difficulties with rescue meds

I was given the perscription for Xopenex because I had such problems with Albuterol causing my heart to race ( nearing 200 when laying down & resting) but now I've been having similar problems with the Xopenex. The doctor says I have to have it...so I assume there is no other alternative. It scares me just as much to take my nebulizer as it does to have a bad attack that requires the neb. treatment in the first place. I can't even take enough for my lungs to calm down before I watch the heart rate jump to 140+ while just sitting. If I stand up, I almost feel like I'll pass out. I end up spending the next couple hours just trying to breathe calmly, hoping it will help my lungs and my heart. Once all is calmed down, I feel absolutely exhausted. Not fun.
Anyone else have this problem? What do you do?
Is there no other alternative med?

Thanks for your kind reply. I have finally obtained a referal to ai pulmonologist and hope to get some good and knowlegable help there. I have a lot of medballergies which complicate what I use for my daily long I will let you know if I get any answers.

Chartreux - yes, I do have long term maintance meds, but have been having a hard time finding a good one. The doctor put me on Advair with Ipratropium, and besides the inconvience of taking my nebulizer three times a day plus my inhaler(s), it seemed to be ok...until about two weeks later when I started finding little patches of unexplained hives showing up in various places all over. When I started to have swelling in my fingers, however, I quit the ipratropium. The hives and swelling clear up. Then later on, I started having numbness on my tongue and lips as well as my cheeks/face...I didn't know if that was from the Advair or not, so I went back to my Qvar. My doctor didn't know either and so he seemed pretty happy when I asked for a referal to see a pulmonologist. He thought I should also see an allergy specialist but I'm not too eager to do that. I've been through a lot of allergy testing and it's not something I like. :P I have to call today and see if they got me an appointment yet. The office here is pretty slow.
Thank you for your kindness.

I'm sorry to hear that. I can't use rescue inhalers or other inhaler for asthma because of side effects. With rescue inhaler Ventolin I got tingling fingers which was listed as a serious side effect. I hope you find something that works for you soon.

Can you see someone who is in another city? Maybe it would be worth the commute. That is what I'm thinking of doing.

I think the journal is a good idea. I'm going to start doing that too, although I keep a daily excel sheet of my health to log what is working and what doesn't, I don't have one specifically for meds.

I am sort of in the same situation. My allergist has been unable to help me with my reactions to the medication, and I think he's frustrated. If he is frustrated, it is more frustrating to me, because I can't seem to tolerate standard treatment.

I hope you find relief soon.