Well. as for my self, I use my nebulizer no more than once or twice a day regardless if the doctor orders more treatments. It can be used up to 4 times a day (every 6 hours) AS NEEDED, safely . I ONLY use it if I am real congested, tight, and my inhalers do not help.

I have no idea where you can get it without a doctors prescription, but a lot of folks swear by ADC (all day chemist, in India) and even tho you need a prescription you do not have to produce one. So someone can tell you more about that, they are really cheap, so I understand.

Inhalation by nebulizer seems to open me up faster than inhalers, so I can breath better and seems to loosen up the gook in my lungs better so I can cough it up.

I think Walmart has this on their $4 prescription list. And I too use only as needed.

Actually, he was looking for a place that he could get it without insurance, not necessarily without a prescription, which could open up some avenues stateside, especially among the manufacturers. Most of them have an assistance program for those that don't have assistance, so I would check the web page for those particular drugs (Combivent, DuoNeb) and see if you can get it from there.

ADC does not carry the nebulizer for either of those. You can get an inhaler; I'm not sure as it is as effective for everyone, but I would imagine if you used an aerochamber device, you would get as much. I know my ipratropium prescribing info says that you only get like 7% of the dose when you take it with a nebulizer, so I can't imagine an inhaler would be much worse.

And to be clear, the frequency with which you can take a nebulizer is dependent on the medications in it, your other health issues, and your physician's discretion. Albuterol via nebulizer is frequently given every four hours and has been given back to back when trying to break what they call "status", when the body is sort-of locked into a particular symptom. You wouldn't routinely double dose it, but I've done it more than a few times with my physician's blessing. Also, I am prescribed my albuterol nebulizers every four hours in addition to ipratropium four times a day...and when I discussed with with my pulmonologist, he was very clear that it is four times during a waking day and they did not expect me to set an alarm clock to get up in the middle of the night to nebulize.

I actually get as many of my respiratory meds nebulized as possible; it is frequently a lot cheaper. Although I am adding to the discussing about emergency provisions that it might be wise to pick up the inhaler version of whatever we take from ADC or pharmacy of choice just to have one should the power go out and our nebulizers be rendered useless.

I only use my nebulizer when I have an exacerbation. I wish I knew the least expensive place to purchase the solution. I get mine from my oxygen supplier; and Medicare pays 80%. Best wishes to you.

Unless they've added it in the very recent past, I don't believe it is. The only nebulizers that I've found on their list is albuterol and ipratropium- and it's no coincidence that those are the ones I'm on. Even then they don't list anything for COPD or respiratory treatment, and those are listed under asthma meds.

There are a lot of places that have jumped on the $4 prescription bandwagon, though, so it's entirely possible someone else has it.

Here is a Link seems pretty reasonable:

http://www.goodrx.com/duoneb?gclid=CLWUivuW9LoCFSJo7AodbTQAWA

I have to use the nebulizer every 6 hours, I do and I do very well. I have asked my Plumy if I need to cut down and he said no, unless I want to have a problem.

Looking around some more, double check and see if you're actually taking ipratropium bromide and albuterol solution. When I looked at the Walmart list, I was looking for the combo, which they don't have on their $4 list. Grannie's coupon, though, does seem to provide it at a great price; it wouldn't really work for me since I take them each four times a day (and the albuterol occasionally more often based on symptoms).

However, they are individually on their list. Just this past Saturday I paid $16 for the four times a day ipratropium and the albuterol is on the list for $4 for 25/$10 for 75, and I suspect is like my ipratropium and would end up being calculated as to how many you need for a month...I think it calculates out to about 0.133 cents each dose.

Right, I use the DuoNeb, mine works out to 4cents a treatment (w/insurance).

Just shop around, however you have to ask your Doctor what he wants you to use, that will make a difference on the price, and also how often he wants you to use it.

thanks to everyone for all the helpful information. it`s comforting to be part of such a caring group of people. i guess it really makes a difference when " we`re all in the same boat " as they say. breathe in...breathe out...