Help some advice needed.

[Dawny72]

Hi everyone some advice needed please.

Help. I’m at my wits end here.

I started in early Feb with asthma after being free from it for ten years. After three courses of steroids, once they leave my system it flairs up again. I can’t sleep I’m exhausted, I’m frightened I’m taking my blue inhalers to much although it does relieve for a while. I am on Fostair and blue salbutamol now but the doctor says it can take a while for the Fostair to work. The last flair up I had, it took months to control but eventually with Simbicort it worked a treat. I have requested simbicort again but she won’t prescribe it.

I just want to get control of my life again.

[Hidden]

Ask for montelukast that might help you also. I found fostair worked really well for me after 4 weeks. And I am still on fostair

[Dawny72 in reply to Hidden]

Did it take 4 weeks to start working.??

[Hidden in reply to Dawny72]

I noticed it right away that I felt better but it took 4 weeks to really help me due to something else was upsetting my asthma

[Poobah]

Fostair is similar to Symbicourt, in that they both contain a long acting bronchidilator plus steroids. The bronchidilator works immediately and lasts up to 12 hours, hence the need to take it twice a day. The steroids take about 3 to 4 weeks to have an effect on asthma.

Fostair has finer particles than Symbicourt so can be more effective in reaching deeper into the lungs.

Ensure your inhaler technique is good. Using the diaphragm rather teyour shoulders makes all the difference. If you're raising your shoulders when you take your inhalers then you're more than likely shallow breathing so the meds aren't going all the way into the lungs. If you're on wet aerosol inhalers you can use a spacer to help deliver a good dose of the inhaler meds. Talk to your Asthma Nurse or GP for a spacer.

Talk to your AN or GP about your inhalers dose after a month if you're not satisfied with the results to date. It's important to get the dose right. The oral steroids work well so you may need more inhaled steroids to get things under control.

You don't say what Fostair you are on (100/6 or 200/6) & how many puffs you take every day.