soya in my inhaler

[rebecca c]

i have been visiting the site a short while now and I am learning a lot which I think might help me manage my situation, although that may change after I have been to the chest clinic next week. I am worried I might be starting to react to soya as well and there is soya in my inhaler - has anyone had any problem with the serevent inhaler. They did try to give me an inhaler with lactose in it once but luckinly I checked the ingredients and didnt even try it.

[cnc]

I've got lactose in all my medicines, I don't know much about the soya inhalers, but surely there is an alternative to that as well??I think there is inhalers around to suit most people so I'd probably suggest asking at the chest clinic, as they're probably the ones who will know the most.

[Pam]

I find it absolutely amazing that you would get soya and milk in an inhaler. I can understand that most tablets have lactose in them to bind them together but in an inhaler???? It just goes to show how you can't be too careful.

[rebecca c]

Even the predinisalone tablets which asthmatics use when they are very ill have lactose in them. You can get soluble ones too which I have just started using but they have sodium benzoate in which is also something I think I may be reactive too. Its mad. You are trying to remedy the damage of something with a medicine which has the damaging component in it.

[cnc]

I know, I think it's madness that I'm taking several doses of medications daily that I know have lactose in them, but I don't really know what to do, I can't go to the GP, as they've never diagnosed me with an intolerance, so for now it looks like I'm stuck in the same vicious circle Rebecca C is in.
Is there no alternative for you to have Rebecca C?

[rebecca c]

I just spoke to the doctor about it, we agreed it obviously makes sense to discuss it with the consultant but that there are alternatives. I'm keen to find out if they can actually run some tests for my allergies, intolerences, reactions so its a case of watch this space. I dont think its a good idea to get my hopes up too much after all there is even a house of commons report saying that the support from the nhs for people with allergies is inadequate. but i intend to keep trying. maybe its a case of finding the right doctor?

[paranoidangel]

I had a similar thing today when I tried to get some hayfever pills. Luckily the pharmacist in one of my local chemists (the one I tried second, helpfully) told me that I could have it in liquid form instead.

[matt]

don't just keep taking the tablets with lactose in them, there will almost def be alternatives. prob just more expensive. not your prob. go see the doctor, explain you've doen elimination diet and seem to have a reaction to milk and are getting reaction to the tablets so need new prescription. make the bgger work for their money!!!

[linny]

I am intolerant not allergic to dairy and when I apporached my GP about lactose being in some of tablets I take, she said it was minimal and the benefits of the medication far outweighed the problems of me taking that small amount of lactose. :unsure:

I am a complete pain when it comes to tablets as I get loads of side effects. The worst one was 'Parkinsons' symptoms when I took aniti-sickness tablets whilst pregnant (I was sick for the whole 9 months!!!). I will never be able to take any anti-sickness tablets which I find quite scary really.

[rebecca c]

I'm the same, even parecetamol make my nose run quite badly. my worst Medicine (apart from aspirin obviously) was the pill, second time around, incredilble headaches - completely spoilt a family holiday for me.

[ellsie]

Hi Linny. I think it matters if it is a tiny amount in the tablets because it depends how sensitive you are to the ingredient. I think your doc is a big meanie:poke: Tell him to waken up to the needs of his patient!

[cnc]

I've had a look on my hayfever tablets, I can't find lactose listed on them, but I haven't got the full ingredients list, just a brief one, (they usually list lactose on the box of tablets thought), but these seem to use propylene glycol instead to bind the tablets, and according to my Doctor are meant to be some of the most effective all round hayfever tablets.
I've still got to try and sort something out about my inhalers, but its just a bit to much to get stressed about at the moment.

[Pam]

I've got loratadine which do contain lactose, I don't think they are particularly effective either. I don't have a bad reaction to lactose so I can live with it, there is probably lactose in my pill too. I'm sure I can cope with such small amounts. It must be a problem if you have a stronger reaction to it though.

[Copper]

Lactose in tablets is very bad for me!!! This is how I identified my intolerance as the over the counter tablets (Sudafed I think) I was advised to take for my congestion made me feel very sick. I went back to the chemist and bought the liquid version which contained glucose and I was ok.

[cnc]

My tablets contain Mizolastine and are quite effective. I'm not sure what effect the lactose in my inhalers has on me as I can't not take them, so don't know whether how I feel now, is what I'm meant to feel like or whether I would feel better without that lactose.
Regarding the sudafed, you're better taking the liquid than the tablets anyway as the tablets contain a lot less active ingredient in them than the liquid, (I've read the labels on all of these things, having suffered badly from sinusitis, for several years). If you ever need to buy something for it again, try Boots own brand decongestant, they are as strong as the liquid and don't seem to contain lactose, but you should probably double check though for yourself :)

[Copper]

Thanks for that info. My doctor was not amused when I told him that I had taken the liquid version of Sudafed, as he said it is not as strong as the tablets!

[cnc]

Well I've just had a look at their website, it seems that they have changed the strength of the tablets up to 60mg, (sorry to mis inform you) when they used to be about 12mg, however, the boots ones are the same strength (and cheaper!!) and do not contain lactose, so are probably best for you as the liquid I know isn't that practical.
Don't get the capusles as they are weaker, its all rather daft I think!!
Liquid is half as strong as the tablets, but you take two spoonfuls of it each time so works out the same I think!

[rebecca c]

Well I've just been to see the chest consultant. It was mostly OK especially as my chest Xray was clear today. He has ordered me some skin prick tests - I'd be interested to know of others experiences with these, which I hope might help. He has also offered me a singulair asthma tablet, which he says helps people with my type of asthma/allergies although of course I may react to it. Needless to say it has lactose in it. I am definitely going to give it a go. He was supportive not disimissive when I talked about my allergies and intolerences. He has suggested too I may need to take antihistamine every day - watch this space.

[Copper]

I don't know how helpful my experience will be as I am now 51 and had my tests when I was about 17. The nurse drew a nice biro line down my forearm from elbow to wrist. Then she drew lines across - so I had lots of "boxes" down my arm. Then each potential allergen was applied to a box. I am not good with needles and as I don't remember exactly how the drop of liquid was applied to my arm it can't have been that bad. You then wait a set period of time - again I can't remember how long but about 20 mins I think. Then they look at the boxes to see if any contain a swelling and then measure the diameter of it. This was fun as the household dust one was like a gigantic hive. In the end I was found to be allergic to every type of pollen and dust. That explained why I had hayfever from early spring until autumn with a two week break in May if I was lucky!

I am a coward and the whole thing was ok - so don't worry.

[Pam]

My boss had pin prick testing for a suspected nickel allergy. She had it done on her back and had to return to the hospital a further twice to see if there had been any reaction. She had to wear the same vest top for the whole period! On day one she had the allergens put on and covered with little plasters, day 3 the plasters were taken off, day 5 was a final look for reactions. Nothing showed up although she definitely had some sort of allergy to cause her face to swell as it had done.

These tests are great for picking up skin problems but I suspect that they are not so good at identifying digestive/breathing problems.

[rebecca c]

Thanks guys, I had the patches on my back too the night they put them on I had a terrible tummy:cry: . Which started clearing a couple of hours after I washed them off. They said it had nothing to do with the patches and all they could do was do it again, I said no then but I am going to have to go back soon and face the music :violin: when I get through the waiting list. (some of them did come up a week later but too late to tell what they were)

The tests the chest clinic are doing are the skin prick tests as Copper explained, I'm not bothered by needles just worried about physical reactions to allergens being put on my skin.

I guess the only good thing to be said if I do react is they cant keep denying the connections to all of my symptoms - But it is so scarey to go through and the doctors have been quite unsupportive in the past. They never really believe me.:headbang:

[Lan]

Hi Rebecca.

We believe in you and know what it is like. When I had a skin prick test I had a reaction to the subliminal test only. I was felt so stupid.

Let us know how it goes. Support is always available.

Kind Regards,


Lan. ^_^

[Copper]

Ah yes the good thing about my test all those years ago was the instant reaction. I kept telling my doctor that my hayfever lasted nearly all year and as I also developed asthma he sent me to a consultant - to see what could be done to help me. I waited ages for an appointment to see said consultant, then he did not believe that I had hayfever as I was ill from late Feb/early March. He sent me to have the tests done and I was pleased in a way that my arm came up in large lumps quite quickly as it proved my diagnosis. When I saw the consultant again he said "you have hayfever" - well what a surprise I thought!!!!

[rebecca c]

Thanks again guys, your support is helpful. As you can tell I'm feeling quite low at the mo, but it doesnt normally take me long to pick myself up, dust myself down..............
Copper sorry you've probalbly told people this but do you have to take regular antihistamine for your hayfever?

[Copper]

I was sort of cured all those years ago as they adminstered a 3 year course of tailor made injections. These are not done anymore. I just get hayfever in the grass pollen season. I have just started sneezing in the last couple of days. I use Beconase nasal spray and that works for me. I don't need tablets anymore. My eyes get bad for a few days in a bad year so I should use eye drops too but I don't.

[matt]

doctors don't you just love em?

first appointment with new one today.....:( i know it might go well but you can't help thinking the worst can you?

can't be any worse than some of the idiots i've seen over the years.

hope the tests go well and you pick yourself up soon. atleast the suns shining and it's dry......be even better if it was warm. but we can't have eveything

[Bet]

I had the skin prick tests done when I was @ 19 (i'm now 42) Had recently developed asthma and doctors were trying to work out if anything in particular started it off. I already knew I was allergic to cats and grass pollen. I also had a milk / egg allergy as a kid but was pretty sure I'd grown out of it.

Anyway, had the tests done. Unfortunately, my skin is so sensitive, my whole arm came up as one red blob and they couldnt determine anything on the day. When everything settled down later in the day, the two rashes remaining on my arm were the cat and grass pollen one which I already knew affected me!! Pretty pointless in the end I'm afraid.

Lan - having a cat allergy when you love cats is not good, I'm sure you'll agree! Try to stay away from them but invariably go round friends houses who have them and end up stroking them etc and then have to pay the consequences!!!!

[Pam]

My hubby has a cat allergy but it comes out as a hayfever type reaction - streaming eyes, runny nose, sneezing etc. If he gets scratched by a cat his skin reacts badly by becoming very red and swollen around the scratch, it is a good job we don't eat cat or he might have an anaphylactic shock!

[Copper]

My sister has the same symptoms but they started after she no longer had cats of her own! My hayfever symptoms are made worse if I comb our cat. I can only comb him for 11 months of the year :) One friend got really bad asthma if he so much as walked into a house where a cat had been. I get asthma if I cuddle a rabbit - I no longer cuddle rabbits :(

[matt]

rabbits are for roasting!!! and so will i be once anyone else reads reply!:lol2:

[paranoidangel]

I'm leading a charge to roast matt - rabbits are for cuddling!

[matt]

never fall in love with something edible!!!! lambs look lovely but taste even better!:drool:

[paranoidangel]

This is true. At least for lambs. But bunnies are pets and lambs aren't really. Plus they grow up into sheep.

[cnc]

Surely everything is edible if you're hungry enough, so Matt, you've just said we should never fall in love with anything :D
Quite a few of my friends have pet lambs, they're quite fluffy and sweet (the lambs, not my friends!!), but I'd have to agree that they taste better, and think actually my friends who own the lambs also like eating them!!

[Pam]

My neighbours had a pet sheep called Harry when we first moved into this house, they kept him in the allotment just accross the footpath from us - he was huge and very friendly. I'm not a big fan of lamb, I prefer pork.

[matt]

now pigs are meant to be clever and have characters! sheep are just brainless!

you can fall in love with animals just be aware that someone somewhere will eat it! you're prob safe with newts and toads!!! or trees. christ they'll even eat cats in asia.:unsure:

i'll concede i don't want to eat a fat fluffy bunny from a petshop. but the overbreeding destructive wild ones.....:drool: . they need culling, they are only there as intrduced by romans as food source. they do lots of damage and they taste nice.;)