Is there a down side to taking just one puff of Breztri rather than two? My chest feels "funny" after two puffs and I feel a bit dizzy.
Kat, you're right that many times docs don't have any ideas about how meds interact with each other; pharmacists are usually much better at evaluating everything you're taking, including supplements and OTC meds to see if there are interactions to be aware of. The issue of technique in taking the med is a real one, so at least consider it. Often the doc is not the person who can best evaluate your technique; rather an RT or even a nurse can do that much better. If your pulmonologist doesn't pay attention to this, you might consider pushing them to see how important they think the issue is. The answer may help you make decisions regarding who you want guiding your care. I've fired a couple of docs because they weren't paying attention to things I know to be important in treating COPD or in partnering with me and seeing me at the center of the treatment plan.
One of my friends with COPD has consistently questioned the dosage in inhalers. Very few of them come with different doses; it's generally a one size fits all, so as she points out, the 5'2" woman who weighs 100 pounds gets the same dose as the 6'4" 295 pound person. She's closer to the former, and often has side effects, especially tachycardia, so she's worked with her docs at National Jewish, San Francisco and Stanford to get meds where she can control the dosages. It takes some work and a lot of determination, but she's been successful.
there are many inhalers on the market , just get your doctor to change it , trlegy is to strong for me so i use trelegy one day and anoro the other back and forth .. both have the same two ingredients but trlegy has one more .. everyone reacts different to different drugs , you just have to try them to see what ones you like and that agree with your system .
@A MyCOPDTeam Member, not yet. Jean made a very good point in her response; inhalers seem to be a one size fits all dose, whether you're a small, petite woman or a big, thinking man. That's one of my concerns.
I don't know about one dose but I can't take it. My lungs will tighten right up.
@A MyCOPDTeam Member, strangely, neither doctor nor staff offered instruction on how to use the inhaler. I called nurse a few days later to ask if it was okay to use the Aero-Chamber the tech had given me at my lung function test. Answer was yes.
Respectfully, I've found that doctors have little knowledge of the effects or interactions of some of the drugs, especially newer ones, that they prescribe. New drugs are inserted into their "trouble tree" or protocols without research other than what the pharmacy reps tell them. I research all drugs prescribed to me and have refused some (Fosamax being one) that I found troubling.
One reason I like this site is access to hive knowledge along with my research.
Gratefully, Kat