Braltus

[Hally1973]

Hi all, I have been referred to a specialist thankfully. I take theophylline and seretide and they have now introduced Braltus. Does anyone have experience with this or have tips on how best to use it? What's the best breathing technique?

[beech]

There are YouTube videos which show the technique recommended. Do a google search and you should come up with some options.

I use this, and find I only notice how much it helps when I haven’t used it on time!

[Hally1973 in reply to beech]

Good idea I will check it out

[Chip_y2kuk]

It's a small inhaler and 30 capsules you put a capsule in the inhaler and then there is a button on the inhaler that pierces the capsule and then two breathes in I found would empty the capsule, you can bear a rattle as you breathe in that I always assumed was the capsule

As for side effects the only one listed I go was sinus pressure and like a slightly irritating headache... it only lasted a few days and was more irritating than anything else

The first capsule I started coughing "stuff" up after a few hours and my pf increased from then on ... made a massive difference to me

[Chip_y2kuk]

P.s braltus isn't licenced for asthma it's only licenced for COPD however the nhs are prescribing it to everyone as it's cheaper than spiriva so don't be surprised if your specialist swaps you to spiriva... mine did and a specialist asthma nurse said the same to me yesterday

[arabianprince]

I used flixotide then seretide and then I am experimenting now symbicort. I inhale it via the space chamber. You will master the technique by keep using it. Head should be inclined slightly back. Shake the inhaler well to be ready for depressurization. Attach to space chamber or your mouth. Deep inhale to fill up your lungs. If via the space chamber, inhale and exhale in the chamber for 5 times deeply and that’s how it’s more efficient than the direct use via mouth.

[arabianprince]

I never heard about theophilline so I googled it and surprisingly found that it has a chemical derivative similar to caffeine and that’s how coffee is good for asthma! My question is Theophilline better than seretide or symbicort?

[Hally1973]

I've been on theophylline for about 30 years. When I first went on it, it was a game changer. Set me free. Over the years every doctor has, at some point, tried to take me off it and changing to something else but end up putting me back on it. I'm told it's quite an old solution and you have to check bloods regularly due to the toxicity it can cause etc. it can give you a bit of a thick head if the dose is high which is why I take seretide in addition now. I take less theophylline but it is supported by seretide. Everyone is different but this was a good combination for me for years.

[Lysistrata Administrator Community Ambassador in reply to Hally1973]

I'm on it too and yep I always get doctors saying 'ooh that's not good' and trying to take me off it. I have refused every time because it works for me and I don't get side effects - I asked if it could be doing things I wasn't aware of like pred can (ie longer term effects) and told no as far as we know you get side effects you notice and if you don't then it's probably not toxic. I said ok then, let's stick with it. My cons said most people are desperate to come off it - well they're welcome to lol but I'm not one of them!

I'd consider coming off it if I had better options but I don't. I am also on Spiriva, Fostair Nexthaler and montelukast and poorly controlled, but everything still helps as I get worse if I miss it, so I don't want to remove any of that. If they come up with a better solution the theophylline can go, but for my type of asthma it's not looking like it will happen any time soon.

[Hally1973]

Completely agree. If it ain't broke.....

[Hidden]

I've been using it for about a year. Here is a video to show how it's used.

youtube.com/watch?v=WRSBbap...(Not working as expected?)

[Hally1973 in reply to Hidden]

Thank you that's really helpful. 😊 I'm up and running