Hi what is the differance between atrovent 20mg inhaler and the blue ventolin inhaler . dr has given me both to use . i do not know if i need to use them both if they do the same thing,the atrovent is in a green colour pump and is to be taken 4times 2 puffs per day and the ventolin when needed.my doctor also gave me a steroid inhaler and said that i have to take these for the rest of my life,i have got mild copd.is my doctor right to give me all these inhalers for mild copd,the atrovent make my chest feel very tight at times and the blue one gives me the shakes and my heart beats fast is that normal,all my doctor says is keep taking the pumps,
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Q: 20micrograms/actuation inhaler CFC free and the blue ventolin inhaler.
Answers (1)
12/ 8/10 4:25pm
Your doctor has you on some good medicine for your COPD. Every COPDer should have an albuterol inhaler. This medicine will give you instant relief when you are having trouble breathing. Atrovent is a medicine that does not give you instant relief yet studies show it improves lung function in COPD patients. So you should use them both as prescribed.
If Albuterol continues to give you side effects such as increased heart rate, jitteriness, etc., then you might talk with your doctor about trialing Xopenex. Studies show it works just as well as Albuterol, and some studies show it has fewer side effects. You can try it to see if it works better. However, Xopenex costs 4 times that of Albuterol.
Hope this helps
Rick
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By chelle— Last Modified: 12/27/10, First Published: 12/07/10
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Thank you Rick,most helpfull advise.my next question is
is it safe and ok to take all three pumps at the same time ,as in with in minutes of each other,
as i take the steriod inhaler and the atrovent at same time in morning,about 9.30am and then the atrovent at about 1pm/5pm and then both at same time in the evening at 9pm sometimes i have to take the ventolin at the same time as well.
in the mornings my breathing is ok,then once i take these pumps at 9.30 my chest goes tight and i cough up thin musus for about 30 min,my chest seems to stay tight all day.again my doctor says,take the pumps .and for mild copd i get out of breath alot and my chest is always tight and feels sore.my spirometor test was 67.
oh i did talk with my doctor about the atrovent and he changed it to spivira powder once aday,but had to change it back because my throat was very very sore,with it thank you chelle