Anyone using flovent?

[andrewsmom]

Hi everyone!! I hope all is well.

Andrew was put on Flovent by the pulmonologist (wow...really need help with that spelling!! LOL). I was wondering if any of you have your little ones on Flovent. I'm kind of concerned about him being on it all winter long. Seems like a really long time.

Have any of you noticed a difference using the Flovent, such as less chest congestion, less breathing problems etc.

I'm just kind of looking for any advice or opinions. Thanks in advance!!

-Trisha

[wrblack]

Yep, Charlie. Been on Flovent for more than a year now. Pulmonologist dx'd asthma, prescribed Flovent daily and Albuterol as needed.
I think some pulmonologist do it the other way round, treat with Albuterol daily and give Flovent or other steroid only during periods when asthma is particularly bad.
Last visit with pulmonologist, a good pediatric pulmonologist from CHOP, he thought saw sufficient improvement in Charlie's respiratory system that we cut the Flovent in half, went from two puffs by Aerochamber twice a day to one puff twice a day.
I think we've given Charlie the Albuterol by Aerochamber only once. But there's a big qualification to that. I think there's a seasonal aspect to the asthma. And meanwhile, Charlie's little brother was dx'd by pediatrician with asthma. Said it's good his seems to be the coughing variety more than the wheezing flavor and that there's a chance that he might outgrow it someday.
We had had some Xopenex lying around, some Charlie leftovers, which we had used via nebulizer on both of them. Got a new script for a new batch of Xopenex for Robert. And nebulized them both for a few weeks, first about every 8 hours, then cut back to twice a day, then cut back to just bedtime.
Now that the weather has improved, so has their asthma. I much prefer the Xopenex to the Albuterol. But pediatrician says even hospitals switching to Albuterol because Xopenex cost about 10 times as much. Question is, is Xopenex by nebulizer 10 times as good as Albuterol by Aerochamber? Maybe.
And maybe more than you wanted to know, or hear from me. But, yes, Charlie gets Flovent twice a day. Seems to help quite a bit. But I don't know about long term effects of inhaled steroids. -- Bob

[justinsmom]

My oldest daughter, nephew and Justin are all on Flovent, all dx'd with asthma, Justins been on it for 3 yrs., Alyssa off and on for 8yrs and our nephew for about a year now. They have done better with the Flovent because it works as a long lasting med whereas the albuterol is short term fast acting med. It does help during the winter months because of all the upper respiratory bugs, hope it helps.
Xopenex here too Bob, just for Justin though because of the heart issue, Alyssa still has the albuterol for the nebulizer. She also has to take Pulmicort and Foradil twice a day via nebulizer along with Singulair. She has moderate to severe asthma and she's 14, Justin on the other hand knock on wood only gets a bit wheezy with the weather change so now until the spring thaw is bad for us. Hers is weather, exercise, allergy triggered, so she's one ticked off girl because she isn't allowed to go out for volleyball and basketball at school

[steffipoo]

Olivia has asthma. Everyday I give her 2 cromolyn sodium vials via nebulizer and 1 albuterol which she needs usually once a day. Then when she gets sick I up the albuterol.She also has a huffer with spacer for school or trips when we go outside the house for albuterol. The pulm. explained to me that the cromolyn sodium helps to keep her lungs strong so when she does get sick(this is when her asthma goes insane) her lungs are strong. It builds up in your lungs I here.Now as far as the flovent goes I don't know but I do know that you should show ur child how to rinse afterwards.This is per my husband Jeff he was on serevent atrovent floven and albuterol. But he said they really irritate your throat. So teach your child how to gargle and spit. Liv loves that. Now I am wondering if you all have heard of Spiriva. My husband has been on it in place of the flovent atrovent etc. He only takes his spiriva and albuterol now. HE LOVES the Spiriva. Said it works the best. But its a small weird shaped huffer that u put a pill in and it pokes a hole and you suck in the powder. He has been so much healthier respiratory-wise since he's used that. I think its new since last year but his ins covers it. Not sure if its approved for pediatric patients . If anyone goes to the pulmonolgist soon would ya ask them if its approved for pediatric patients? Thanks Steff

[wrblack]

Steff is right about spitting. Actually think giving Flovent has made us do a better job with Charlie's oral hygiene. Instructions from pulmonologist were to brush and rinse after each treatment, otherwise danger of thrush or yeast infection. So, Charlie gets his teeth brushed and gets to rinse out his mouth at least twice a day, immediately after each dose of Flovent. -- Bob

[andrewsmom]

Bob... Andrew's doc also told us to rinse after, but I'm having a hard time getting Andrew to do this. I like the idea of brushing his teeth right after though....now that might work. Hmmm...why didn't I think of that??

Steff...I will ask about the Spiriva when we go in Nov. That sounds interesting, I've never heard of anything like that before. I'll let you know.

Thanks everyone!!

-Trisha