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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think it's fucking stupid that there isn't an indicator on inhalers to show how much is left?!

52 replies

NoCapes · 20/01/2017 23:43

Just why isn't this a thing?!

I'm sat waiting up for an emergency prescription because DS's inhaler ran out and I had no idea it was low before it was gone
This isn't the first time this has happened

Is it just me or is this just a massive ridiculous design flaw?!
Hmm

OP posts:
Original poster
NoCapes · 21/01/2017 00:27

onetwo not at midnight when there's no buggering place open they won't!

OP posts:
Peanutandphoenix · 21/01/2017 00:28

I have turbo inhalers they have a counter on them so you know when its nearly empty.

Original poster
NoCapes · 21/01/2017 00:29

Unborn that is perfect, they should all be like that
It just makes no sense to me - tablets, you can count, liquid medicine, you can see, but inhalers is like Russian roulette Confused

OP posts:
onetworedblue · 21/01/2017 00:34

NoCapes sorry, just assumed you would have a late night pharmacy open - guess I'm lucky where I am that we have a 24 hour one. Hope you get your inhaler soon.

steff13 · 21/01/2017 00:36

Mine shows the number of doses left. If starts at 100 and counts down with every puff.

HecateAntaia · 21/01/2017 00:56

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

IvorHughJarrs · 21/01/2017 01:05

I'm not sure it can be done on the aerosol ones, as far as I know it is only the powder ones that have indicators.

Do ask your GP about having a spare one, it's not worth the stress otherwise

HecateAntaia · 21/01/2017 01:40

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

BeaLola · 21/01/2017 01:46

My symbicourt has a counter from 120 doses to 0 but my ventolin doesn't. To be honest one of my ventolin had date expired when I tried to use it last - I'm a mild asthmatic and can go 6 months plays without using the ventolin -

toomuchtooold · 21/01/2017 07:02

Just realising from this thread that I have a charmed life. GP gives me 3 inhalers at a time on repeat prescription (and it's a symbicort turbohaler so it has a counter). That must be so bloody annoying OP!

Sirzy · 21/01/2017 07:07

Ds is on setretide which has a countdown which is handy.

I guess the lack of countdown on ventolin is due to cost largely given the amount of them that are given out.

Ds is prescribed two ventolin a month so I always have a spare with each set ready for when it runs out.

Itisnoteasybeingdifferent · 21/01/2017 07:09

There are some "powder" types that don't use a cylinder of compressed gas.. They have a click counter.

I had one, but I was allergic to the carrier powder and came out in an awful rash.,

The inhailer is not my main problem, but simply not noticing I am getting low on supplies until I run out....Yes silly of me I know..

abbrev · 21/01/2017 07:11

I'm not sure how this could work with an aerosol one.

Without being patronising, a reserve is probably a better idea.

The idea is good, but much more achievable on something like unborn's or a rotahaler.

Sirzy · 21/01/2017 07:13

Ds setetide is an aerosol one - when it Is pressed the counter counts down one.

With regards the powdered ones depending on age they may not be appropriate as they aren't as easy to take.

hazeyjane · 21/01/2017 07:15

I think they should all have them on. Ds has seretide and dd2 has serevent, but I have had inhalers for years and never had a reliever with a counter. I often see my mum testing hers by spraying it first....wasting, potentially, the last blooming dose! It is such a vital medicine. I hate putting dd2's and ds's in their bags everyday, giving it a shake and hoping there is enough in there.

TaraCarter · 21/01/2017 08:49

Would you be able to stick a plain sticky label on the side of it, and do a tally chart of your puffs on the label as you go, to give you a rough idea of how much should be left?

BumDNC · 21/01/2017 08:59

I have one that does and one that doesn't - same design! Bloody stupid!! It annoys me too

BumDNC · 21/01/2017 09:00

I have the powder click ones and steroid has a counter but not the reliever

UnbornMortificado · 21/01/2017 09:27

I don't know all the technical terms, but the one DD was given was her first ever one.

They might give the new ones out to new users till they get used to see how much is left.

Spring2016 · 21/01/2017 10:17

I write the date on it when I open it...each one is good for 200 puffs. Maybe mark the calendar when a new one is started, as well as marking a reminder 3 weeks later to refill it? If you use 2 puffs 4 times a day, it lasts 25 days. My other puffer I only use 2 times a day, so it lasts longer. I refill mine at about the 3 week mark, as it seems to not work as effectively after that.

Cherrysoup · 21/01/2017 10:18

Should be see through.

Spring2016 · 21/01/2017 10:23

This a basically what I just posted but may explain it better. getasthmahelp.org/inhalers-how-to.aspx

Sirzy · 21/01/2017 10:26

That theory doesn't work with ventolin though spring, a controlled asthmatic should need ventolin very rarely so you can't work out when it will need replacing unlike with the preventer which is a constant amount.

Ds is an uncontrolled asthmatic and takes ventolin as standard daily a lot of the time but even then he often has "top up" doses so can have anything from 10 puffs up to 20 or more a day.

HelloCanYouHearMe · 21/01/2017 10:41

I worked for a company that tested an inhaler that had a light system on it and would flash red when the inhaler was approaching empty

It was received really well.

Unfortunately our company was closed down by its owners before we could take it any further

xJessica · 21/01/2017 11:08

I totally agree! I always like to keep one in various different places just in case - drawers around the house, bags, pockets, the car. Recently I had a really snotty condescending letter from the practice nurse saying my asthma is clearly out of control and that I shouldn't be having to use my inhaler more than 3 times a week so please make an appointment to explain why I've ordered so many inhalers over the past few months! I haven't even had that many, one prescription every 2-3 months - but I do like to know I have working inhalers that I can lay my hands on and they also seem to just disappear a lot!

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