About 7 years ago I got a very bad bronchitis. The doctor told me he heard a mild wheeze and wrote me out Albuterol for the neb. He asked if I would rather have an inhaler or neb. I chose for the neb. since we had a machine at home.

Well I somehow got addicted to the nebulizer and Albuterol. I have taken Albuterol almost every 4 hours some days a little less. At least 4-5 a day for 7 years. I have had PFT tests that came back mild, mild, mild asthma. My doctor told me on a scale from 0-10 my asthma is 0-3. I have a peak flow moniter at home as well and I blow good on it for my age and height. But I have been taking the Albuterol for so long that I am afraid that if I try to stop taking it that I will die or have a severe attack or something. I am sooooo worried. I have went like 15 hours without taking any Albuterol before and nothing happened. I just felt short of breath a little.

Asthma is an allergy. First you need to know what your triggers are and avoid them. Common triggers are smoke, pets, grass/weeds, dust and mold.

Second, Albuterol is a rescue drug. Rescue medications are to be used if you have an episode of shortness of breath. If you are using your albuterol more then twice per week, then your asthma is un-controlled. You need to see your doctor and ask him/her to send you to a Certified Asthma Educator (AE-C) for asthma counseling.

Third, ask about a controller medication such as Flovent, Asthmacort, Pulmicort or Advair. These are medications that you will use everyday to prevent asthma attacks.