Can I overdose on my inhaler?

Can I overdose on my inhaler?

William Berger (Allergist and Immunologist) gives expert video advice on: How is asthma treated?; How important is it to identify my asthma triggers?; What side effects should I expect from my asthma medication? and more...

With a quick relief medication, such as bronchodilators, very often patients, when they're having difficulty breathing, feel if they could just continue to use the bronchodilator over and over again that the asthma attack would go away. In fact, the more often you use that quick relief bronchodilator rescue medication, the more likely you are that you're going to get worse and worse and worse. So not only will you have side effects--increased heart rate, increased jitteriness, maybe even an increase in your blood pressure--but you may be actually delaying the onset of the appropriate treatment for the severe asthma attack. So if your medications at the recommended doses are not working, seek medical attention. Taking more of the medication is not going to relieve your problem.