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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

Urgent asthma run out of inhaler advice needed

61 replies

gubbygubby · 10/01/2016 08:10

My DS 9 has finally been diagnosed with asthma and his dark brown preventative inhaler ran out last night and i don't have another.
We get them on repeat prescription so he doesn't run out but last time I was only given the blue one. We have 3 of those , stupid of me not to notice it was another blue one.
We are new to all this and I know how important it is that he doesn't miss any doses . Gp not open till tomorrow then a 48 hour wait for new prescription.
Any advice how to get one quickly ?

OP posts:

MajesticSeaFlapFlap · 10/01/2016 08:11

I go to local walk in and they give me a prescription

12purpleapples · 10/01/2016 08:12

Do you have an open pharmacy near you?

TimeToMuskUp · 10/01/2016 08:12

Yep walk-in centre and google which chemists are open on a sunday (though the walk-in should be able to advise you).

redgoat · 10/01/2016 08:12

Ring the out of hours surgery number and explain. They should be able to get you another.

Blondiewoman007 · 10/01/2016 08:13

You can get one from a pharmacy-the pharmacist can write a prescription. Take in the empty inhaler so they can see the strength etc. Shouldn't be a problem for them. Good luck.

TimeToMuskUp · 10/01/2016 08:13

Also, pop on the calendar the date when you're due for each next repeat prescription to ensure you don't run out. We did this once with DS2 and had to make an emergency run (thankfully on a week day). Without it being on the calendar I'd have no idea.

Passthecake30 · 10/01/2016 08:15

How bad is his asthma? If it was myself or my son we would be able to manage without it for a night, I'd have 2 of the blue before bed instead, and ring up the docs tomorrow. They can usually do a urgent prescription and leave at the desk?

I think there is also a scheme where you can get a inhaler from the chemist and let them know your doctors details, I've stood in a chemist before and listened to this happen but never actually done it myself.

Rivercam · 10/01/2016 08:16

Pharmacies are allowed to issue emergency prescriptions. Take your old inhaler, and a repeat prescription form if you have one. There may be a charge. The will always be a pharmacy open locally on a Sunday.

GloGirl · 10/01/2016 08:17

Is he generally in good health with his asthma at the moment? Does he have a day of physical activity ahead of him today or Monday? If not I'd be tempted to leave it till tomorrow and tell the GP surgery you need it urgently. Use the blue at any point.

If you want to, phone 111 for an out of hours appointment to and get a prescription today.

I might be told I am being completely irresponsible, I have asthma but am not medically qualified.

Does your brown inhaler not have a countdown on it? Tell the pharmacist you need one that does.

TendonQueen · 10/01/2016 08:21

If the pharmacy you usually use is open today I'd go there, explain the situation and ask if they will issue one in advance of a prescription being done. They may do that as good will or it could be done as an emergency prescription which costs £7-8. That's a much better bet than OOH. In the meantime I'd use more of the blue as Passthecake suggested.

reallybadidea · 10/01/2016 08:22

I agree with previous poster that if he's well at the moment it can probably wait until Monday.

If it is a counter one then you can usually squeeze a couple of extra puffs out too.

SpottyTeacakes · 10/01/2016 08:22

You can ring 111 and they'll fax a prescription to your nearest pharmacy or you can buy one over he counter. If the pharmacy you usually pick it up from is open they should issue you an emergency one.

My dd would also be fine without it for a night or two.

DoreenLethal · 10/01/2016 08:28

Give the casing and the nozzle a good rinse, often they bung up before they are actually empty.

sonjadog · 10/01/2016 08:35

If I run out of the brown, I take two puffs of the blue. It does for a day or two. But see if you can get the presciption organized first.

Sirzy · 10/01/2016 08:36

Replacing a preventer inhaler with the reliever inhaler as pp suggested won't do anything.

Well controlled asthma comes from taking the preventer medication regularly so I would ask the phamacy or ooh today to sort a new one.

When you get a repeat done ask them to issue two so you always have a spare ready, or order another in 2 weeks time so you always have the next one in.

sonjadog · 10/01/2016 08:38

It stops you having an asthma attack, sirzy. Which is the important point in the immediate future. Obviously it isn't a long term strategy, but it can get the OP and her son through the day today if she can't get hold of a brown one.

Original poster

gubbygubby · 10/01/2016 08:38

Last year he had 5 hospital admissions and 2 this year. Since we got the brown inhaler we have had none and the cold he had which previously would have got worse in 12 hours got better.
The asthma nurse said that even missing a couple of doses is risky. We have a repeat from boots so I will take his empty inhaler there today
Thanks for advice
I feel terrible for but realising

OP posts:

Sirzy · 10/01/2016 08:42

Don't feel terrible gubby, these things happen.

It would be much better for all inhalers to have countdowns on them like the seretide ones do as it's hard to guess how much is left.

Original poster

gubbygubby · 10/01/2016 08:45

The Asthma nurse explained beautifully the importance of the brown preventative inhaler
It acts like a waterproof raincoat round the lungs.
Every time you miss a dose it creates holes in the raincoat and won't keep you dry.
Missing one or two doses can really hamper how well you are protected.
Even in the ward it wasn't reiterated how important the brown inhaler was for keeping you out if hospital

Obviously works !

OP posts:

ihatethecold · 10/01/2016 08:46

I have a seretide inhaler with a countdown on it, I have been caught out before and i'm a fully functioning adult!

Don't feel bad about it op.

ingeniousidiot · 10/01/2016 08:48

I know you shouldn't use other peoples medications etc blah blah blah - but I would ask on facebook for a quick fix - I'm sure some of your nearby friends will have a spare for short term loan.

Sirzy · 10/01/2016 08:50

I love it when medics have just the right way of explaining things like that! Love her explanation too.

MrsSchadenfreude · 10/01/2016 08:52

Call your out of hours doctor's number and they will fax a copy of the prescription to a local pharmacy that's open today.

GloGirl · 10/01/2016 09:20

2 hospital admissions this year means I'd get a brown today, try your pharmacy if not 111.

Make sure you don't get into this situation again. If you are organised about his asthma he will learn to be.

hellocleveland · 10/01/2016 09:31

For the first time in about 30 years I went out without my inhaler last month. I had gone into London for the night and was 2 hours from home. I walked into a pharmacy and had no problem getting one. I had to give my doctors name and address. I would definitely go to you nearest open pharmacy now.

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