Can’t find the keys? Leave your lunch at home on the kitchen bench? Those things are just annoying, but if you find you have the memory of a goldfish when it comes to giving children their prescribed asthma preventer medication you’re not alone. (I forgot as well).
Doctors may prescribe asthma preventer medication to be given to a child when they are well (with no symptoms) or not. When my daughter was well I didn’t think about it. I did improve once I noticed I was forgetting though. But by then its too late, a cold or trigger occurs and the medication hasn’t been doing what it was designed to do. Prevent the event.
Try using a log book to record medications given, set a daily alarm on your phone (or an *app) or computer to prompt you, ask another person in the family to remind you. Try different things until you find what works for you and your family routine. Just being aware may help you as well.
The National Asthma Council of Australia report:
According to recent Newspoll research, one in two Australians with asthma who are prescribed preventive medication are not taking it as directed by their GP, with one in four only taking it when they feel out of control.1
If the instructions on the asthma plan regarding medication are not being followed, let your family doctor know. Maybe they can offer an alternative, or give you suggestions on how to manage the medications differently.
The Asthma Foundation of NSW advises:
Tell your doctor as much as you can about your asthma or your child’s asthma, so that you and the doctor can discuss and agree on the best and most appropriate treatment.
and..
If you have trouble remembering to take your own preventer medication or giving your child’s preventer medication regularly (Intal Forte,Tilade, Flixotide, Pulmicort, Qvar, Singulair,Alvesco, Seretide, Symbicort).
Understanding why medication is being given, talking about your concerns with your family doctor, working together in the family to support each other. All good things, for all of us.
1 Newspoll Asthma Study; June/July 1998.
*Updated 29/11/11 iphone app: http://www.nps.org.au/consumers/tools_and_tips/medicines_list
Image: by Alita
If you found this post useful, I’d be grateful if you’d help share it on Twitter or Facebook or even emailing to a friend. Thank you!
Leave a Reply