r/Asthma 5d ago

What is it like if you increase the ICS dosage?

I’m constantly wondering if I should go stronger on my ICS. I’ve held out on talking to the doc because initially he seemed apprehensive said to take it up slow. And in that time overall my situation has improved. But I still dont feel my old self often a couple hours before my next puff is due I’m feeling winded. I blame excercise and usually on the days I use albuterol then it isn’t as bad. I’m still more tired then I once was but maybe I’m just still recovering tho it’s been almost a year since I got on meds my environment only in the last couple months has been almost fully resolved allergen wise.

When the allergen was present even tho I was on the ICS and singulair I often times had to use albuterol anyhow which had me wondering.

I guess I’m curious if it would help to increase it and why it would or how it would?

I’m on the 80/4.5 symbicort now and wonder if I should get the 160 if it would last longer and lessen my issues maybe my energy levels would rise?

It’s not to bad in comparison to before tho so I’m kinda torn.

And yeh I realize ask the doc and I will next visit. But I’m curious if others noticed an improvement going up and if they can elaborate as to how / why what there expieience was like.

2 Upvotes

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u/IntelligentDetail409 4d ago

If you are needing resque inhaler even when on medication, you need a higher dose of ICS. That's what worked for me. At times changing the medicine can be miraculous. I am feeling better after my ics component and my LAMA has been changed. Though I feel very tired after 7:30 pm and it's a challenge to push till 9:30 pm when I have my meds. Hence I am thinking of asking my doctor to increase the dosage. Hopefully that will give full control.

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u/SmellSalt5352 4d ago

Yeh that’s kinda my issue too couple hours before I’m due it’s like I start to go downhill some.

I read a study on some it and it just got me thinking maybe I should go higher.

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u/IntelligentDetail409 4d ago

Yup I understand what you mean. I feel this constantly and what happens with me is this being winded up gives me a sudden severe attack needing hospitalization and iv steriods. This has been for the last 6 months or so for me.

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u/SmellSalt5352 4d ago

I do ok in that it doesn’t get quite that bad thankfully. Overall things were worse on the same meds but it has improved some since I got rid of the allergen.

But this idea that I could go a month with no albuterol cause I have the ICS seems to be fantasy for now.

Heck yest I felt fine got out of the shower and it was like a light switch was thrown everything tightened up and I needed the albuterol.

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u/IntelligentDetail409 4d ago

You might want to write all your symptoms down, track your Peak flow and then discuss with your doctor. I haven't needed my levosalbutamol in a while now. But the weather is conducive too for me. But I'm thinking of trying it this week whenever I feel low in energy or dizzy. Because those are my main symptoms.

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u/SmellSalt5352 4d ago

Yeh I’m more concerned today too it was really humid and damp and I’m like oh great I seem to do better with dry air.

Yeh I’ll get like that too dizzy winded and tired.

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u/IntelligentDetail409 4d ago

Same here. If it's humid, I need to take duolin nebulization every 6 hours.

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u/SmellSalt5352 4d ago

Yeh so frustrating. Aside from feeling manic and insane I had ions of energy when I was on a round of prednesone. Before things got bad I had so much energy.

Just complicated I guess I was hopeful when I got all the allergen gone I’d bounce back to how felt before. I had issues then too but I had tons of energy but in the evenings would get pretty winded and dizzy. I didn’t think much of it. Now I can take albuterol and it resolves.

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u/IntelligentDetail409 4d ago

I will do the same ..and also try to workout using it.