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Hi Liz, My PCP had me using Spiriva at first. I thought it helped. Later, my pulmonologist told me that the ingredients in Spiriva have little or no effect on PF, but if I am more comfortable with it, keep using it. She later prescribed Albuterol. I have an Rx for that now but do not need it frequently. Hope this helps. Paul B – Lakeland
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None of the available inhalers do anything specifically for PF disease. However, there are other reasons to use them even if one does not also have asthma or COPD.
First, PF patients often have inflammation in the lungs and inhaled steroids can reduce the inflammation. Reducing the inflammation will help the lungs to work better and so ease breathing; PF + inflammation is worse than PF alone. (This is also why PF patients are often given prednisone — it does nothing for the fibrosis per se but deals with other issues and thereby make the PF patient more comfortable.)
Second, even without asthma inhaled albuterol (in a nebulizer or an ’emergency inhaler’) will relax the airways allowing for easier passage of air into the lungs. A person with allergies often has a reaction in the airway which is similar to asthma, and a PF patient with allergies will generally find albuterol to be helpful by easing the breathing. People without allergies (or another similar airway constriction) will often notice easier breathing but not always.
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I have been on two inhalers since I was diagnosed with IPF . I really appreciated Richard Shelby’s explanations (which my pulmonologist is terrible at). I take Arnuity Ellipta inhaler and also Ventolin once a day. Once in a while I have an asthmatic-like response to coughing or an irritant in my throat and need to use the Ventolin on the spot, but I don’t consider myself asthmatic. The Ventolin reaches all the way down to the tiny bronchial sacs and relaxes them. The Arnuity Ellipta is used for COPD, ILD, IPF and probably other diseases. I don’t like using steroids anymore than the next person, but I think Richard says it all — we’re dealing with scarring which causes stiffness in our lungs. The inhalers help relax everything and help us breathe more deeply.
This should probably be another topic but if anyone is interested in working on their breathing capacity and endurance, I am working with a device called PowerLung. You can adjust the resistance on inhale and exhale and gradually work up to harder levels. It is purchased directly from the company online. $120. Not cheap but way better than the small breathing devices available on Amazon or hospital/rehab ones. It is available in a range of easy to difficult devices, from couch potatoes to endurance athletes. I highly recommend it!
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Happy Veterans Day to all
a polumnologist I had in Arizona had me using symbicort twice a day and albuterol as needed for labored breathing.
i since moved to the St. Louis area, my new polumnologist asked about the inhalers, I said the symbicort just made nausea and tired many times, she said, stop and see what happens, now off that for the last 3 years, still use the albuterol, when very labored breathing, or just before exercising. It seems to help me, but as my polumnologist says everyone is a little bit different, as doctors they check off the east boxes as one may say, and if that works great, but if not, then they dig deeper, start looking for the zebras when hearing hoof beats instead of the expected horses as she once said.
so if the inhaler works, great if not, then might need to keep looking for what does.
stay as healthy as possible
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Have been using Ventolin (abuterol) inhaler for over 3 years, morning and night. For about 2 hours after use, I seem to cough up lots more phlegm than if not used. Seems to help clear the lungs and maybe ease the breathing. Main thing is to get that gooey stuff OUT.
Best,
Jimnox
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Hi, Jim,
You should consider switching to something else if you’re using the inhaler that often. There was a time when I used the Ventolin inhaler extensively and my pulmonologist prescribed albuterol in a nebulizer. I used it twice a day and it worked better than the Ventolin. The albuterol is in solution and so the nebulizer delivers water mist as well as the medication and that aids in getting the mucus out. It was also cheaper as my copay for a month’s supply of albuterol for the nebulizer was less that $2.
Another alternative is to switch to a long-acting beta agonist (LABA). Albuterol is fast acting — that’s why it’s in the ’emergency inhaler’ — whereas a LABA is slower acting. However, a LABA is also long lasting. I used Brovana (a LABA) for a time and it helped a lot. While using it I almost never had to use the Ventolin inhaler. Trelegy is another often prescribed LABA.
Talk to your physician about these alternatives as you may (or may not) get better results. They certainly helped me but then we’re all different.
Hope this helps,
Richard
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Good afternoon everyone and hope everyone had a good Veterans day and celebrated our vets. When I first started this journey, it was about 4 years ago. My lung doc said I had emphyzema and had me on Trelogy. It sometime worked and others not. Then in Feb ,2020, I ended up in the hospital unable to breath. After 3 hospitals and a biopsy, it was found I had IPF and probably had it all along. Along with that came afib to join the cad and degenerative heart disease. Have other problems to, but that’s another story. Anyhow, my current doc put me on Flovent after finding the Trelogy didn’t work. After awhile and finding out it does help, I asked the doc just what is does. She told me that it is a inhalent steriod and works in conjunction with prednisone that tackles the lung from the other direction. For me, it’s working because I am not doing as much coughing as I used to.
Well, that is my 2 cents for today. Here’s wishing everyone a Happy Thanksgiving with your family.
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I agree with Richard. I have IPF, Asthma and mild allergies so the inhalers are a God send for me. I use Albuterol rescue inhaler but it still takes 25 minutes before I cough up junk. I only use it when needed, mostly in the evening. Hint: Don’t take it 30 minutes before church. The cough is worse than a screaming baby.
Everything with this disease is trial and error. We are the most persevering people ever! Happy Thanksgiving.
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Hi Richard,
Thanks for clarifying the use of inhalers for IPF. Just to be sure I am understanding correctly, a steroid inhaler may or may not help someone with IPF and no other underlying lung problems, just depends on the individual.
Thanks again ,Liz
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Hi, Liz,
A steroid inhaler (or oral steroid) will not improve pulmonary fibrosis per se but it may (not necessarily will) make a patient feel better and breath easier. It’s as my former pulmonologist (whom I loved dearly) would say. She would enter a prescription, look at me, and say, “This won’t cure you; as you know there is nothing I can offer as a cure. But this might help your breathing and make you feel better. If it does, great. If not, then we can try something else.” I have used several steriodal medications and some helped.
Many PF patients have inflammation in the lungs and a steroid can improve breathing in those folks. There are several commonly used inhaled steroids including budesonide/Symbicort, beclomethasone, ciclesonide, flunisolide, fluticasone, and triamcinolone. Inhaled corticosteroids are often used in a nebulizer but some are available as an inhaled dry powder. They are commonly used for asthma and COPD patients as well as PF patients. Quoting the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology, “These asthma medications reduce many forms of airway inflammation, which helps normalize how much mucus you produce, airway hypersensitivity, swelling and tightening of your bronchial tubes.”
Hope this helps.
Richard
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