Other Inhaled Steroids (for asthma)

[EveHarrington]

Hi,

I’m wondering if others have been prescribed inhaled steroids for asthma, etc and didn’t have it affect their mood.

My doc says I should be fine (pulmonologist), one pharmacist said no, don’t take it, it could affect your mood, and another pharmacist said I should be fine because it is localized and doesn’t get into the bloodstream.

I guess I just want to hear others experiences. I know I’ll have to try for myself to see what happens, but I’m just cautious because I am still trying to get my meds right. I don’t want my mood to go haywire, but at the same time I really want to get my breathing issues straightened out.

Thanks.

 

[Abstract]

Personally it doesnt affect my mood. It took me years and years to accept the wisdom behind prevention and now that I have done so my health is very improved. And I can find not breathing well triggering at times so that isn't good for my mood. Reliever sprays can stimulate me and exacerbate agitation. People usually use too much relievers and not enough preventers. I certainly did.

 

[EveHarrington]

Personally it doesnt affect my mood. It took me years and years to accept the wisdom behind prevention and now that I have done so my health is very improved. And I can find not breathing well triggering at times so that isn't good for my mood. Reliever sprays can stimulate me and exacerbate agitation. People usually use too much relievers and not enough preventers. I certainly did.

Yes, I am much the same!

My nightmares are about suffocating in various ways and when I can’t breathe, it causes more panic.

I’m not convinced it’s asthma because I had three docs tell me my lungs didn’t sound asthmatic, but the pulmonologist says it is asthma. I’m just confused because I don’t have “attacks”, rather it feels like a tightening of my chest. This all started as a side effect of a med I’m no longer taking, and it’s frustrating that I’m still struggling with breathing issues even though I’ve been off of it awhile. (I know the med is at least part of the issue as when I try to take it again, my breathing gets worse.) I know that the very damp summer has not helped. Now that it’s cooler and a lot less humid, my breathing has improved. Now I’m just left wondering if my lungs will go back to being able to breathe just fine or if I really will have to struggle with this for the rest of my life.

I talked to two more pharmacists tonight and both said it’s a possibility that my mood will be affected, but it’s a low risk.

 

[piratelady]

I get exercise induced asthma. At first I was given albuteral. It was the worst for making my heart race. Then I got Xopenex, It was similar, but not as bad. That wasn't enough and I was given a long-acting inhaler to use daily - Symbicort.

I wouldn't say it affects my mood, but It made my hands shake and I was kind of anxious, physically. Which affected my emotions a little bit. As I got used to it though, that side effect went away. In the beginning, I only took the inhaler at night. Then once I got used to it, I started using it twice a day.

I’m not convinced it’s asthma because I had three docs tell me my lungs didn’t sound asthmatic, but the pulmonologist says it is asthma. I’m just confused because I don’t have “attacks”, rather it feels like a tightening of my chest.

They were undecided on my asthma too. I've been told I do have it, then I don't, then I do. I feel weaker when I run, get winded more quickly. Days like today, when the pollen is really bad, I have a more typical "attack" where I wheeze and cough. When it's not quite as bad, I get a tight feeling to. The inhaler makes a world of difference. As I type this, I wish I had used it today, before I went running because I'm miserable now.

 

[Skywatcher]

I use symbicort; the first week I tried it, I was emailing my T about a lot of anxiety and upsets. She could tell I was on something new. I do still use it when I hit a patch of seasonal allergies, but I do a lot of self mood monitoring in case I need to stop.

 

[Friday]

Asthma is a diagnosis of exclusion. Meaning that once everything has been ruled out, if you respond to albterol/ventolin on the PFT, it’s asthma. If it’s freaking weird, even by asthma standards which has a huge normal range, it’s simoly called atypical asthma.

IF there’s good reason to assume a different cause? (Because albuterol works across a huge range of conditions that affect the lungs) aaaaaaand you’ve got a world class medical team who despise unsatisfied curiosity... They can run the ENTIRE battery of tests. Here are literally thousands of them. That takes about 2 years of appointments 3x a week. It’s also costs about 15 million. Outside of world class children’s hospitals who are funded up the ying yang, it’s rare that you’re tested that thoroughly before they throw their hands up at the negative test for Ehlers-Danlos type IV, negative for toxic exposure to a chemical that hasn’t been in production since WWII (you’re SURE you’ve never been in the catacombs of Paris??? Micronesia? Well, we’ll just test anyway. There are only 6 cases in the world, but the boy down the hall from you is 1 of only 2 people in recorded history with this particular type of blah blah blah), and after your third run through cardiology (just to make sure the new machine doesn’t see something, it’s amazing the new machine, we JUST got it last month) and a 5th appointment with Rheumatology, and a consult “with this guy in Norway”... :banghead::banghead::banghead: and they mark down ‘asthma’.

So how far they’re willing to exclude varies, but there’s no actual test FOR asthma. Generally, if you rule out the top 80 differentials for asthma? None of those? Okay! You’ve got asthma!

 

[lostforgottensoul]

My doc says I should be fine (pulmonologist), one pharmacist said no, don’t take it, it could affect your mood, and another pharmacist said I should be fine because it is localized and doesn’t get into the bloodstream.

I have a nebulizer that vaporizes albuterol (a steriod). It's the same thing they give you as a breathing treatment in the hospital (in my exerpience). It doesn't effect my mood. Just makes me shaky for like an hour.

I have very damaged lungs from huffing up to 16 cans a day of keyboard duster for about 2 years. I have about every kind of vaporized inhaler and dust inhaler and all sorts of stuff. Also an ex smoker and also have asthma. Had pneumonia twice in a year and 3 times total and god knows how many times with boncitis. None of them effect my mood. Some do nothing but most, if they do anything, make me shakey. But thats mainly the nebulizer.

 

[Abstract]

The tricky thing is that you changing other meds at the same time. One thing I have done is do meds for a session to get effect, monitor mood, anxiety then stop and do again. Its hard to tell otherwise I find as so many things can affect me.

Also just to note that asthma doesnt always present in the way people think it does. Wheezing is often a symptom but coughing can be another; rtc.

 

[Friday]

I have a nebulizer that vaporizes albuterol (a steriod)

Quick correction here... albuterol is not a corticosteroid. It’s a bronchiodilator / beta2 agonist.

Albuterol Inhaler: Uses, Dosage & Side Effects - Drugs.com
Beta2-agonists (bronchodilators) | AAAAI

 

[lostforgottensoul]

albuterol is not a corticosteroid. It’s a bronchiodilator / beta2 agonist.

Ah, my bad. Should of looked that up. All this time and I thought it made me shake and heat race cause it was a steriod. Gah! Sorry!

Though I'm positive one of these 50 inhalers I have are steriods lol. But even oral steriods didn't change my mood. So, can at least speak to that.

Thanks for the correction @Friday! Should of googled before assuming. I get bad at posting things quick on break and end up posting incorrect or half correct stuff. Stop it Lost!

 

[lostforgottensoul]

Intresting. Thought you might be able to relate to "Roid rage". Personally I have never heard of it but Mary does have CF so if anyone knows, she would be one of those.

It's at about 4:55 or so where she talks about it if you wanna skip the vloggy stuff. I never personally has this issue with steroids but if it has a nickname, it's a thing.

 

[Abstract]

Hi Lostforgottensoul I am no expert but firstly oral steriods are a totally different cup of tea. Systemic effect. Massive impact on body in comparison. Much more side effects. Inhalers are minute local doses. Also a difference between corticosteriods and anabolicsteroids. The latter essentially mimics testerone. Thats where the term roid rage comes from. Body builders.