Contents:
- Medical Video: Asthma Myth: Use of steroids as a treatment option and its side effects
- You stop treatment because you feel the medicine is not working
- You stop treatment because you think the body will be 'immune' to the drug after using it too much
- You feel fine and don't need treatment
- "I was busy and forgot to take medicine"
- Your medicine is gone
- Treatment is too expensive
- You don't understand how to use the drug
- Your routine changes
- You worry about drug side effects
Medical Video: Asthma Myth: Use of steroids as a treatment option and its side effects
Some personal problems may affect the regularity of your treatment. If 1 in 9 of these scenarios affect your treatment routine, the solutions we offer below might help you control your asthma.
You stop treatment because you feel the medicine is not working
Before you stop your asthma treatment, discuss with your doctor first and explain why you want to stop taking medication, unless you feel you have an allergic reaction that should stop the medication immediately. If you have symptoms such as wheezing, chest tightness, coughing, or shortness of breath that does not disappear after taking medication, you need to talk to your doctor. That can mean you don't get enough treatment, you might be misdiagnosed, or something else. However, the answer is only in you.
You stop treatment because you think the body will be 'immune' to the drug after using it too much
This statement turns out to be true if you use an asthma inhaler for too long. Your doctor may worry that you will not respond to the inhaler again if you use it too often. If you use an asthma inhaler more than twice a week, you need to make changes to your treatment, so that the effectiveness of the drug will not decrease even if used routinely.
You feel fine and don't need treatment
Asthma is a chronic disease. This means that asthma will not just heal. Asthma needs to be controlled, but cannot be cured, with treatment. Many patients experience a period in which their asthma can be controlled, but the attack can return at any time. Remind yourself that when you feel healthy, it's because you are on treatment.
"I was busy and forgot to take medicine"
This is one of the most common reasons for patients who are not committed to treatment.
Your medicine is gone
This can be prevented by your plans and commitments. Make sure you have bought the medicine again, or re-asked the prescription to the doctor, a week before the drug runs out,
Treatment is too expensive
Talk to your doctor. Some combination products like Advair may be cheaper if prescribed separately. You can also ask your doctor about generic drugs if available.
You don't understand how to use the drug
Patients who do not understand how to take their medication usually do not ask questions and do not tell the doctor that they do not understand. The solution is one, repeat your medication instructions given by the doctor to make sure you understand. If your doctor is a reliable communicator, they will ask you to ask this. All patients must have an asthma treatment plan, which is a brief guide to your asthma treatment which includes treatment, frequency, and what to do when symptoms of asthma recur.
Your routine changes
If you often forget to take medication because your routine changes, try storing medicine in places where you usually spend a lot of time in the car or office.
You worry about drug side effects
Talk to your doctor about the side effects that you experience, because there are many side effects of preventable drugs (such as with inhaled steroids).
