I was advised to use my ventolin inhaler at only 8 puff per day but i am using a lot more than that as my chest feels bad. will this hurt me?

Answer 1

Yes, it is a possible to do damage to your body by using too much Ventolin. It raises your heart rate, and can cause cardiac distress.

If you find yourself needing to use your inhaler much more than the doctor advises, it is time to go back and talk to them.

Your inhaler is for rescue use. If you are having that many attacks, you likely need to be put on some Asthma management meds. There are inhalers that include steroids to reduce the inflammation in your lungs, which also helps them feel less raw. There are also oral steroids that they may suggest. They could put you on a long term allergy medication, like Singulair.

You can also ask about rescue medications that have a lower cardiac impact. There are some on the market, such as Lobuterol. They might be a little more expensive at the pharmacy, but with proper management, you may find yourself using it much less often.

Just be sure to go talk to your doctor. It is very important to manage asthma, and not through overuse of a rescue inhaler. This can have serious consequences.