Switching from Seretide inhaler to Fostair

[NanaStrikesAgain]

My husband has recently changed from Seretide 125 which he’d been taking for 15+yrs and now he’s been prescribed Fostair 100 as the asthma nurse said it should be more effective (Seretide was no longer controlling his symptoms).

Since he’s been taking (4 days) it he feels really rough, brain fog, zero energy, chest feels tighter than usual.

Has anyone else had symptoms when switching inhalers? How long did it take to settle down? Thanks!

I haven't got on well with fostair and it made no difference to symptoms. But most people who use it love it I think. My GP said that it's very well tolerated.

I'd go back to GP, your DH can always switch back.

If Seretide is no longer controlling his symptoms I’d be looking at an alternative. MART regime (maintenance and reliever therapy)is now recommended where the same combined inhaler acts as a preventer used twice a day but also for relief as needed. The blue inhalers are on the way out, as we know they don’t treat the cause of asthma, the inflammation, but only buy temporary relief. The inhaler for MART must contain formoterol (reliever part which lasts three times as long as the blue) which Seretide does not. Fostair does contain formoterol. However there are other formoterol containing inhalers you can MART on so it may be worth a swap to one of those. Off the top of my head, Symbicort, Luforbec, Wockair, Duoresp.
Maybe he needs a chest exam to exclude infection.
Look at the Asthma and Lung foundation website. It explains the new guidance really clearly.

I had a dreadful experience with fostair. I know it's the preferred protocol now but my GP switched me back to seretide and noted my records as allergic to fostair.
I don't actually consider it an allergy but definitely a nasty reaction. My heart would race and my hands shook. Theory is that is was the formoterol that caused the problem so they didn't go for another Mart inhaler.