Help my pharmacy have given me DuoResp instead of Symbicort and I hate it.

[cici73]

I've been taking Symbicort for 6 years now and on Friday I got my repeat prescription filled as usual, only for the first time ever I was given DuoResp. I had other meds in the bag, wasn't expecting any product variations so I did not check. When I took out the meds I realised that I hadn't been given Symbicort. Whilst I was a bit miffed about not having been told about the switch or shown how to use it, I thought ok it's still effective so just use it. So I did, but it's horrible, like inhaling a throat full of grit. It made me feel worse not better.

In short I'm really not happy.

I don't know where I stand about this, have I the right to request the pharmacist to give me the Symbicort that I've been using since 2009 and should I speak to my doctors?

I don't particularly want to make a fuss because both my pharmacy and GP are usually great?

Any help would be appreciated.

[Hidden]

I would speak to your GP and ask them to prescribe the brand name (Symbicort) rather than the drug. That is what my Salbutamol is (ie prescribed as Ventolin) and this is because of my preference due to Salamol making me cough slightly. The only issue is sometimes the pharmacy doesn't have the brand but they know me and usually get it in for me.

[cici73 in reply to Hidden]

I would speak to your GP and ask them to prescribe the brand name (Symbicort) rather than the drug. That is what my Salbutamol is (ie prescribed as Ventolin) and this is because of my preference due to Salamol making me cough slightly. The only issue is sometimes the pharmacy doesn't have the brand but they know me and usually get it in for me.

Thanks. I'm due an asthma review soon so I'll mention this. Glad to hear that I'm not the only one who's had this issue.