Help- asthma inhaler

[EasyWheezeyLemonSqueezy]

Hi

ive had some asthma flare ups recently and I don’t think my inhaler is quite controlling it anymore. I’ve been using my blue a lot and needed a course of steroids. I’m obviously going back to my GP/asthma nurse to see about it and hopefully try something else to control it but I just wondered if anyone had a rough idea of what they might try next instead? I’m currently on fostair 100/6 (4 puffs a day- 2 in the morning and 2 at night). Are they likely to increase the fostair or try something else? Just to have a rough idea what to expect when I go. Thanks so much for any help x

I am on fostair, it is likely they will increase the dose before changing the inhaler. It is trial and error asthma medication.

Fostair appears to be a reliever (like Ventolin). If you have asthma you should be using a preventer like Seretide daily. When your asthma is under control you should be only using the reliever sparingly (during exercise, if you get a cold etc).

My asthma has been variable over the years, its ironically been better since covid since I avoid my main triggers since working from home (cold weather, office colds and smokers). I have had various things when my blue inhaler wasn't effective I was moved onto a different reliever but when it was effective and I was just using it more they looked at preventer which has meant switching steroid inhalers and or upping the dose and at one point I used to.take montekulast (a tablet during winter) so there is a few options they can try depending on their assessment and your peak flow.

It’s a combination- it’s for both preventing and relieving I think x

I'm pretty sure my asthma nurse told me you can go up to either 6 or 8 puffs a day of fostair, so I would imagine they would increase the dose of the first

Do you have an asthma plan? I do with details for when I should increase my dose etc

great to know, thanks. I was advised to up the fostair for a week when I had a flare up and I was taking 8 puffs a day which helped. Just good to have a rough idea what to expect before the appointment x

After an attack a GP increased my dose of Fostair, but the asthma nurse moved from Fostair to Symbicort 200/6 2 puffs twice daily. My nurse seems keen to get people onto a SMART regime, although I still keep my blue inhaler as well as it still works well for me. Fostair worked well for year, a hospital asthma nurse put me on it after being admitted. I work in a care setting and lots of people seem to be prescribed Fostair as a reliever only which I had never previously encountered.

thanks for the advice, just good to have an idea what to expect before going in. I would be happy with upping the fostair or trying something new- just anything that will make things better!

After Fostair as reliever and preventer, I was put on Seretide

There is a tablet called Montelukast which is prescribed for asthma. It also helps with allergies.

There is a move towards MART regimens - Maintenance and Reliever Therapy. Using one inhaler for both preventer and reliever. Using blue (reliever) inhalers only, without a preventer of inhaled steroid, is no longer recommended.

Fostair contains the anti inflammatory (steroid) and a long acting version of the blue - reliever. You can use up to 8 puffs daily.

My next change of medication was to add Montelukast on top of the Fostair and that's made a real difference.

I don't think they prescribed seretide anymore. I was on that and they just gave me fostair instead, in addition to ventolin as a rescue inhaler.

I’m also chiming in with the montelukast. I know some people aren’t fans of it, but it’s been great for my DC.

Same as others - I was put on monteulkast in addition to Fostair 100/6 and it has really helped. I have also been told to up my Fostair to 6 or 8 puffs a day where needed.

I have a ventolin inhaler as well for asthma attacks or for when I have run out of Fostair reliever puffs e.g. if I'm on 6 puffs a day, if I need to use a reliever more than once, I can no longer use Fostair for that or I'll exceed 8 puffs.

At my worst I was on 8 puffs of Fostair a day plus 6-8 ventolin puffs plus prednisone.

I take Relvar 92/22 twice a day and rarely use my ventolin .

I wish I was back on Symbicort. Was hospitalised a year ago and given Fostair 200/6. Asthma nurse gives me 100/6/ It's OK if I don't have a bug.

Hard to say without knowing your ACT score and symptoms. There’s a few different options. They could put you up to high dose Fostair 200/6 or they could keep you on a Fostair MART where you use up to 8 puffs a day plus montelukast. They could also trial something like Symbicort or Duoresp to see if a different steroid suits you better. Sometimes it depends on the HCP and also your preference 😊

Oh also about using Fostair as a reliever, it’s not technically licensed to be used as a when required inhaler. Symbicort is and should really be used instead of the blue one. It contains a fast acting reliever plus the additional steroid which controls the inflammation leading to better asthma control overall x

I use symbicort, and have just started montelukast in addition. Works very well for me!

After gradually increasing and feeling little benefit from a combination of inhalers I changed to an accuhaler which uses dust blisters instead of spray. As it’s doesn’t escape through the top of the inhaler when breathing in and it absorbs into your lungs better than a spray. I went from taking 6 puffs twice a day to 1 sera tide twice a day and I barely use my ventolin. Haven’t had an attack in over 20 years.