Fostair and wheezing

[madonbrew]

I have been on Fostair 200/6 for a while now...actually about a year. I have to take 6 puffs per day....was on 8 after an 11 day hospital admission last year, but my consultant is gradually trying to taper them down.Also on heaps of other asthma meds, but I am wondering if anyone finds that Fostair actually makes them feel more wheezy??? My peak flow definitely is improved on it...about 350 which is nearly my best,but I also have to use my ventilin much more often as it makes me more wheezy.

Any thoughts??

[Poobah]

I found this with Symbicourt, a combination inhaler similar to Fostair. A consultant wanted me to stop using my Ventolin and to use the Symbicourt more. It was horrible as I struggled with breathing and wheezing. I was on 200/6, 8 puffs a day and sometimes more.

My asthma nurse listened to my concerns and switched me to Fostair but 100/6 which I take 3 puffs a day. I also take Becotide 200 with the Fostair. This works much better for me. Plus I can use my Ventolin.

There's no way to prove it but I believe it's the long acting bronchidilator (LABA) in the inhalers that doesn't suit me if I take too much. I had a single drug LABA inhaler in the 90s when they first hit the market. My asthma crashed and I had to come off it, after a few days my asthma was controlled again.

Have a chat with your asthma nurse or specialist and see if they are happy for you to try another combination inhaler in case the change in meds suit you better. Also talk about dosage if you think that the high dose is making things worse.

Finally, if you're on wet inhalers you could try dry powder in case that helps.

A good way to know if your inhaler is working the way it should is to take your peak flow before a dose. Then take the inhaler, wait 20 minutes and take your peak flow again. There should be an improvement in PF. If it's worse then the inhaler is definitely making your asthma worse.

Hope this helps.

[Yatzy in reply to Poobah]

Very useful information, thanks Poobah ☀️

[Kiiam]

Hi there 😊,

My consultant decided to take me off fostair , to see if it was causing me similar problems , like you I was taking over the normal recommended dose ( 6 puffs a day 2 is the recommended ) and changed it for a similar dose on Airflusal. We saw significant improvement with the change. So the lesson I guess is that different medication suits different people. Hope this helps, and may give you something to discuss with your consultant or asthma nurse and try 😊

[madonbrew]

Thank you for your replies! When I’m allowed out again, hmm o maybe I can ring the surgery , I will ask to see if I can try a different regime.

It feels a bit scary to try something new as I’ve had two very severe attacks landing me in hospital fo 11 days each, whilst taking other concoctions. But it’s definitely worth talking to my consultant about it! I just don’t know when that might be!