Asthma Support Group

I take atrovent, which is a similar drug to spiriva. Spiriva is not usually prescribed for asthma but some people like yourself find it helps, some doctors dont like perscribing meds for uses that they aren't intended for.

Also your doctor may be worried that you are not taking any steps to control your symptoms. Spiriva is a special kind of reliever inhaler and can make breathing easier but does not treat the underlying inflamation. When the inflamation is not being treated with steriods or other preventative medications severe attacks and poor control are a problem.

Here are a few things you might want to ask your doctor about:
- Ask her if you can try taking atrovent instead of spiriva
- Ask about trying other steriods and long acting relievers seperatly
- Ask to try the two drugs in advair as seperate inhalers to see if the thrush stops
- Ask about trying the new drug Fostair (not sure of the name in the US) which is a combination inhaler like symbicort and advair
- Ask about other preventative meds like montelukast tablets and sodium cromoglicate (a lot of docs wont prescribe cromo because it is out of fashion but if you explain about the thrush they may consider it as a alternative to steriods)

Finally, make sure you are rinsing your mouth out after taking your inhalers as not doing this can cause thrush. Having a drink may also help to stop it happening further down

Hope you get sorted out

Lorna

My pulmonologist told me that Spiriva is for COPD, not asthma. He doesn't like using it for asthma use because in his experience, it can sometimes make asthmatics cough. I developed a severe, chronic cough that lasted from April 28 to mid-July of this year. They could not determine the cause of the cough or make it stop.

I even had a bronchoscopy, which was normal. My pulmonologist conferred with my asthma specialists and they agreed that I should stop the Spiriva and see what happened. (The current specialist did not prescribe it - a former doctor did.) The cough went away. We don't know if the Spiriva caused the cough, we just know it is gone. My pulmonologist said that he would report it to the FDA as he has seen that happen before.

That may be why your doctor is reluctant to prescribe it for you.

Spiriva is a combination drug. It is comprised of Foradil and something else (I can't remember what). Have you tried Foradil? I used it for a few years and had good luck with it.

I am so new, I didn't know anyone responded to my questions. Thank you.

I am going to take this to my new appoinment with the new dr.

I can't tell you how much this helps. Thank you so much.