Asthmatics

[BraveLittleDragon]

Update guidance on Asthma UK for shielding - some people will be shielding unnecessarily if they don't read it.

Too complicated to post it all but many steroid inhalers have been removed for the list, however, several other criteria have been changed.

www.asthma.org.uk/advice/triggers/coronavirus-covid-19/#SteroidDose

Not an AIBU - just a high traffic area.

Originally fostair 100/6 wasn't on it but 200/6 was

Where does it leave us if asthma UK tells is to shield but we dont have a letter?

I don't understand it since it's been updated. I take fostair. But I don't understand what it says the doseage is for shielding.

Thanks for this, really useful as ds is currently on a lower dose than now specified and fewer uses of oral steroids. Good to have some advice he can refer to.

It’s saying that if you take the fine particle version, it’s more potent. E.g. 100mcg of fine particle version is equivalent to 250mcg of the larger particle version.
Think gcse science - smaller particle size, larger surface area, increased rate of reaction/effect :-)

According to that list I count as extremely vulnerable (highest dose of seretide and montelukast) but I haven't received a letter or text should I try and contact my GP? I have been shielding for the last three weeks anyway as we have a baby so I do not want to have to be admitted and be separated from him, but DH is still having to work. I haven't even had a text from the surgery to say they're closed for appointments so maybe they've forgotten about me!

I take 2x fostair 100/6 twice a day. I assume that's a low doseage?

@Notcoolmum the fostair dose is 500-800 a day.

Cross post, that would be 400 so just under.

@Notcoolmum is that sort of raspberry coloured?

I can't work it out tbh - I feel overwhealmed

Yes that's a good colour description. I'm confused because it says this? So 400 in a fostair is equivalent to 1000?

2 Extra-fine particle CFC-free inhalers include brands such as Qvar and Fostair, which are more potent than standard particle CFC-free inhalers. Fostair and Fostair NEXThaler are combination products containing beclometasone dipropionate with formoterol. The manufacturer’s SPC and the BNF indicate that 100 micrograms of beclometasone dipropionate via Qvar products are approximately equivalent to 200–250 micrograms of beclometasone dipropionate in standard particle CFC-free inhalers, and 200–250 micrograms of budesonide; 100 micrograms of beclometasone dipropionate via Fostair products are equivalent to 250 micrograms of beclometasone dipropionate in standard particle CFC-free inhalers.

That's how I read it so DH with montelucast & daily anti biotics?

But is it small particle?

If anything I am now more confused

Fostair is an "extra fine particle CFC free inhaler", as it says on the table the high risk dose is 500-800, according to your previous post @Notcoolmum you are on a 400 microgram dose so you don't need to shield.

Fostair (brand) delivers the medication as fine particles, which are more potent because the particles are smaller, thus reaching a higher surface area in your lungs.

If you take the same medication in a different type of inhaler, which delivers the medicine as larger particles, you would have to take more.

Fostair 100 is considered a lower dose.

Thanks @pinkywoo I feel so stupid for not being able to work it out!!! Bit scary how close I am to shielding. But relieved I'm not there.

No worries, they didn't make it very easy to read!

Thanks - I think I am sidetracking myself and DH doesn't take any of it for asthma but for bronchiectasis

I'm on fostair 200/6 does mean I still need to shield?

@l0v3ro how many puffs a day do you take?

I know this is stupid but is the dose 1 squirt?
My ds has 100mg dose on his inhaler but he takes 4 puffs in the morning and 4 in the evening as prescribed.

@Grasspigeons that would be 800 micrograms a day (8x100 puffs/squirts).

Thank you pinkywoo

@Pinkywoo I take 4 a day

So you're on 800 a day, so yes you need to shield I'm afraid.