Taking Symbicort and AF

[cassie46]

Today my GP has prescribed me a new inhaler (I have COPD) Symbicort. I already use Salamol but it is not very effective. I have permanent AF and I am on 5mg Nebivolol, 180mg of Diltiazem, 5mg Ramipril and Rivaroxaban. I know that some inhalers cause side effects with AF drugs, is anyone using this inhaler or has used it. Can you let me know how you get on with it or anyone who has problems with using it. I also have Glaucoma which I believe can be a problem with this inhaler. Just reading some of the side effects on the leaflet has made me a bit wary so I thought I would ask before using it.

Cassie

[Buffafly]

I used it for years before being changed to a similar (probably cheaper) inhaler by my surgery. Works well with no problems I noticed. And the new inhaler may have saved my life recently when I had a bad reaction to bisoprolol. You are lucky you can get away with Nebivolol.

[cassie46 in reply to Buffafly]

Thanks for the reply Buffy - Can you explain why I am lucky to get away with Nebivolol (I was on Biso for some time but it never really agreed with me so I got it changed.

[Buffafly in reply to cassie46]

Beta blockers are contraindicated with asthma/lung conditions. Some cardiologists ignore that, which is why I had to take emergency treatment after I was forced to take bisoprolol on the lowest dose. My asthma nurse told me yesterday that I was never to take a beta blocker again. Some people do tolerate them, nebivolol is supposed to be the best, but others react very badly.

[Bikica1234 in reply to Buffafly]

Excuse me for barging in like this,

I wonder what kind of bad reaction you had from bisoprolol? Do you have any pulmonary diagnosis? I drink bisoprolol 2.5 mg a day for heart palpitations. It helps me a little. I also have a slightly elevated pulmonary pressure (measured on an ultrasound of the heart). Now they suspect asthma or maybe COPD. My spirometry is fine to begin with ( shows little obstruction in the small airways).

[Buffafly in reply to Bikica1234]

Hi, I am diagnosed with asthma. I think I may have a bit of COPD but never been told that, also some scarring of the lungs from previous infections. First I had a little itchy feeling in my chest which went away, then a few days later the itchy feeling returned - I am allergic to a lot of things so I thought it was a mild allergic reaction. Suddenly I felt as though I had swallowed something that stuck in my throat and I panicked because I felt as though I was suffocating, rushed to take my inhaler which seemed to help so I followed emergency procedure and kept taking it until the feeling went. Both the AF nurse and asthma nurse thought it might be a reaction to the tiny Bisoprolol dose I took so not safe to take again unless supervised.

[Bikica1234 in reply to Buffafly]

Thank you very much for your reply. I will continue to drink Bisoprolol and soon I will have check-ups with a pulmonologist to finally tell me if I really have asthma or COPD and if I can use Bisoprolol or not. I don't have itching, I'm not allergic to bisoprolol. You probably had an allergy to bisoprolol. I hope that both you and I will get better.

[Nerja2012]

Cassie . I have used Symbicort for quite a few years now with no problems at all, I very rarely need to use my reliever as I'm so well controlled .

[lucillear]

Im ok with symbicort, fostair triggered palpitations though in the past just rinse your mouth well as you can get oral thrush

[Hrpapa]

Many years on symbicort and permanent AF. (Xarelto and concor).No problem so far.

[pusillanimous]

I have been taking Symbicord (the name for the same inhaler in South Africa). It has never clashed with any drug. I have Asthma overlapping COPD and take two puffs morning and evening. My doctor tells me 8 puffs a day are permitted. So I'm sure you will be fine.