First inhaler - how long will it last? Cannot run out!

[elfycat]

I have a tree pollen allergy that this year has transformed into asthma. Thank goodness for the lovely nurse practitioner who listened to my symptoms and insisted I go straight in. I've had it over a decade, hoarse voice and cough at this time of year but this year it's ramped up a notch. Probably due to all this lovely weather.

I have a combination inhaler, steroid and bronchodillator, since last Tuesday. I'm to take 2 puffs morning and night and then one when needed up to 6 times a day. So I'm probably using 7-9 puffs a day at the moment.

Any regular inhaler users care to guess how long until I'd need another prescription. Even on a 9 puff day I spend half the time wheezing and coughing until I throw up, so I really don't want to be without this at the moment. I wouldn't be able to do the school run as it's over a mile uphill past flowering trees, pretty bastards and it was a bit grim impossible before my diagnosis.

My allergy usually disappears about the same time as the cherry blossom falls and once I stop the antihistamines I'm going to be allergy tested and asthma assessed.

Does it tell you how many doses are contained in the inhaler?

7-9 times sounds like an awful lot - your allergies must be really severe - is there no stronger antihistamines you can be prescribed? I've been asthmatic since forever, and I think using your inhaler that often for a fairly long period can't be any good for you. I'm sorry you're suffering so much.

I didn't see anything on the literature about expected doses but I'll go and have another read through looking for this.

The allergy has been irritating before. I usually think I have a bad cold for 2 weeks and then the cherry blossom comes out and I have a moment and switch to antihistamines.

I think the plan is that I will only need this for 2 weeks and will then have the rest of the year off, so to get through as best as I can and then get tested before next year. I need to avoid triggers, but what can you do with 'allergic to outside?'

Sounds awful for you

Ds has inhalers for asthma (nothing like as bad as yours) and I make sure that I always have a spare in the cupboard. When his current one runs out, I start using the spare and immediately get the next one on repeat prescription. It only takes a few days to get another one.

Can you talk to whoever does repeat prescriptions at your surgery? I'm sure they would be willing to prescribe you a spare inhaler, especially as you are needing to use your inhaler so frequently.

200 puffs usually.

Good trick to get an extra squeeze or two out of it is to put the metal cylinder part in hot water for a minute or two and then use.

get plenty of spares....we had them everywhere when dd was diagnosed

in fact I ought to chase her up cos she is getting a bit lacksadasical about them

we must have had 7 or 8 milling about...handbag, schoolbag, school office, both cars,dog bag, official spare in the cupboard....

we are a real drain on the nhs! :o

DD's asthmatic inhaler has 200 doses in it. We use 2 puffs at a time, and can use up to 10 puffs in a tow (2 at a time) if she is really wheezy.

We always keep a spare.

What are you on?

Symbicort can be used between 1-8 times a day (1 puff at a time) and has 120 doses per inhaler; you should expect it to last approx 2 weeks using it at that level.

Seretide has 120 doses in but can't be used as a reliever so should last you 30 days.

I'm on Symbicort. Yesterday was an 8 puff day so I think I'll call up and get another prescription. Thanks all for the advice, and knowledge that spare inhalers are quite usual.

I'm taking 2 puffs morning and night for a week (today is the last day of that) as I was asthmatic for 2 weeks thinking it was the worst a cold and was quite wheezy by the time I turned up.

My hoarse voice is a hint better today so hopefully my allergen is decreasing so I won't be having this trouble for much longer. I've made a note on my 'transfer to next year's calendar to watch out for this in Feb and get an inhaler and start on antihistamines instead of cold remedies!

I use an antihistimine called fexofenadine and my dose is 180mg per day. Occasionally I take two. I have various allergies. 6-9 is a fair whack of doses.

My Symbicort inhaler has an indicator on it of how many doses I have left as shown in this photo. There is a little 'window' on the side so I've got around 100 'puffs' left in this one. When there are only 20 'puffs' left the background starts to turn red, when the window is fully in the red there are no doses left. As shown in the second photo.