I'm on singulair too. I got the generic, and I read in a lot of forums that the generic doesn't work as well as the name brand. They are supposed to be identical, but thats what people say.

I dont notice any difference on singulair. I've been on it for about a month now.

As for tips on asthma, there's a lot to tell you. Changing your diet can help. No dairy is a biggie. No processed meats like sausage or bacon. Lots of carrots and green veggies.

Ask me more, in an email if you'd like. :)

Welcome to the Asthma Support Group! Being newly diagnosed is a complicated experience for anyone, I am happy to help you. First of all, you need a maintenance inhaler like Flovent to control your asthma. Singulair is not a good controller. Purchase a peak flow meter to monitor your asthma, and take a reading constantly! I will talk to you soon.

Christina

Ask for a nebulizer with xopenex or abuterol.

Mary, how does your nebulizer work for you, and how often do you need to take a breathing treatment?

Welcome!
When I first started getting proper treatment for asthma, it took a whole month to get my lungs under control. I, too, had Singulair plus an Advair 250/50 disc. At first I wondered, is this stuff working?! And I asked the nice folks on this group who told me to hang in there. Sure enough, it took about 28-30 days, and then I could breathe again! So just keep at it and in a little while your lungs will calm down.

Advair definately works after the initial period of time where it take to kick in.

I am on Singulair and it took awhile to notice...now if I take it late or forget I for sure notice! Also, did they give you a nebulizer with Albuterol? That helps a ton!!

You should be able to take inhaled steroids even with Bipolar.... it is the oral steroids you want to avoid. I am VERY Bipolar and am on 2 steroid inhalers.... Advair and Qvar. The only other option for me is oral prednisone...... Singulair makes a difference but it's subtle... I have been on it for about 15 years and if I miss it for say a week I start to feel it. Don't give up, it works even if you are not noticing it.

Which medication have you been on for fifteen years? I could not tell which one; fifteen years is quite a long time! How is your asthma doing now?

For 15 years... albuterol inhaler, singulair, and zyrtec. Others have changed or been added over time but those have been with me forever it seems.

Oh.... asthma is stable for now.

Our rescue inhalers are a part of us are they not! I have mine with me everywhere I am.

Can take a while for asthma once out of control to respond to meds. Singulair seems to work best if your asthma has allergies as a trigger. If this is so, try some zyrtec over the counter. It is an antihistamine for allergies. I take it during spring allergy season with singulair to prevent triggers.

The inhaled steroids go straight to your lungs. Prednisone goes into your bloodstream. I've also been on advair, albuterol, qvar, xopenex, xolair, singulair, etc. for years.

As I was told the advair and singulair are for everyday use. When you start having a hard time breathing, use the rescue inhalers (albuterol, qvar). If that doesn't do it you move up the nebulizer which uses xopenex. Singulair isn't a quick symptom reliever, it is preventative medicine.

I have one of the best doctors in the country. He has been around for 30+ years and teaches at either UCLA or USC (I don't remember which one). My dad had him for years before he had to go to a lung specialist.

Your doctor should set you up on a plan.

When I was younger, I myself took singulair with my sister. But she continues to take it even to this day. I wouldn't suggest taking the generic brand, because it's for your lungs for god's sake. I understand a prescription of it can get to be expensive, along with the inhalers and nasal sprays.

I use an inhaler as well, I also have bipolar disorder. Asthma's not that difficult to maintain. Stay on top of it, obviously. Take your medication every single day. Don't make the same mistakes I've made, and am currently making. (I smoke, use inhalers, and do albuterol breathing treatments. Stupid, I know.)

If you feel like the elephant's on your chest, don't go straight for the inhaler. Try to breathe it out. Sit somewhere, take deep breaths in through your nose and out your mouth. Do this for a little bit and if you're still feeling tight, use that inhaler.

Another thing to do is breathing exercises. Taking in deep breaths and holding them in for a certain amount of time increases lung capacity and helps minimize your asthma. Start with holding the breath in for maybe to two seconds, and just build yourself up from there.

I hope this was helpful. :)