If my asthma responds more to steroids rather than albuterol/xopenex, what does that point to?

Does that mean that most of my problem could be related to just my lungs being weak when they get colds and flus, and other infections, and swelling up, and producing mucus, etc,.....much more so than actual broncho-constriction?

Because, I rarely seem to really have actual broncho-spasms, and when I take xopenex or albuterol during an asthma episode, it really doesn't do all that much. I feel a bit more open, and easier to breathe, i don't have to fight as much, but the same amount of soreness, heaviness, inflammation and mucus is still there.

Then as soon as I take some prednisone, I feel about 80% better in an hour or two, like it just completely obliterated my asthma. But after I stop taking prednisone, a week later or so, it's back again, and the controller meds aren't really THAT effective.

even little things like nasonex, or my controller symbicort, help my asthma alot more than the xopenex/albuterol, but they alone can't seem to do much.


I also take zyrtec and singulair daily which seem to do absolutely nothing, or minimal.



does this mean that my asthma is BAD, or just more inflammation related?

Could mean your asthma is just part of your respiratory problems as it is often accompanied by bronchitis, emphysema or pneumonia bouts you get more often than the average person. Oral (20 mg. pills) Prednisone is something I take everyday just to breathe and control the inflammation as I have severe copd due to years of having all four mentioned medical problems. You might want to consult a pulmonologist and get what is known as an FEV1 (simple blow into a tube test) to see whether or not you need to be treated for more than asthma. All asthma is bad or at least undesirable to the sufferer. Try this website for very informed, calm sources to solutions and answers to your questions. Http://www.copd-support1.com. If you get a lot of colds and flus, those inflammations are really taxing your respiratory system and you should rule out or get a diagnosis on possible copd as mine wasn't discovered until it was quite advanced and have encountered similar reports from copd-support1 people. You seem to be taking quite a few of the standard copd prescriptions and you might ask your doctor why if it's just asthma. The mucous production is causing the constriction as well as the inflammation episodes and it's time for you to start managing your ailment in cooperation with your medical team.

the inhaled steroids are a maintanence medication -to be taken daily in order to decrease inflammation and help your rescue medication (albuterol or xopenex) work better. you need to have your rescue med in the form of an HFA (inhaler) and nebulizer for the acute episodes. you need to know your triggers. get an assessment & teaching from a pulmonologist. if you don't feel you respond to the antihistamines, your asthma may not be allergic in origin. taking prednisone (an oral steroid) is for acute episodes and is NOT a treatment for chronic asthma unless it is very severe. while taking prednisone, increase your calcium intake.

Steroids are a very effective and efficient treatment for Asthma. But doctors do not recommend a person to take oral steroids as a habit because wrong usage of steroids can cause lot of permanent harm to the body. Doctors prescribe steroid tables like prednisolone when the asthma does not respond to the usual drugs. When they thus prescribe it is usually a short course , the maximum may be 2 weeks.
For some patients the steroids have to be taken for a long time along with the other drugs as their Asthma cannot be controlled with only the other drugs. Then the doctors do not
give oral steroids but they give Inhalation steroids which can be taken for a long time without complications,

If your asthma does not get controlled with the usual drugs what you should do is not to take oral steroids indiscriminately but to take a prescription for inhalation steroids from a doctor.

There can be asthma with occasional wheezing .Also there can be other conditions in the lungs that mimic asthma and in all of them the drugs you are taking now play a major role.

When you meet your doctor next you can tell him about what you feel about your disease and get some clarifications done

I am a medical doctor.