I'm new to this forum and would like to ask a quick question. I was diagnosed with Asthma in December and have had a pretty tough ride until April, been on a variety of different inhalers and finally stuck with Fostair 200/6. Then got referred to a consultant who has put me on Fostair 100/6 MART.
So I collected my new inhaler today and I'm a bit confused how often I can take it and do I still need my blue inhaler.
I've also been told if this doesn't help when winter comes (which is when I suffer) I'll be prescribed Spiriva.
Any help would be much appreciated. 😊
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Mansell_s
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You take fostair 2 in the morning and night and I still use my blue inhaler and I am on fostair 100/6 & have been for about 4 maybe 5 years. What kind of fostair pump are you using please?
The mart regime you use fostair as both a preventer and reliever (in place of the blue) however you will still need salbutamol (the blue) *just in case*
I'm not on mart (but want to be) and my understanding off it is your usually prescribed 1 or 2 puffs twice a day and extras if needed (in place of the blue) up to 8 puffs
I am on SMART and the regime for that is indeed 1-2 per am and pm. But beyond that there is lack of information. I double my intake when I am properly poorly, normally at the first sign of a respiratory infection, and my AN now says that is exactly what she wants me to do. I have yet to see a printed version that says anything about flares beyond the ‘normal’ day to day variation.
At least for Symbicort, the reliever in it takes longer to kick in than salbutamol does. So for those moments, like walking up hill when I normally get wheezy, I use Ventolin, as it is faster helping out. It kicks in in about 15 minutes. So far no one has suggested stopping my having it. Long may it last!
Yes symbicort is the same LABA as fostair... its formoterol and starts to work in 90 seconds but salbutamol is half that the trade off is formoterol lasts up to 12 hours ut salbutamol is only up to 4 hours
I've been using seretide for 2 months and so far it hasn't made any difference. I didn't know that you could use formoterol inhalers as relievers too. Do you know if it is possible to use seretide as a reliever ? Aren't LABAs dangerous ? I read that they increased the risk of deadly asthma attacks and since then I've been thinking about using inhaled steroids only.
Seretide isn’t part of the (s)mart group... as far as I’m aware only fostair and symbicort are (of those I think it’s only lower dose MDIs too)
LABAs aren’t dangerous unless that is your ONLY form of maintenance asthma medication... in America they don’t tend to give steroid inhalers as maintenance and so people have issues (the article previously on her was American and based on people only using LABA, no steroid). However in combination with steroids they are fine, especially if you seek help when you know you need it (another fault in the American system...). Don’t downgrade your meds if you’re still having issues, but speak to your GP about them/do research into combination inhalers...
But in any case, your best bet is to give your team a ring(if you have a number for them?)to double check how you are meant to be taking the inhaler as they should know your specific treatment/action plan.
I have been on fostair 100/6 for 2 1/2 years . 2 puffs morning and evening with my blue ventolin inhaler as needed ( usually before strenuous exercise or when my asthma is triggered by some factor - coughing is my main symptom.
Fingers crossed , apart from the odd bout of cramp and red marks on forearms it has controlled my asthma .
I too was very confused as to whethet I should use Ventolin or my Fostair as a reliever. Last December I had an incident when I was struggling, I'm never sure if it's an attack or not, I'm still a novice really. Anyway during the incident I rang 111 just to ask which I should or could take. It was hopeless trying to explain to them that I just needed advice. After an hour waiting for a doctor to ring back I was that bad that we went to A&E where I almost collapsed. They said I was hyperventilating which brought on a gull blown panic attack. Now I tend to decide for myself. Sometimes its Ventolin sometimes Fostair. Find your way through it. Hope this helps.
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Fostair 100/6
Using Fostair 100/6 & Ventolin Advice 
Fostair 200/6
Fostair excessive use maybe? 
