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Inhaler Withdrawal?
For the past few months, I've been using one albuterol inhaler a week, pretty much. My doctor said I should only be using one a month, & if I keep using it that much, it will kill me. So, I stopped smoking & do everything I can to prevent an asthma attack, but things have gotten really bad lately.
Every day I have a really hard time breathing right. I pretty much have to force myself to breathe. I'll wake up in the middle of the night gasping. I'm getting horrible headaches, chest pain, & numbness. I went to the emergency room & they said it was a panic attack (which I do have those, but never this bad), & one nurse said it might be a withdrawal from my inhaler.
So, I'm wondering if it's possible to have withdrawals from that. I've looked online but I really can't find much about it. If it is possible, what are the signs? And any advice on what I should do?
Also, I'm on another inhaler to help prevent the need for the other inhaler.
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Just FYI, nothing I say can be taken as professional medical advice, as I am not a doctor. I do, however, work with a bunch of them, and I'm familiar with asthma.
If you're having THAT much trouble, you should be on a steroid inhaler, or medicinal steroids. Also, I don't think a nurse at the ER can tell you what's wrong with you, legally.
If you overuse anything, there's a risk of psychosomatic withdrawal. That is, your mind causes your body trouble because psychologically, you need it. I seem to remember having trouble with an inhaler similar to Albuterol when I was little - it made me dizzy. It might just not be the right inhaler for you. There ARE other options, and your doctor should be open to switching you.
However, the symptoms you're describing really don't sound like withdrawal to me. They sound like your body not getting enough oxygen. Therefore headaches, therefore chest pain, and therefore numbness. The headaches could be, but they could also be from oxygen deprivation...you know? These symptoms you're experiencing should ABSOLUTELY NOT be overlooked, and even though you clearly overused your inhaler, these should not be brushed aside as withdrawal.
What other inhaler are you on? If these two aren't working for you, prednisone might be the way to go. The stimulant will help open your airways.
Here's my advice:
You MUST MUST MUST MUST MUST talk to your doctor, and ask about steroid treatment. Like, call the place where he/she works the second you wake up tomorrow. If your doctor isn't available to talk to, tell them to page him/her because you're having some serious problems with your medication and need his/her advice, like, yesterday.
If the other inhaler you're on is a steroid inhaler, ask about prednisone. This problem you're having is SO not okay, and your doctor needs to manage you better. But he/she can't do that unless he/she knows what's going on with you. So open up the lines of communication, and get yourself some help!!!
Siren
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I know that when people use nasal sprays, they can become dependent on them so that when they stop using them, their symptoms can come back with a vengeance, causing them to be dependent on the nasal sprays just to be able to breathe. I would think the more they use them, the more they depend upon them.
I don't see how it would be any different with an inhaler. You've become dependent on the inhaler and now your body is protesting that you're trying to stop. Your body thinks it needs the inhaler to breathe properly, and maybe it does, now.
Never over medicate yourself! Follow Dr.'s orders. Talk to him about this if your discomfort doesn't subside soon. Don't assume it's a panic attack because a physician you've never been to before says so. Your doctor should be the one to make the diagnosis.
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