Asthma Emergencies: How to Survive Without Your Inhaler

Immediate Answers - 6 quick remedies come first for those in a panic rush! *

* If the patient is a child, take no chances - use the E.R. if the inhaler is not found!
* This article is not intended to diagnose or treat any disease or condition - you must discuss these options with your doctor(s) to verify compatibility with individual circumstances before using them, and all O.T.C. substances taken will affect unborn or nursing children.

Here is a short list of the topics covered:

1. OTC remedies
2. Caffeine
3. Allergy medicine
4. Steam
5. Friends & family
6. Asthma buddies

I am an asthmatic with extensive experience. I have had to use many different medications for my asthma, and the above-listed remedies are ones that I use in the event I can't use my normally-prescribed emergency inhaler. So I know that these methods are effective. Every asthmatic does, however, need to have a talk with their doctor about these options because individual circumstances may render some of these methods unusable. One example is nursing mothers - caffeine will enter breast milk and it will affect the baby!

Now, here are the details:

1. Fast-acting OTC asthma medicine from a retail store works well. Call & verify availability before you go!

• Primatene Mist - inhaler is the best option! (~$18-20)
• Primatene Mist - pills are second-best option! (~$10)

Primatene Mist is a great alternative to an emergency inhaler. The medication does carry risks with its use, and this medication is often a pain in the neck to get after normal retail pharmacy hours because it is now considered a controlled substance (it contains epinephrine) and is often under lock and key or behind the pharmacy counter. Sometimes you can get it straight off the shelf at a Publix or a CVS 24-hour pharmacy.

For those 3am emergency runs, don't even consider a Kroger or a Walgreens. They are behind a locked counter and I have yet to see any pharmacist available to sell me Primatene Mist at any location I've been to.

I highly recommend that you call to verify inventory availability before you head out the door, because it's always out of stock at the first few places I visit; now I just pick up the phone, save gas & time, and call ahead.

2. Caffeine can help resolve the issue. Here are some sources:

• 2 cups of coffee
• 2 cans of Coca Cola
• a Mountain Dew, or d. 2 pills of No-Doze
• 2 cans of Red Bull
• 1 Starbucks Double Shot Energy + Coffee

Caffeine has been used for years in elementary schools - when I was a child, the school nurse would have me sit with her and down 2 cokes. It takes about about 5 minutes, and it's a cheap option.

Combine the caffeine with steam from a hot shower running, and the relaxing warmth of the steam can double the effect of the caffeine.

My experience with Mountain Dew first started when the cops I worked with ripped out the coffee pot and installed a vending machine with nothing but Mountain Dew!

(NOTE - if you see a Dr. Pepper bottle in a cop's hands, it may not actually be a Dr. Pepper... They sometimes chew tobacco and use the Dr. Pepper bottle to disguise the spit as the soda so passers-by don't get grossed out.)

As for my best choice: the Starbucks Double Shot energy + coffee drink works on your system in several ways. Not only do you get caffeine, you also get several additional, different, substances that work on your system in a similar manner to caffeine. In other words, you're using a cannon to swat the fly. This drink takes about 20 minutes to take effect, but it's worth it. Asthmatics, discuss this drink with your doctor and keep a stock of it if you can. You never know when you may need it.

3. Fast-Acting allergy medicine. Here are a few sources:

• Benadryl
• Sudafed (for allergies)
• Claritin

Allergy meds: most people do not realize just how much asthma is caused by allergies, and this group sadly includes asthmatics who just puff away on the inhaler without really digging to see if allergies are the cause of their misery.

Benadryl fast-dissolving strips come in a flip-open plastic container that has individually-packed strips. These work rapidly, and Benadryl has been the gold standard for allergy medicines for a long time.

Antihistamine medications are best taken when symptoms are just starting up. Asthmatics need to "cover all their bases," as the saying goes.

Fast Fact: The Atlanta, Georgia, region (USA) is known world-wide as one of the world's worst regions for allergies. If you need further proof of this, just take a look at the major shopping centers - there are a large number of allergy doctors in this region offering their services to asthmatics.

4. Steam - hot showers are a quick solution.

Steam in the air has a relaxing effect and it is one of the oldest remedies for asthma. My mother used this with me when I was a child, and it has worked well in conjunction with the above-listed remedies.

5. Call friends, family, or the after-hours nurse line.

The reason why it is advised to call buddies, family, or the after-hours nurse line is that you may need one of these people to take you to an ER if these remedies don't work, and just talking with someone can lessen the effect of an asthma attack. Talking with another person has a relaxing affect, and a record of your asthma attack can help your doctor decide with you if your current medication regimen needs to be adjusted.

Asthma is potentially fatal, and other people need to know if you are having trouble with your breathing. Also, it is possible that asthmatics may not be clear-headed enough to determine if they need to be treated by an ER.

Also - sometimes a joke or two will cure a stress-related asthma attack. I sometimes have asthma attacks as a result of severe stress. A hug or comforting conversation has helped in the past.

6. Buddy up with other asthmatics & call on them if you need quick help.

Asthmatics have a unique experience and the camaraderie that they share can be valuable. Unfortunately, people without asthma cannot really understand the terror that an asthma attack causes - asthma is like drowning, and a patient really suffers when no inhaler is available - so it's best to be with other asthmatics.

Technically, it is illegal to share medication, but the reality of the situation is that people will share their inhalers if the other person has the exact same prescription. Asthma is a life-threatening disease / condition and medication is often needed immediately to save the person's life and protect the patient's health.

As a safety measure, I have found that sharing my inhaler with those with the same prescription has nipped many an attack in the bud. I have, myself, needed a puff or two off a buddy's inhaler, and the relationship with fellow asthmatics helps us all focus on staying healthy. I only do this with my doctor's okay, and with others who have the exact type of medication that I use as well!

Peers often keep each other informed and can help each other stay on top of the game. Also, just having the knowledge that support is just a phone call away can stave off the panic and reduce symptoms just in time to allow for a lost inhaler to be effectively searched for & found.

I do not advocate breaking any laws. If it is illegal to share your inhaler, then you do so at your own risk. It is not recommended that patients share inhalers unless the practice is legal in your area. It is your responsibility to know the laws in your area with regard to the practice of anything listed in this article.

Also - patients do not need to be driving while suffering from asthma! Buddies can bring over their inhaler and help the patient effectively recover as necessary while helping to find a lost inhaler. If the patient needs to drive, a buddy can help with that as well, as it is extremely hard to concentrate on driving while trying to breathe. I myself ran a stop sign once while rushing out to buy a Primatene Mist inhaler. (Thankfully, no one else was driving on that road at that time.)

Legal stuff:
If the patient is a child, take no chances - use an inhaler or take the child to an ER. Children often hide severe conditions, and they are unable to have the same degree of control as an adult, so immediate medical care is needed if the inhaler cannot be found or the child's medication doesn't work. Discuss these options with your doctor, because not everyone can use these options. All substances taken will affect unborn or nursing children, so expecting or nursing mothers must get a doctor's approval before use.

In conclusion, I've got the following to report: It's tough being an asthmatic, especially when the inhaler goes MIA - so discuss these options with your doctor and be prepared. If your doctor authorizes any of the OTC substances, then be smart - keep a small stock in several places as part of your emergency first-aid kit. For pregnant and nursing women - be prepared for a very jittery baby if you use any of the OTC options, and use them only after getting doctor approval - individual circumstances can make it lethal to use any OTC substances.

Thanks for reading, and I encourage any comments! Let the world know if these tips are helpful.

Here are a few extra last-minute tips:

• If you have to travel while suffering an asthma attack, have someone else drive! I have found that I drive very poorly while struggling to breathe. An accident is the dead last thing you want with an asthma attack.
• For asthmatics who work - be smart, and keep a key to your house and/or car at work with buddies that you really trust, because this enables them to help you in an emergency. I once locked myself both out of my car and out of my house, and had to call a buddy with back-up keys to help me out.
• Try to keep a copy of your inhaler at multiple locations "just in case." Also, Develop a first aid kit to include a stock of OTC options for emergencies.

SOURCES:
1. All my wonderful doctors, unnamed for legal & privacy reasons.
2. Personal experience.