I Am So Confused After Taking the Boys to the Doctor for a Sick Visit.

D. L -
I thought maybe I could help clarify some of your medication issues. I am a pharmacist that concentrates a lot on patient education so hopefully this will help: The Singular is typically used to help prevent and/or control any asthma attacks that may happen. It can also be used to help with allergies that trigger asthma but works completely different than the Zyrtec. Zyrtec is used exclusively for allergies and again works different than the Singular. The albuterol can be used every 4-6 hours if needed and it what we consider a rescue inhaler. It should not be used routinely - only when your child needs relief from asthma symptoms. I hope this helps! Good luck! M. G.

Whoa!! You need to slow down and calm down. Here are a few helpful words from a nurse. Brochitis and URI (upper respiratory infection) can be treated the same in some cases. They are not contagious but but since they are infections in the larger airways of the lungs, your son needs an anitbiotic. But keep in mind, bacteria can spread as it does anywhere and cause illness in someone else in another forms (i.e., stomach bugs); so make sure everyone washes their hands very well ALL the time, not just when someone in the family is sick. This is the best prevention of illness.
Now, since he has a URI AND the mold is high, his asthma will inevitably act up. Make sure you determine the differnce between a cold and the flu since the season is upon us. Colds will come on slowly and the flu will will just hit all of a sudden.

So lets go over the meds. Azithromycin is for the bronchitis and URI and the Amoxicillin is for the ear infection. Why two different antibiotics? Because the infection are two different strains of bacteria and do not respond to the same medication. The Crantex is for the congestion, which will help break the "sludge" up in his chest. Obviously the Tylenol is for his fever. The Albuterol will open up his airways when he has an acute (quick onset) of airway constriction. If he usually takes it 12 hours when he is not sick he is taking a maintanence dose, but when he is sick with bronchitis he is going to need it more often. It is shorter acting (doesn't stay in the system as long) than Singulair so he needs the singulair to decrease the constriction during the illness stage and if he takes it when he is not sick it also serves as a maintenance medication. The Zyrtec serves as a med that blocks the allergens (i.e. mold) from causing those acute attacks on his lungs so that he doesn't get sick or worse if he is already sick. As far as his eczema goes, it is getting worse because his immune system is working overtime with all the other stuff going on so there really isn't anything more you can do for it right now.

As far as your doctor or PA goes, if they cannot give you a straight answer or put things in terms you understand (as many doctors seem to do) you have two choices. 1. find a new doctor, or 2. refuse to leave until they can explain things so that you understand and have all of your questions answered. Just remember it is your responsibility to to understand, follow through and do what you can to be healthy.
I hope I helped answer your questions. Good luck.

We also use Dr Stanford and I think he's great! My first son has food allergies and the previous ped we had was really horrible, to find out if he wasnt allergic anymore we were supposed to give him what he was allergic to.. ummm NO! He also has asthma and we go to the Oklahoma Allergy and Asthma clinic as well, we use Dr. Hatch there, he's great too, he asks tons of questions and explains the medications and has never seemed to be in any hurry. He's on Zyrtec for indoor and outdoor allergies, which sometimes his allergies make his asthma bad so thats a connection there (See www.zyrtec.com) zyrtec is an anti histamine which means it blocks histamines which your body makes when you have an allergic reaction, he's on singulair which is also for allergies and/or asthma (www.singulair.com) it blocks leukotrienes which cause airways to swell up, he's on albuterol sulfate syrup which is for asthma its a beta-agonists which opens up the air passages making it easier to breathe, he's on flovent inhaler which is supposed to be for over 4 but his asthma is so bad that he needed more prevention, its a corticosteroids and fights inflamation of the airways. he also has his fast acting inhaler which is also albuterol but hasnt needed it since he started the flovent. Hope this helps, if you have any allergy/asthma q's please let me know, and I hope you can find a new dr thats more helpful!!

I don't know about the Singulair and Zyrtec, but my son's on albuterol right now. He has been battling an upper respiratory infection off and on for a month now, and that's what he takes it for. My doctor is very parent-oriented, and she said that if he sounds like he's wheezing, give him a treatment. She also left the dosage open a little: she said to give him 1/2 a respule at a time, but that I could give him a whole one if I thought it was needed. Also, she said to do it every 4-6 hours, unless he isn't wheezing, or if he sounds good, just to do it as needed. Unfortunately, my doctor is on-base, but she used to have a private practice. I would get a list of peds that your insurance covers, and make a list of questions to ask. It's time consuming, but worth it to set up interviews or do phone interviews to select a doctor you're comfortable with. We've lucked out so far. Good luck!

I dont know the answer but we use Doctor Stanford. for 9 years now and have never had a problem. I picked him because when I asked my OBGYN for a list of doctors ~ Dr. Standford was one of them ~ and he was also the one that he took his kids to. Never have a problem getting in - they leave openings for sick kids - have two waiting rooms - one for sick one for healthy - and normally have Saturdays morning s covered for sick kids ( he rotate with some other doctors) HTH
B.

it sounds to me like your p.a. is over medicating your children. you should switch dr.s immediately and make an appointment for both boys to be seen. you need to get this straightened out quickly and watch for signs of over medication. if they tend to be all sleepy while on the meds, take them to a doctor immediately, don't wait! that p.a. could be putting your children's lives in danger.