To use out of date asthma pump?

[BellyAching19]

Approx 4 years out of date?!

I stopped suffering with asthma around 4 years ago but it’s started up again. I started wheezing last night and I’ve just been for a run and I’m wheezing like mad. I still have my old inhaler and obviously can’t get another one until tomorrow.

Can I use it as an emergency even though it may not be as effective as it once was? (In other words, will it harm me??)

I've used an out of date one by 2 years. Had to take more than usual but it was fine as an emergency situation.

This is not medical advice, just sharing my experience. I hope you feel better soon.

We had out of date inhalers as DS uses his so infrequently. At his asthma review they said the propellant may stop working over time, so the dose isn’t fully delivered. They did not say it would be harmful though.

I think you’d be safer to use it than not if you feel you need it.

Could you then try and borrow someone else’s (it’s one of those medications that seems fine to share - our school has spares for example) and get OOH appt? Or might your chemist have a record of you having it in the past and let you have one?

If you’ve got nowt else, I’d use it. It won’t be as efficacious as an in date pump but I’ve used out of date asthma medication in the past.

you need to see ooh or minor injuries or a&e today.

I have taken an out of date inhaler before and it worked, but you need your asthma looked at urgently and you need to review the treatment to prevent attacks.

I’ve just taken 3 pumps of it and the wheezing has stopped already. DH says I’ve gone bright red - which is better than blue I suppose!
It’s a mixture of hay fever and asthma. I’ll try and get in GP tomorrow, the pharmacy won’t dish one out as I’ve not seen a gp about asthma for years. It went out of date in 2015

try to go today for an emergency prescription. and then make an appointment with the asthma nurse (probably, ask at reception what is the most appropriate)

You can just buy inhalers at chemist they will ask you a few questions. Much faster

Just read your update. I did mine online you could always just change your answer. It’s 99.9% likely to be asthma not a new breathing condition you have developed.