AF and Fostair Next

[Nerja2012]

Hi AllAnyone out there with AF and Asthma that's been prescribed Fostair Next,

My Asthma is out of control and GP prescribed the above, don't feel very confident about using it.

PAF not a problem and behaving itself so don't want to rock the boat as I've had palpitations after just 1 dose of Fostair , any advice welcome 😊

[Buffafly]

Hi, asthma trumps AF especially if your asthma is out of control. AF won’t kill you but uncontrolled asthma can and can also damage your lungs.

[Nerja2012 in reply to Buffafly]

Thanks Buffafly, I know that but there are so many medications out there and if this one upsets my AF I would rather not use it. and try something else .

[Buffafly in reply to Nerja2012]

I have asthma and I believe this is the best treatment. I take a version of it and during a recent exacerbation of asthma I had to take 8 doses a day and it didn’t bring on AF. It is good because it doesn’t contain Adrenalin which does affect your heart. If still doubtful maybe post on the asthma forum.

[Nerja2012 in reply to Buffafly]

Thanks for that Buffafly, I will give it a try but if I continue with palpitations I will stop.I appreciate your reply as that's exactly what I wanted to hear, how other people are with using it, pleased it works for you though.

[Buffafly in reply to Buffafly]

After a bit of digging around I have realised my inhaler contains budesonide and formotorol - my prescription was changed presumably for cost reasons as it is made by Teva. So I don’t know if that is better for AF or not.

[Nerja2012 in reply to Buffafly]

The one they have given me is called Fostair Nexthaler sounds like they are different, thanks for the info .

[pusillanimous]

What does Fostair contain? I'm in South Africa so things are probably different. I have mild asthma and PAF. I saw my GP recently and she had just returned from some conference and said that Symbicord was still the gold standard for Asthma. When I was first diagnosed with AF, it was the only inhaler the Cardio would let me use, it is effective with no side effects,!

[Nerja2012 in reply to pusillanimous]

Hi pusillanimousIt contains beclometasone and formoterol,I was taking Symbicort and Ventolin for years but recently seem poorly controlled with that hence the change, it does say on the leaflet about palpitations which I got straight away after use , I rang the pharmacy for advice and they said it was OK to use, I'll give it a couple of days and I will go back to see my GP if I'm not happy, I have low burden AF and I want it to stay that way .

[Mcgandy]

Hmm.I tried Fostair briefly but it didn't really suit me asthma wise.

I've reverted to Qvar/Serevent after trying budesonide in Jan and finding it less effective. I went onto AF while on budesonide, but mb unrelated as I'm still in AF now.

Problem is both AF and asthma can cause breathlessness, and in my case the heart and lung teams each blame the other. Hoping an ablation will cure the AF so I can sort it out.

But Spiriva Respimat has helped the breathing, afaik none of the inhalers are AF triggers for me.

[Nerja2012 in reply to Mcgandy]

McganyThanks for the reply, sounds like your having a bit of a rough time, I hope you get sorted soon

AF and Asthma meds have so many contraindications it's getting the right balance for the patient .

[Mcgandy]

Thanks. Actually I'm fine, just not as fit as I used to be! I know my mix of issues is v different to yours, but i was just highlighting the different drugs and how hard it is to separate cause from effect, when you have both asthma + AF. I don't really know. none of my doctors really know, both GPs and specialists, and I suspect the same is true for you.

The only thing not yet mentioned that may have helped my gradual recovery over 6 months is that I have continued exercising as much as possible, reduced alcohol considerably, and lost a little weight (I was 13st+, nor 12.5St). I'm still in AF, but less irregular, less breathless, and my exercise capacity is increased.

All 3 of those actions accord with the literature, and advice from the local cardio dept.

[Nerja2012 in reply to Mcgandy]

Well done Mcgandy, all of the above help, you carnt do anymore than try.I was diagnosed with PAF 8 years, I have only seen a Cardiolagist once which was years ago, no comorbidities just Asthma and AF so I guess they just leave me alone to get on with it.

Rubbish GP practice anyway so don't expect a lot .

[Adiepie]

hi there. Yes, suffer AF and asthma, switched to fostair six months ago with no problems other than my wife not liking the smell of it!

[Nerja2012 in reply to Adiepie]

Thanks AdiepieNot sure about the smell , thankfully my Husband has lost his so I'm safe there ☺️

[frazeej]

Fostair contains albuterol which can cause palpitations. Perhaps just a steroid inhaler would be better for you.

JimF

[Nerja2012 in reply to frazeej]

Hi Jim, Albeturol isn't listed on the label only beclometasone and formoterol fumarate ,.I've had asthma for 40 years and was so happy years ago with just Becotide and Ventolin then changed to Symbicort after pneumonia, Doc wants me to change as I'm using my ventolin too much. I'm happy as I am though, fit and active and I'm used to the regime I was on.

Thanks for the input .

[frazeej in reply to Nerja2012]

Formoterol is a long acting beta-2 agonist. In layman’s terms, a longer lasting analogue similar to albuterol, which is a short duration beta-2 agonist. Same effect, similar side effects.

[Mcgandy in reply to Nerja2012]

Interestingly, after switching to symbicort I started to have problems w breathing that eventually triggered AF.Everyone says coincidence and that breathing probs were " infectious exacerbation" . I dont suspect it of directly causing AF, but am suspicious it may have been indirectly so.