Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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:
CarShare · 10/01/2016 09:40

I'm a pharmacist. We can't write prescriptions (most of us) but can issue an emergency supply. You'll likely be charged the cost of the medication or standard prescription fee (up to individual pharmacists/company policy). Brown inhalers, dependant on brand, are usually not expensive. The pharmacist will need to be sure they know the drug, strength, dose and appliance type so take an empty inhaler with the previous pharmacy label on or your repeat slip. It's best to go to a pharmacy who have previously issued the medicine as the electronic records will show what was issued. They may ask questions about your sons asthma control just to check things haven't gone down hill/requires a referral. Usually the whole process takes 5-10 mins dependant on how busy they are. They can refuse a supply if there are insufficient details available on the type/strength etc of medication. They'll also need your Drs details. Hope that helps.

Original poster
gubbygubby · 10/01/2016 10:01

Off to boots now, and I'm still thinking in terms of 2015, so not this year, meant last year 😁
2 admissions between September 2015 and now and many more the previous 12 months
We did have an episode a month ago but managed to contain it with blue in gamer and no hospital this time so we were really pleased.
Although DS loves a trip to the hospital with a telly on his bed ! ( I don't ...)

OP posts:
DoreenLethal · 10/01/2016 10:03

Did you try rinsing the casing out at all?

Original poster
gubbygubby · 10/01/2016 10:33

Boots said no unfortunately . Will go to walk in centre that luckily is st the end of our street.
Thanks for all the advice .
DH went to Boots , said they couldn't do it and that we had to go to walk in centre

OP posts:
landrover · 10/01/2016 10:37

Thats really helpful of them (not!!!!)

SpottyTeacakes · 10/01/2016 10:41

I wonder if it's because the walk in centre is so close? We don't have any around here so maybe that's why the pharmacies are more likely to issue them.

Biscetti · 10/01/2016 10:45

That's not like boots normally. Our one is fantastic and have on occasion (when needed, obviously) given DD new inhalers before the script is electronically sent over. They do know her though, so that may make a difference.

insancerre · 10/01/2016 10:51

Pharmacies do give out emergency supplies
Dh has had medication from the chemist as he forgot to order it on repeat.
His dad came to visit and forgot his medication and our local chemist sorted him out
I'm surprised boots weren't more helpful but at least you have the wall in centre at the end of your foad

DoreenLethal · 10/01/2016 10:52

So the rinsing - which has saved me a number of times - is not even considered an option. Not to worry.

AttitcusFinchIsMyFather · 10/01/2016 10:56

Frustrating, eh Doreen? I would have at least given it a go!

sonjadog · 10/01/2016 12:20

I can vouch for it working too, Doreen. Ah well.

Original poster
gubbygubby · 10/01/2016 12:58

I did try rinsing !
Waiting at walk in centre now. Don't know why boots were not more helpful, especially as we have electronic prescriptions sent to that branch
Never mind

OP posts:
Original poster
gubbygubby · 10/01/2016 12:59

Maybe I didn't rinse it properly . Can you describe how long and how thoroughly you rinse or for ?

OP posts:
NeverNic · 10/01/2016 13:10

I've had emergency prescriptions given to me for asthma at the GP section at our A&E department. A walk in should be able to help you.

BuggersMuddle · 10/01/2016 13:11

I find Boots can be quite conservative in general. Don't know if it's a policy thing. We switched from getting prescriptions filled there after some very odd refusals and long conversations just to get standard repeats filled.

Anyway hopefully you will get things sorted at wall in.

Original poster
gubbygubby · 10/01/2016 14:32

The wall in centre sad they couldn't do a prescription and told us to go to the Hospital !
Unbelievable. Im going to wait until the Gp first thing in the morning now. Already wasted half the day

OP posts:
Original poster
gubbygubby · 10/01/2016 14:32

Walk in

OP posts:
PurpleWithRed · 10/01/2016 14:38

I think Boots can give ventolin (salbutamol/may be your blue inhaler) as an emergency medicine but am not so sure about the brown one (assume that's a steroid of some sort). Pharmacies are allowed to give out some short term emergency medications (salbutamol, epipens, can't remember what else) but I think it's quite limited. No idea why the walk in centre can't do a prescription if there's a prescriber there.

5madthings · 10/01/2016 14:38

That's crap of the chemist and walk on.

Especially if it's the actual chemist you usually use. Mine is all on computer system and as I order via them regularly they have all my details etc and will issue an emergency prescription until mine comes through from the gp.

Hope your ds is Ok, I agree you need two of each inhaler and order a new one when one runs out so you should always have some in.

TondelayaDellaVentamiglia · 10/01/2016 14:46

only once have I had a prescription dealt with in Boots without some sort of malarkey

no end of nonsense with them....I would never recommend them, unless of course you enjoy hanging about in pharmacy scenes being accused of being too early to collect, or a year too late (that would be YOUR assistant, one for writing 2011 instead of 2012 and the other for not realising), or continually being asked to pay, despite a medical exemption cert, or refusing dh's attempt to collect because obviously I would have sent him in to collect something I already collected, or just plain refusing as the Patient MUST collect.

and that is just the shenanigans involved in collecting my thyroxine, never mind dd's inhalers.

OP get on top of the inhalers and make sure you have spares at least one for your bag and one emergency spare in the cupboard, hope the wee one is okay.

Skullyton · 10/01/2016 14:52

each inhaler is supposed to have roughly 200 doses in.

If he's on 4 doses a day, it should cover you for 7 weeks between inhalers.

Put the repeat in after 5 weeks! Gives you 2 weeks to go in and fetch it.

(thats how i work mine anyway :) I've been on the brown inhaler for 20 years now :) )

GloGirl · 10/01/2016 14:54

Shock why wouldn't they give you a prescription?!

Penfold007 · 10/01/2016 15:00

I find Boots really unhelpful as a dispensing pharmacy. They were always getting my mum's electronic prescriptions wrong. Changed to a local pharmacy with much better results. I tend to use the pharmacy in our large supermarket and find them very good.

5madthings · 10/01/2016 15:08

I have to say I use a local independent chemist, not boots. I can just phone them up and they will then order the repeat from my gp surgery.

LavenderLedge · 10/01/2016 15:16

I don't understand the "rinsing the casing" suggestions; how does that help if the medicine has run out? Confused