Inhalars Becotide and Salamol

Hi.

, I'm new to this forum.

I'm currently using the brown inhaler (Becotide) and the blue inhaler (Salamol) but recently they do not seem to be controlling my asthma too well.

What inhalers would be slightly stronger and help control my asthma a bit better, from your experiences.

Thanks in advance

Regards

Steve

[EmmaF91 Community Ambassador]

Finding the ‘right’ inhaler mix is always difficult and can be a real trial and error process as everyone is different. You’re best bet is to go back to you GP/AN and explain the situation and ask to try something different.

There is a whole plethora of inhalers and add on therapies out there. You could just need a different steroid base, or maybe a combined inhalered (steroid plus long acting reliever) or maybe you need a short course of pred if you’ve had a recent flare up and haven’t quite recovered.

Hope that helps explain things anyway 😅

[Hidden]

Talk to your asthma nurse about it as she might be able to assist you. I have the same problem with my fostair. I have my review soon so I just got to cope until then

[Superzob]

Firstly, the Salamol is a reliever and you shouldn't need to be using it much (I think the guidance is 3 times a week max, but others may have more experience and knowledge on this). Having said that, it's perfectly safe to take 2 puffs of Salamol 4 times a day, but if you need it that regularly then you definitely need to see someone about upping or replacing the Becotide reliever.

[EmmaF91 Community Ambassador in reply to Superzob]

FYI salbutamol useage 3x (+) week shows a lack of control and according to AUK should be looked at by your GP/AN. 2x/4hrly used to be advised for maintenance treatment but isn’t really the case now (as blue pump is a reliever for emergencies not meant for maintenance). In an emergency you can take 10 puffs (2x every 2 mins) but you need to see someone if you do this (unless you’re severe/difficult and under Cons who’s advised you otherwise). The 10 puffs can be taken every 10-20 mins until help arrives. You can’t really OD on it (too much and you’ll get tremors, palpitations and tachycardia) as 10 puffs is a neb equivalent (according to docs 🙄) and if needing 10+ puffs you’re on your way to hosp to be given yet more salbutamol in neb form 😅

I hope that helps explain the salbutamol/ventolin/salamol/reliever/blue pump ‘rules’ 😂

[Hidden in reply to Superzob]

Thanks for the info I’ve used salami/salbutamol for years now generally as a reliever/ maintenance/ becotide doesn’t seem to help, what commonly used inhaler is a step up from it

Thanks

[Superzob in reply to Hidden]

I'm not quite sure it works that way - you would probably need to see your doctor or specialist. However, it is usually possible to increase the dose of an existing inhaler, up to the recommended maximum shown in the BNF (which is based on NICE guidelines) - for Becotide, this can be found at: bnf.nice.org.uk/drug/beclom... (although it doesn't mention Becotide by name, it is a version of Beclometosone, so the dosages apply).

[Emje]

How many puffs of your becotide are you taking? I control my asthma with a steroid spray so increase the inhalations if the steroid one if I am a bit more wheezy than normal. When I have a cold, I increase the dosage a lot and this is what I was advised to do by the asthma nurse. Especially now as she is cracking down on the use of ventolin. She said that it I am having to use my ventolin daily that I need to up the dose of my steroid inhaler

[Hidden in reply to Emje]

2 morning 2 night. Why is she cutting baton the ventolin?

[KJ48]

that's what I found a while ago now. Sounds like you need a combination inhaler (steroid + long acting reliever). Best known options are seretide, fostair, flutiform and symbicort - there may be more that I have not heard of. I think different people find some work better than others but pretty sure they all do the same thing. Ask your AN - think they might have their favourites too.