An exciting thread about ventolin inhalers! Does your pharmacist prescribe salbutamol turbo inhaler?

[Fluffycloudland77]

Dh struggles to get on with salbutamol so we’ve been using a chain pharmacist that dispenses ventolin. I want to change pharmacists.

I can choose Tesco’s or boots, do you use them for ventolin?.

I get what is on my prescription, which is ventolin, from any chemist.

I wonder if our dr would prescribe ventolin, all his other meds are generic it’s just this salbutamol that’s the issue.

IME boots never have ventolin in. Regardless of which boots we go to (there are 3 close to us).

We use our local Rowlands pharmacy and always able to get it.

I have a ventolin evohaler which is the brand name, the drug is salbutamol. They're not two different things.

I’m pretty sure salbutamol isn’t available in a turbohaler. If he feels a particular device is needed he should ask for an asthma review with practice nurse or GP and they can prescribe by device/brand if there is a clinical need to do so.

The salbutamol inhaler has a different propulsion that doesn’t reach all of his lungs and he ends up wheezy.

Sounds like boots is out of the running.

And salbutamol is ventolin. Ventolin is just the brand name, salbutamol is the drug. It’s probably the different inhaler devices that are making a difference. Ask for a review. Inhaler technique is shockingly bad for most people.

Is he using a spacer device. With a metered dose inhaler (spray type) it’s the only way to get a good effective dose. He doesn’t need to change pharmacies, he needs a review of technique and an appropriate device for him prescribed.

Just ask the GP to write the prescription as ventolin, not salbutamol and that’s what you will get regardless of what pharmacy you use.

I have a Salumol Easi-Breathe, if that's the same as a turbo inhaler?

It's a fucking arsehole of a thing and I have to half-dismantle the bastard and use a spacer, which is of course all the kinds of awesome when I'm having an asthma attack.

@bringmelaughter

Is he using a spacer device. With a metered dose inhaler (spray type) it’s the only way to get a good effective dose. He doesn’t need to change pharmacies, he needs a review of technique and an appropriate device for him prescribed.

Absolutely this! Many people have no idea how to use an inhaler properly.

@Fluffycloudland77

Dh struggles to get on with salbutamol so we’ve been using a chain pharmacist that dispenses ventolin. I want to change pharmacists.

I can choose Tesco’s or boots, do you use them for ventolin?.

You’re confused OP. www.netdoctor.co.uk/medicines/allergy-asthma/a8236/ventolin-salbutamol/ Ventolin is a brand name for the drug Salbutamol - just like Calpol is a brand name for paracetamol suspension. It’s the delivery of the drug that needs to be looked at. He should discuss this with the asthma nurse to ensure he’s using the most appropriate method of delivery. I changed my inhaler 3 times before I found one I was suited to. They all delivered salbutamol.

I get mine from Lloyds Pharmacy.

It’s lilac and works loads better than the brown one.

There is a trick in inhaling, just to breathe in slowly and deeply rather than do a sharp intake of breath.

Slow and deep ensures it fills the lungs.

I use Tesco and they dispense ventolin brand inhalers.

Speak to your GP or asthma nurse. They'll prescribe salbutamol as standard as the cost is less, but it's not a vast difference so if the ventolin dispenser works better for your husband, they shouldn't be too difficult about specifying the brand.

Alternatively, you can buy it online. I think the Superdrug pharmacy service might offer it.

If he needs the Ventolin brand (DH does as he's 6'7" and the generic ones are too small for his massive hands to operate!) it needs to be written as Ventolin on the prescription. Pharmacies can't dispense it if it's just written as salbutamol as the Ventolin is more than double the price (I've been out of pharmacy for a couple of years, but it used to be £2.50 for the generic and £8.00 for the Ventolin) and the pharmacy won't get paid for it.

Spacer.

I am 46 years old, a doctor, and incapable of using an inhaler without a spacer.

Also salbutamol is the same as ventolin. He needs to ask his asthma nurse for the different inhaler on prescription but honestly:

1. a spacer is better and
2. if he is getting through that many inhalers he needs a review of his preventer medication

Mine is a ventolin evohaler (the drug it contains is salbutamol) and I get it from kamsons. I've had other brands which seem flimsy in comparison and sometimes break before they are empty (which is annoying when you pay for prescriptions).

Asthma guidelines state that inhalers should be prescribed by brand, not generically, so it should be no problem getting your asthma nurse or GP to change it to say Ventolin.

The breath-actuated Ventolin is called Ventolin Accuhaler.

yes to spacer. much easier to use.
and absolutely yes to making an appointment for an asthma review.

if you need to use salbutamol more than twice a week your asthma is not well controlled.

I am prescribed a salbutamol inhaler, I get mine from Boots but the brand is whatever they have at the time.

I would also disagree with the "if you use it twice a week your asthma isn't controlled" statement - I can go weeks or months without needing my inhaler but at this time of year when i'm dying with hayfever I am using it much more.

I use the ventolin blue inhaler and have done for years. For me I get it from boots, Tesco and my local chemist as every other one I’ve been too gets it wrong and gives me the salbutamol one that doesn’t help and makes me worse. Even the hospital gives it. It’s cheaper to give so they try and force you to have it.

Can I recommend the asthma uk website for anyone not just the OP: www.asthma.org.uk/advice/inhalers-medicines-treatments/inhalers-and-spacers/

It’s important to understand what’s been prescribed and the differences in the inhalers you may receive. If people are unsure please ask your practice nurse, pharmacist, respiratory physio or GP for an asthma/inhaler review.

Ventolin is just a brand name for salbutamol. The drug is the same but the amount of drug you get to your lungs will depend on the type of inhaler, the device and your inhaler technique.

As others have said slabutamol is the generic name of the drug and ventolin is the brand. If he prefers ventolin then it is simple enough to ask the gp to prescribe it as ventolin and then that is what he will get. If you present a prescription for a salbutamol inhaler the chemist are not doing anything wrong by giving you a generic one!

*salbutamol not slabutamol