinusitus flare up which will then work itself into yet another nasty cough and then asthma flare-up.

Has her doctor tried to get a spitum culture?  Finding out what the problem germ/fungi/virus etc. is should give you a good idea how to kill it.

Response:

Dear Friends,         First of all, she has chronic sinus infections which are always painful and usually lead to bloody mucus.  Have any of you ever encountered successful non-surgical interventions?  We have heard differing medical opinions on whether or not asthma causes the sinus infections or the infections cause asthma flare-ups.  I’ve been on Medline a lot and found several recent papers suggesting asthma & chronic sinusitis are both aspects of an immune deficiency/malfunction, which makes sense but unfortunately does not seem to have spurred any treatment advances.

Hi. I had the surgery last week, can’t tell you the results yet, but try to find some information in the sinuses-newsgroep or an ent-site, eg. www.ent-consult.com or www.sinuses.com. Good luck!

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Dear Friends,         My girlfriend is 32 and was recently diagnosed with asthma.  She has been hospitalized once and has had a few other serious incidents in the 6 months since the diagnosis was first made.  She has encountered several difficulties and I was hoping some of you might have some suggestions.         First of all, she has chronic sinus infections which are always painful and usually lead to bloody mucus.  Have any of you ever encountered successful non-surgical interventions?  We have heard differing medical opinions on whether or not asthma causes the sinus infections or the infections cause asthma flare-ups.  I’ve been on Medline a lot and found several recent papers suggesting asthma & chronic sinusitis are both aspects of an immune deficiency/malfunction, which makes sense but unfortunately does not seem to have spurred any treatment advances.         Second, we’ve found the most critical period of time for keeping things under control is at the end of a prednisone taper.  Does anyone have advice for how to stay healthy after a long (or short) prednisone taper (from 60 mg/day to 0 over 21 days, for example).  We fear a sinusitus flare up which will then work itself into yet another nasty cough and then asthma flare-up.         Thirdly, despite very careful attention to rinsing her mouth following inhaled steroid useage, she frequently gets large painful canker sores.  The doctors think they are probably caused by whatever virus is also causing the sinusitis (&/or cough).  We have tried treating them with topical children’s liquid benadryl, oral anesthetic sprays & coughdrops, iron, B-2, and finally this nasty pink stuff her HMO calls "miracle mouthwash".  All to no avail.  Have any of you experienced painful canker sores in the course of an asthma attack, and do you have any advice for how to prevent or get rid of them quickly.  They sound trivial but are actually very painful and significantly reduce quality-of-life.         Thank you for your help.         Phoebe Lostroh

Hi,I was sick for 5months first with pneumonia,then it turned to infection induced asthma.My resistance was down also.It took over a year to get it built back up.I took Vit.C 1000 ml.,E 400 U,Bs,multivit.and calcuim.(I still take all these vits.)The Dr.advised me to stay away from crowds like in church,visiting in hospitals,nursing homes(my father in law was in and out of these places at that time)any place that infection was blown around I truly was the lady in the bubble.It took time I really could not see the light at the end of the tunnel but,it did finally come.I believe the canker sores are what my Dr. used to call fatigue blisters from being run down.My son when he was growing up used to get them and had that lousy pink stuff too.But,seemed rest was most important and getting that resistance built back up.It just takes time.Dont give up cause you will feel well one of these days and then you can come and go like old times.Good luck. Leona

Response:

Dear Friends,         My girlfriend is 32 and was recently diagnosed with asthma.  She has been hospitalized once and has had a few other serious incidents in the 6 months since the diagnosis was first made.  She has encountered several difficulties and I was hoping some of you might have some suggestions.         First of all, she has chronic sinus infections which are always painful and usually lead to bloody mucus.  Have any of you ever encountered successful non-surgical interventions?  We have heard differing medical opinions on whether or not asthma causes the sinus infections or the infections cause asthma flare-ups.  I’ve been on Medline a lot and found several recent papers suggesting asthma & chronic sinusitis are both aspects of an immune deficiency/malfunction, which makes sense but unfortunately does not seem to have spurred any treatment advances.         Second, we’ve found the most critical period of time for keeping things under control is at the end of a prednisone taper.  Does anyone have advice for how to stay healthy after a long (or short) prednisone taper (from 60 mg/day to 0 over 21 days, for example).  We fear a sinusitus flare up which will then work itself into yet another nasty cough and then asthma flare-up.         Thirdly, despite very careful attention to rinsing her mouth following inhaled steroid useage, she frequently gets large painful canker sores.  The doctors think they are probably caused by whatever virus is also causing the sinusitis (&/or cough).  We have tried treating them with topical children’s liquid benadryl, oral anesthetic sprays & coughdrops, iron, B-2, and finally this nasty pink stuff her HMO calls "miracle mouthwash".  All to no avail.  Have any of you experienced painful canker sores in the course of an asthma attack, and do you have any advice for how to prevent or get rid of them quickly.  They sound trivial but are actually very painful and significantly reduce quality-of-life.         Thank you for your help.         Phoebe Lostroh

Response:

Question:

Hi, I read your post, with some dejavue! To me it looks as if your sensitivity to Marcain was built up over several visits (you might check with your allergists here). The dentists is just ignor_asthmatic or simply ignorant about asthmatics. He  probably is not that well versed in what actually occurs with an asthmatic. I would definitely find another dentists! You might check with the American Lung Assoc for a list of recommended dentists or check with your personal healthcare provider for a recommendation. From personal experience and in agreement with you, panic can only hurt the asthmatic. An educated asthmatic knows that relaxation can help in controlling the attack along with the proper medical treatment. Pretreatment might be a wise decision when you are to be exposed to some unknown. I use pretreat when I exercise(walking). IMHO emotions do effect the severity of our asthma, since our pulmonary system, the heart and lung interact with the mass in our head. I’ve noticed with my own asthma situations/attacks that if I’m excited or stressed in some fashion then the recovery cycle is effected. This not to say that the attacks are worsened but I do notice that recovery time is lengthened by the amount of stress. Fortunately, I can use relaxation techniques to help me through the rough times. Don’t get me wrong, I still use my meds but the biofeedback/relaxation helps in my case. — Regards and God Speed, Gary W. Sandvik : Hi, : I would like to know where the theory that asthmatics have attacks to get : "secondary gains" comes from.  Also the theory that an asthma attack is : emotionally based. : Why I bring this up is because my dentist said that he thought that I was : not allergic to Marcain.  He felt that the attack I had while he was : working on my teeth was caused from apprehension and that I really had a : crush on him,  and I wanted him to pay attention to me.  That is why I had : an asthma attack.  Please.  I have asthma for nearly all of my life.  I : have had trillions of attacks.  I have had attacks at the dentist before, : and the only thing that I can trace it back to is the numbing stuff. : Straight Lidocaine without epi does not make me  wheeze if I pretreat with : an antihistamine.  If I do not pretreat I have just a little wheezing.  I : do not go by how I am feeling but use the peak flow meter to determine how : much difficulty I am having.  Puts a number to the wheeze.  I very seldom : panic during an attack often times I NEED to be calm because everyone else : is panicked.  Anyway I need to have dental work done and the dentist that I : was going to just told me that he had been using something similar to : Marcain the last three appointments and I did OK.  But I didn’t do OK. : each time I had more wheezing then the time before.  So what do I do?  I : feel like I have been patted on the head, not been taking seriously and : been put into the category of ‘hysterical women’ .  I really can not go : back to that dentist.  what can I do to prevent this from happening again. : Thank you and I am sorry for the lengthy.  PW : :

Response:

I have noticed that I sometimes have to use Albuterol when at the dentist’s office. I strongly suspect that the cause is my emotional reaction to the dental work. I have had some rather painful work done over the past year or so, and I think the anticipation of more helps to trigger an attack. Please understand that I have a serious problem with asthma (I use Flovent, Albuterol, and Atrovent) and I don’t consider emotions to be the cause–I do think emotions can help trigger an attack. Jim – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -Finally, there is considerable evidence that emotional states can affect the likelihood of having, and the intensity of, an asthma attack.  Which is not the same thing, at all, at all, as using emotion to cause one. From this, the poorly educated about asthma [which includes damn near every school teacher I have ever met] leap to the less than brilliant conclusion that ALL asthma is emotionally-induced.

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hi, I would like to know where the theory that asthmatics have attacks to get "secondary gains" comes from.  Also the theory that an asthma attack is emotionally based. Why I bring this up is because my dentist said that he thought that I was not allergic to Marcain.  He felt that the attack I had while he was working on my teeth was caused from apprehension and that I really had a crush on him,  and I wanted him to pay attention to me.  That is why I had an asthma attack.  Please.  I have asthma for nearly all of my life.  I have had trillions of attacks.  I have had attacks at the dentist before, and the only thing that I can trace it back to is the numbing stuff. Straight Lidocaine without epi does not make me  wheeze if I pretreat with an antihistamine.  If I do not pretreat I have just a little wheezing.  I do not go by how I am feeling but use the peak flow meter to determine how much difficulty I am having.  Puts a number to the wheeze.  I very seldom panic during an attack often times I NEED to be calm because everyone else is panicked.  Anyway I need to have dental work done and the dentist that I was going to just told me that he had been using something similar to Marcain the last three appointments and I did OK.  But I didn’t do OK. each time I had more wheezing then the time before.  So what do I do?  I feel like I have been patted on the head, not been taking seriously and been put into the category of ‘hysterical women’ .  I really can not go back to that dentist.  what can I do to prevent this from happening again. Thank you and I am sorry for the lengthy.  PW

First, your dentist is a total twit.  I would find a new one. Second, SOME asthmatics [mostly children] exploit their propensity to attacks for emotional gain . . . just the same way that SOME people with any disease do.  If you manage to get yourself sufficiently wound up in your undershorts, you CAN cause yourself to have an asthma attack — however, this requires hysteria, not apprehension. Finally, there is considerable evidence that emotional states can affect the likelihood of having, and the intensity of, an asthma attack.  Which is not the same thing, at all, at all, as using emotion to cause one. From this, the poorly educated about asthma [which includes damn near every school teacher I have ever met] leap to the less than brilliant conclusion that ALL asthma is emotionally-induced. BEFORE you have work done by a dentist, make an appointment to discuss your allergies.  If s/he acts at all disbelieving, or patronizing, try another.  There are good ones out there . . . I am blessed in that my dentist’s wife has severe asthma, so he is VERY aware of the issues. Chris Owens

Response:

   … back to that dentist.  what can I do to prevent this from happening again. Thank you and I am sorry for the lengthy.  PW

You could try identifying your city and asking NG subscribers in your area to e-mail you the names of their dentists if they are happy with him/her.  I don’t know if this is a good idea or not but it would give you a list of dentists that have dealt with asthmatics. Ted

Response:

The traditional medical community is very slow to change, and many illnesses have at first been discounted as psychosomatic, including Aids and multiple sclerosis and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. From what I’ve read asthma USED to be considered an emotional problem but no longer is. I’ve heard/read/thought a lot about this since I had to struggle with CFS and the disbelief of doctors/friends/family/employers.  Doctors are especially prone to assume a woman’s complaint is emotionally based and discount it. These doctors are indeed dangerous.  My FORMER doctor didn’t take me seriously, I guess, and so I had to wait until I was so weak I couldn’t even register on the spirometer.  At which point a female NP got me a nebulizer and put me on some real medications which now have my asthma relatively well controlled, altho I’m still using the nebulizer every day. But the pulmonologist is waiting to see how ID allergy tests come out before making changes. Anyhow I don’t believe that asthma or Aids or MS or CFS are any more emotionally based than any other illness. The asthma sourcebook said that asthmatics are no more anxious or depressed than the population at large. Also when I had CFS, I saw one study that showed that people with this chronically debilitating disease were actually LESS depressed than others with more mild chronic illness. Just about everybody with a fairly serious chronic or life-threatening illness is depressed to some degree.  Who would not be? On the other hand I also believe strongly in the mind/body connection.  I’ve done a lot of reading on this too.  When you have CFS – and there is no real medical treatment you explore alternatives or stay sick. Read a lot of Bernie Siegel and other authors.  I see occasionally a man who is famous in the field of Eriksonian hypnosis that my CFS doctor recommended when I started talking about the mind/body and visualization stuff.   I believe all this is why I no longer have CFS symptoms. This stuff works for cancer, works for just about any physical illness. Just think about the "placebo effect", which is a documented reality.  What happens?  People THINK they are getting medication that will treat their illness, and as a result they get better. This doesn’t make their illness any less real or physical. But what the mind/body stuff is aiming to do is to harness this power that is so clearly displayed in the placebo effect.  To be able to consciously give our bodies suggestions to help it heal. When I run outside now , I have an image of a bubble around me with heat of various types inside the bubble with me and of a tree or bushlike structure with expanding leaves (bronchial tubes) and the image that the air inside the bubble is warm, pollen and dust free. Yesterday I ran 3.7 miles again. It is just one more way to attack the problem.  First I get medically stabilized, then I pursue the mind/body stuff.  I’m not throwing out any inhalers or my precious nebulizer, that is for sure. As for your dentist, no way I would go see this man ever again.  What an arrogant, presumptuous, patronizing , self-absorbed, ignorant man he is. When I was having gum surgery years ago, I was given some form of novocaine that causes the heart to race.   Anyhow this is a bit of a rant , I guess. Good luck. Kirloga – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hi, I would like to know where the theory that asthmatics have attacks to get "secondary gains" comes from.  Also the theory that an asthma attack is emotionally based. Why I bring this up is because my dentist said that he thought that I was not allergic to Marcain.  He felt that the attack I had while he was working on my teeth was caused from apprehension and that I really had a crush on him,  and I wanted him to pay attention to me.  That is why I had an asthma attack.  Please.  I have asthma for nearly all of my life.  I have had trillions of attacks.  I have had attacks at the dentist before, and the only thing that I can trace it back to is the numbing stuff. Straight Lidocaine without epi does not make me  wheeze if I pretreat with an antihistamine.  If I do not pretreat I have just a little wheezing.  I do not go by how I am feeling but use the peak flow meter to determine how much difficulty I am having.  Puts a number to the wheeze.  I very seldom panic during an attack often times I NEED to be calm because everyone else is panicked.  Anyway I need to have dental work done and the dentist that I was going to just told me that he had been using something similar to Marcain the last three appointments and I did OK.  But I didn’t do OK. each time I had more wheezing then the time before.  So what do I do?  I feel like I have been patted on the head, not been taking seriously and been put into the category of ‘hysterical women’ .  I really can not go back to that dentist.  what can I do to prevent this from happening again. Thank you and I am sorry for the lengthy.  PW

Response:

  I really can not go back to that dentist.  what can I do to prevent this from happening again.  PW

Ask your allergist/asthma doctor what dentist he goes to.  Or ask your physician for a recommendation. Kim

Response:

Hi, I would like to know where the theory that asthmatics have attacks to get "secondary gains" comes from.  Also the theory that an asthma attack is emotionally based.

Asthma is an inflamitory disorder caused by the immune system mistaking benign substances as ‘invaders.’  Stress can trigger an asthma attack, but stress does not cause asthma. Why I bring this up is because my dentist said that he thought that I was not allergic to Marcain.  He felt that the attack I had while he was working on my teeth was caused from apprehension and that I really had a crush on him,  and I wanted him to pay attention to me.

Your dentist is a dangerous moron.  Find a new one (one who will pay attention to a possible medication allergy).

Response:

Hi, I would like to know where the theory that asthmatics have attacks to get "secondary gains" comes from.  Also the theory that an asthma attack is emotionally based. Why I bring this up is because my dentist said that he thought that I was not allergic to Marcain.  He felt that the attack I had while he was working on my teeth was caused from apprehension and that I really had a crush on him,  and I wanted him to pay attention to me.  That is why I had an asthma attack.  Please.  I have asthma for nearly all of my life.  I have had trillions of attacks.  I have had attacks at the dentist before, and the only thing that I can trace it back to is the numbing stuff. Straight Lidocaine without epi does not make me  wheeze if I pretreat with an antihistamine.  If I do not pretreat I have just a little wheezing.  I do not go by how I am feeling but use the peak flow meter to determine how much difficulty I am having.  Puts a number to the wheeze.  I very seldom panic during an attack often times I NEED to be calm because everyone else is panicked.  Anyway I need to have dental work done and the dentist that I was going to just told me that he had been using something similar to Marcain the last three appointments and I did OK.  But I didn’t do OK. each time I had more wheezing then the time before.  So what do I do?  I feel like I have been patted on the head, not been taking seriously and been put into the category of ‘hysterical women’ .  I really can not go back to that dentist.  what can I do to prevent this from happening again. Thank you and I am sorry for the lengthy.  PW

Response:

Hi, I would like to know where the theory that asthmatics have attacks to get "secondary gains" comes from.  Also the theory that an asthma attack is emotionally based.

my belief is that it’s part of the same syndrome that causes people to yell "get a job" at the homeless…a lot of people respond to others’ distress by attacking them…that way they do not feel responsible and can avoid helping or showing any consideration with a clear conscience Why I bring this up is because my dentist said that he thought that I was not allergic to Marcain.  He felt that the attack I had while he was working on my teeth was caused from apprehension and that I really had a crush on him,  and I wanted him to pay attention to me.  That is why I had an asthma attack.  Please.  I have asthma for nearly all of my life.  I have had trillions of attacks.  I have had attacks at the dentist before, and the only thing that I can trace it back to is the numbing stuff. Straight Lidocaine without epi does not make me  wheeze if I pretreat with an antihistamine.  If I do not pretreat I have just a little wheezing.  I do not go by how I am feeling but use the peak flow meter to determine how much difficulty I am having.  Puts a number to the wheeze.  I very seldom panic during an attack often times I NEED to be calm because everyone else is panicked.

absolutely Anyway I need to have dental work done and the dentist that I was going to just told me that he had been using something similar to Marcain the last three appointments and I did OK.  But I didn’t do OK. each time I had more wheezing then the time before.  So what do I do?  I feel like I have been patted on the head, not been taking seriously and been put into the category of ‘hysterical women’ .  I really can not go back to that dentist.

nor should you, assuming that there is another available…it may also be worth complaining to the relevant professional body for dentists what can I do to prevent this from happening again. Thank you and I am sorry for the lengthy.  PW

wish I knew eric

Response:

Question:

When my dotor prescribed Accolate to me about 3 weeeks ago, he told me to take it every 4-6 hours if required.  When I got the prescription filled, the pharmacist questioned the dosage, and, after checking with my doctor, said it should be taken twice a day. On the bottle, it says to take it twice a day, and there is also a sticker that says this drug must be taken exactly as prescibed.  So my question is: if I’m feeling OK, is it OK to skip a dose, or MUST I take it twice a day, every day?

Call your doctor.  You should have gotten an insert with the medicne that tells you more than most people crae to know about the stuff. Last Friday I went to have my Vancanese refilled.  I noticed that the box was a different color and the pharmicist told me that the medicne had been reformulated.  I also noticed that the manufactuer recommended 1X/day dosing while my doctor had me on 2X/day.  After talking to my doc he changed me to 1X/day. I do have a dosage question about Accolate – I’m only taking it an hour before I work out 4x a WEEK since my asthma is mostly exercise induced. The doctor I’m seeing prescribed 20mg 2x daily *every* day but I’m taking it only to prevent an attack I know I’m going to have.  Anyone see anything  wrong with this?

Big Problem.  You should _never_ change you medicnes without first clearing it with your doctor.  Most preventative asthma meds are intended to be used every day.  In fact your pharmicist should have attached a warning label to your meds to: "Use exactly as perscribed, whether you feel good or not." ‘Reply to’ address changed to foil email spammers.

Response:

When my dotor prescribed Accolate to me about 3 weeeks ago, he told me to take it every 4-6 hours if required.  When I got the prescription filled, the pharmacist questioned the dosage, and, after checking with my doctor, said it should be taken twice a day. On the bottle, it says to take it twice a day, and there is also a sticker that says this drug must be taken exactly as prescibed.  So my question is: if I’m feeling OK, is it OK to skip a dose, or MUST I take it twice a day, every day? Thanks. Alan – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I do have a dosage question about Accolate – I’m only taking it an hour before I work out 4x a WEEK since my asthma is mostly exercise induced. The doctor I’m seeing prescribed 20mg 2x daily *every* day but I’m taking it only to prevent an attack I know I’m going to have.  Anyone see anything  wrong with this?

Response:

For those of you that have stubborn asthma and are taking ventolin, cortosteroids, theo-dur serevent and the like. Ask you Dr. about Accolate. For me it is a wonder drug. After 1  day no more ventolin steroids and 1week waen off theo and serevent. WOW haven’t felt better in years.. Give it a try….

BUT what if i doesn’t make any major difference.. MY wife going on 5 yrs with this now and its begining to affect other phases of our life and HER health….been to Naational Jewish in denver the only thing reall accomplished there was she came off the inhaled and pill steriods..been to OCHNER in new orleans and found NO ALLERGIES no carpet in house, no pets, I smoke but only outside and not in car she seems to trigger on certain smells and weather..we live in south mississippi…she says she breathes easier on some days but overall condition is still going down hill…she is totally against alternitivie treatments at this time..so any suggestions on where to go from here.. she take accolade 2x day and her 1 puffer asthmacord..once in morning then as needed….. DON

Response:

For those of you that have stubborn asthma and are taking ventolin, cortosteroids, theo-dur serevent and the like. Ask you Dr. about Accolate. For me it is a wonder drug. After 1  day no more ventolin steroids and 1week waen off theo and serevent. WOW haven’t felt better in years.. Give it a try….

I did ask my doctor about it and he said my asthma wasn’t severe enough to merit it + the drug is too new (but he would prescribe if I insisted as he knows I can be pretty insistent). I take Serevent and Vanceril (6 puffs/day). My questions are: 1. How much corticosteroid were you using? 2.Does your health care provider pay for it (I’m on an HMO & doubt they have it on their approved drug formulary) 3. Don’t you still need Proventil for exercise? 4. Do you use a peak flow meter.

Response:

For those of you that have stubborn asthma and are taking ventolin, cortosteroids, theo-dur serevent and the like. Ask you Dr. about Accolate. For me it is a wonder drug. After 1  day no more ventolin steroids and 1week waen off theo and serevent. WOW haven’t felt better in years.. Give it a try….

The only thing I caution you about accolate is to be careful with a couple of the side effects. I have taken this drug for several months now and yes, it did take me off of the other drugs that I had been using. But, then I started getting nervousness and dizziness from the drug. It was getting so bad that I had to stop it. It always seems to me that when you switch from one drug to then next that there is always something else to worry about. Maybe it was just me, but I am curious to know if anyone else has felt this way also?

Response:

cortosteroids, theo-dur serevent and the like. Ask you Dr. about Accolate. For me it is a wonder drug. After 1  day no more ventolin steroids and 1week waen off theo and serevent. WOW haven’t felt better in years.. Give it a try….

Wonder drugs are wonder drugs only for a while;-) |-| /- |-< |-< |||

Response:

I, too, have been on Accolate since the end of Nov. and find that I need my emergency med, Proventil, much less often. Whereas, previously, a heavily perfumed co-worker would compromise me so much that I needed the Proventil at the end of the day.  Now, I can tolerate it much better, not have an attack.   I just end up with sore eyes and a mild headache. Overall, I am pretty well pleased.  I just hope that they don’t find that there are awful consequences to this med later. Sarah. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – For those of you that have stubborn asthma and are taking ventolin, cortosteroids, theo-dur serevent and the like. Ask you Dr. about Accolate. For me it is a wonder drug. After 1  day no more ventolin steroids and 1week waen off theo and serevent. WOW haven’t felt better in years.. Give it a try…. BUT what if i doesn’t make any major difference.. MY wife going on 5 yrs with this now and its begining to affect other phases of our life and HER health….been to Naational Jewish in denver the only thing reall accomplished there was she came off the inhaled and pill steriods..been to OCHNER in new orleans and found NO ALLERGIES no carpet in house, no pets, I smoke but only outside and not in car she seems to trigger on certain smells and weather..we live in south mississippi…she says she breathes easier on some days but overall condition is still going down hill…she is totally against alternitivie treatments at this time..so any suggestions on where to go from here.. she take accolade 2x day and her 1 puffer asthmacord..once in morning then as needed….. DON

Response:

…. But, then I started getting nervousness and dizziness from the drug. It was getting so bad that I had to stop it. …

Hmmm, I also experienced some dizziness not long after I started taking Accolate, but I didn’t attribute it to the drug.  I lasted for about 2 weeks – and then went away. Georgia

Response:

Yeah, that’s what I’m afraid of- Finding out that Accolate has some nasty side effects.  It’s so new and so different it makes me nervous- that too good to be true  feeling B

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – For those of you that have stubborn asthma and are taking ventolin, cortosteroids, theo-dur serevent and the like. Ask you Dr. about Accolate. For me it is a wonder drug. After 1  day no more ventolin steroids and 1week waen off theo and serevent. WOW haven’t felt better in years.. Give it a try…. I did ask my doctor about it and he said my asthma wasn’t severe enough to merit it + the drug is too new (but he would prescribe if I insisted as he knows I can be pretty insistent). I take Serevent and Vanceril (6 puffs/day). My questions are: 1. How much corticosteroid were you using? 2.Does your health care provider pay for it (I’m on an HMO & doubt they have it on their approved drug formulary) 3. Don’t you still need Proventil for exercise? 4. Do you use a peak flow meter.

Reply received as follows:        Re: New MED Accolate     To: 1 Steroids   Azmacort 4×4 a day  then changed to Vanceril84 DS  2×2  now down to 2×1 just to be safe and to aviod shock from stopping suddenly. 2.  I have Kaiser for HMO but have another prescription program for drugs  Sav-on   To buy out of pocket it is $65.00 for 60 pills.  2 per day 3. My job involved delivering milk to stores. That is pretty strenuous work. I haven’t had to use the ventolin for anything since 2 days after taking the Accolate. 4 Yes I have a pf METER  Aztech is the brand. On a good day before Accolate I was blowing 650-700 Now almost always  850 to off the scale……. If worst comes to worst get the prescription and buy it for a month. If it works, tell the HMO $65 a month is a lot cheaper than ventolin, steroids, and what everelse you are taking. Good Luck,  If you have any more ???? feel free to ask

Response:

snip If worst comes to worst get the prescription and buy it for a month. If it works, tell the HMO $65 a month is a lot cheaper than ventolin, steroids, and what everelse you are taking.

 Yeah, like logic is actually going to work. Dawn

Response:

I just started taking Accolate (total of 5 times now) as I do fairly heavy work-outs 4 times a week and was getting serious dizziness and rapid pulse (to the point of blackout) when I took Albuterol (Ventolin) before working out.  Previously, I had to scale back my workouts to eliminate aerobic exercise and limit the time I spent in the gym because of the attacks and the effects of Ventolin. I must admit that I’m pretty amazed at how well this drug works.  I take it an hour before I work out and now I can do a 1 1/2 hour work out PLUS ride a bike for 25 minutes with absolutely no asthma attack and no feelings of dizziness or elevated heart rate.  I get off the bike and can actually take a deep, long breath.  Amazing. Is this too good to be true?  Whats going to happen to all of us in 5 years?  10 years? I do have a dosage question about Accolate – I’m only taking it an hour before I work out 4x a WEEK since my asthma is mostly exercise induced. The doctor I’m seeing prescribed 20mg 2x daily *every* day but I’m taking it only to prevent an attack I know I’m going to have.  Anyone see anything  wrong with this? Jeff —  __    __ |    |  |    /  Jeff Stevenson      Netscape Communications Corp. |  |   |*   /   |__|  __|   *

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I just started taking Accolate (total of 5 times now) as I do fairly heavy work-outs 4 times a week and was getting serious dizziness and rapid pulse (to the point of blackout) when I took Albuterol (Ventolin) before working out.  Previously, I had to scale back my workouts to eliminate aerobic exercise and limit the time I spent in the gym because of the attacks and the effects of Ventolin. I must admit that I’m pretty amazed at how well this drug works.  I take it an hour before I work out and now I can do a 1 1/2 hour work out PLUS ride a bike for 25 minutes with absolutely no asthma attack and no feelings of dizziness or elevated heart rate.  I get off the bike and can actually take a deep, long breath.  Amazing. Is this too good to be true?  Whats going to happen to all of us in 5 years?  10 years? I do have a dosage question about Accolate – I’m only taking it an hour before I work out 4x a WEEK since my asthma is mostly exercise induced. The doctor I’m seeing prescribed 20mg 2x daily *every* day but I’m taking it only to prevent an attack I know I’m going to have.  Anyone see anything  wrong with this?

Here is some info on Leukotrine Receptor Antagonists that might answer your questions.  Zafirlukast (Accolate) is rapidly abbsorbed following oral administration.  Peak plasma concentrations are achieved 3 hours   after dosing.  The bioavailability of Zafirlukast may be decreased when taken with food.  Take Zafirlukast at least 1 hour before or 2 hours after meals.  Take regularly as prescribed, even during symptom-free periods.  Do not decrease the dose or stop taking any other antiasthma medications unless instructed by a physician.  Do not use to treat acute episodes of asthma.  The recommended dose of Zafirlukast is 20mg twice daily in adults and children 12 years and older.

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I do have a dosage question about Accolate – I’m only taking it an hour before I work out 4x a WEEK since my asthma is mostly exercise induced. The doctor I’m seeing prescribed 20mg 2x daily *every* day but I’m taking it only to prevent an attack I know I’m going to have.  Anyone see anything  wrong with this?

You might want to take that question to your doctor.  I don’t think that Accolate has been tested for use in the manner you are using it so it appears that you are the guiena pig. ‘Reply to’ address changed to foil email spammers.

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I’ve been using Accolate for about three weeks now.  It seems to make a difference.  I still carry my Abuterol everywhere and probably use it 1-2  times a day.  I’ve had severe asthma for 25 years and it seems to be as effective as the steroids have been FOR ME.  I also make a point to do some relaxed deep breathing during the day.  I haven’t noticed any side effects, but then the only side effect I’ve every had from an asthma drug was the jitters from Theophyline. It doesn’t seem to help an exercised induced attacks, but I’ve found it to work well against allergies. The main problem that I have with the drug is that you can’t take it with food.  The notes say take it at least one hour before or two hours after eating.  I decided to set up a 10 AM/10 PM schedule.  The 10 PM is esy, but hitting the 10-11 AM window is tougher.  It’s not uncommon to skip lunch to take the drug.  Even so, it seems to work. I’d be interested in hearing how other people have found it. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – For those of you that have stubborn asthma and are taking ventolin, cortosteroids, theo-dur serevent and the like. Ask you Dr. about Accolate. For me it is a wonder drug. After 1  day no more ventolin steroids and 1week waen off theo and serevent. WOW haven’t felt better in years.. Give it a try….

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I just started taking Accolate (total of 5 times now) as I do fairly heavy work-outs 4 times a week and was getting serious dizziness and rapid pulse (to the point of blackout) when I took Albuterol (Ventolin) before working out.  Previously, I had to scale back my workouts to eliminate aerobic exercise and limit the time I spent in the gym because of the attacks and the effects of Ventolin. I must admit that I’m pretty amazed at how well this drug works.  I take it an hour before I work out and now I can do a 1 1/2 hour work out PLUS ride a bike for 25 minutes with absolutely no asthma attack and no feelings of dizziness or elevated heart rate.  I get off the bike and can actually take a deep, long breath.  Amazing. Is this too good to be true?  Whats going to happen to all of us in 5 years?  10 years? I do have a dosage question about Accolate – I’m only taking it an hour before I work out 4x a WEEK since my asthma is mostly exercise induced. The doctor I’m seeing prescribed 20mg 2x daily *every* day but I’m taking it only to prevent an attack I know I’m going to have.  Anyone see anything  wrong with this? Jeff — __    __ |    |  |    /  Jeff Stevenson      Netscape Communications Corp. |  |   |*   /   |__|  __|   *

Jeff     I have been on accolate for about a week and I am pleasantly supprised  that it is working so well. I read tonight that this is the first new generation of asthma drugs the FDA has allowed in several years. I’m not wheezing when I exhale now. Chuck

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Accolate works best for allergy and exercise induced asthma.  People with other types of asthma do not usually have as good of a response to this medication.

Response:

For those of you that have stubborn asthma and are taking ventolin, cortosteroids, theo-dur serevent and the like. Ask you Dr. about Accolate. For me it is a wonder drug. After 1  day no more ventolin steroids and 1week waen off theo and serevent. WOW haven’t felt better in years.. Give it a try….

Response:

For those of you that have stubborn asthma and are taking ventolin, cortosteroids, theo-dur serevent and the like.

I have been on Accolate for about a week and no change, I hope I have your results, (I can’t lose hope!) – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Ask you Dr. about Accolate. For me it is a wonder drug. After 1  day no more ventolin steroids and 1week waen off theo and serevent. WOW haven’t felt better in years.. Give it a try….

Response:

For those of you that have stubborn asthma and are taking ventolin, cortosteroids, theo-dur serevent and the like. Ask you Dr. about Accolate. For me it is a wonder drug. After 1  day no more ventolin steroids and 1week waen off theo and serevent. WOW haven’t felt better in years.. Give it a try….

– Only about 50% of patients respond to Zyflo or Accolate, but some people respond very well. Wellington S. Tichenor, M. D. 642 Park Avenue New York, New York 212 517 6611 Visit our website at: http://www.sinuses.com Sinusitis: A Treatment Plan that Works for Asthma and Allergy too Any information read here should not be viewed as medical advice, as individual medical problems must be addressed by your physician. If you are looking for a physician and cannot get to New York City, please see the FAQ page.

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