Asthma inhalers - spares

[Coffeeforus]

I am looking for anyone with asthma to advise please. DC has recently been diagnosed with asthma and has the usual blue and brown inhalers - we currently have two of each.

I am wondering how many spare inhalers you would normally keep of each? We are new to this and I’m worried about an inhaler running out or DC loses them.

For asthmatics the school permanently keep the inhaler and spacer you supply in the classroom. This leaves us with one blue inhaler at home (we won’t send the brown one) so is it unreasonable to ask the GP to prescribe another one so we have two at home?

DC goes straight from school to places like swim lessons etc so will need to carry another inhaler/spacer in his backpack so if these get lost then we’ll have no blue spares at home. I’m just not sure how strict GP’s are with prescribing more inhalers/spacers.

Pretty reasonable to ask GP just put in a repeat request for salbutamol and spacer.

Don’t forget to note how many doses there are in the inhaler and keep a tally chart on the box of how many have been given as it’s easy to lose track of when it’s getting empty (don’t rely on shaking it to tell!)

Just ask for a spare.,.
we have a few and just ordered 2 for school
but also very careful not to lose them as if he needs them he could be very unwell. I have one in the house (blue with spacer) purple with spacer and one in my bag blue with spacer. You don’t need to send the brown in with him as that should be done at home. Mine has his inhaler plus asthma plan in a pouch for school

If you tell them you want one for school they should supply that, they should be used to that request.
What age is your ds and how reliable will they be not to lose it? How dependent on it? I would try to keep at least one spare at home at all times but you may need to build up it. They won’t just give you a prescription for multiple. Blue inhaler is as and when (brown doesn’t need to leave home unless overnights) so if you get 2 in the script unless you are over using them on which case something isn’t working well you should build up to extra.
I always have at least 1 spare unopened in the medicine cupboard for my boys. My older son keeps one in his room and one in his blazer/school bag. School have a spare if needed. For myself I have them everywhere (bedroom, car, multiple in handbag etc) but I’m severe asthmatic and panic without them.

@Wishiwasatailor thanks for the tip about keeping tally as I have wondered how you know they are nearly empty (shaking doesn’t help much). The brown one has a counter showing how many doses are left.

@Mumof4plusbonus he is 8 and he’s not so far the type who loses stuff but you just know it will happen if we’re not prepared. So far he’s only used the blue one about 8 times in two months.

@Shopper727 I’ve ordered an asthma pouch and will put a copy of this palm in it too, as well as add it to the school’s paperwork.

Also, I just happened to come across some info online that said spacers/inhalers should never be kept in a plastic bag due to static causing issues with the medicine being as effective. We’ve always put them in a clear sandwich bag with a name label and dosage instructions on it. Why on earth did no one tell us this?! I’ve now ordered a proper asthma bag.

A GP will prescribe a spare one for school.