New medication

[SueWhite73]

Hi I’ve recently been diagnosed asthmatic following a nasty chest infection in Jan as breathing difficulties continued. I really am in the dark here & a little freaked out by the whole struggling to breath scenario. I have a blue Salbutamol inhaler and was originally given a brown QVAR inhaler but after a few weeks this seems to have had less impact. My Asthma Nurse has changed my brown inhaler to a pink Fostair inhaler which I’ve been taking for the past couple of days. My symptoms aren’t better. Am I being impatient? Does it take time for an inhaler to build up before it will be effective? Thanks

[twinkly29]

Medication like that definitely takes a while to kick in, certainly more than a couple of days. I think it's a couple of weeks for a steroid/preventer inhaler. Qvar only contains a steroid, Fostair contains both a steroid and a LABA (long acting bronchodilator), which does the same job as ventolin but longer lasting, so once it's kicked in hopefully it will settle things down for you. Do call your asthma nurse though if you're concerned in the meantime.

[Gareth57]

Hi

Yes unfortunately you are being impatient 😂, it can take weeks even up to a month to get a proper idea of whether it is working for you, in the mean time, make sure you keep taking the fostair as prescribed (I use the 100/6 dry powder version and think it is good) and if needed use your blue reliever as required but you should find that as the fostair starts to work you use the reliever less until hopefully not at all.

Good luck

[mumsandra]

Hello Sue,

This sounds very familiar to what I experienced with the Respiratory nurse. She diagnosed me with COPD/Asthma, but could not understand why none of the inhalers helped me at all, in fact,some definitely made me worse. After much experimenting by myself and the discovery that I was allergic to Dogs with long hair and dander in particular and the removal of such and the abscence of inhalers I have recovered. It may sound strange but the only thing that did help me to breathe , cleared my airways and loosened phlegm, was a certain type of cough sweet, which obviously contained menthol and other ingredients.

I hope you get well soon.

[ChrissieMons]

Don’t panic. You just have to give in to being a bit poorly for a while. Getting anxious about it just makes it worse, I’m afraid. You will feel fine eventually if you are kind to yourself.

[Poobah]

Hi Sue, it may be worth looking at a video or two on YouTube about how to use your inhalers, as good technique will achieve maximum affect.

Fostair contains two meds, one that relaxes the lung muscles to help you breathe and steroids to bring down inflammation. Steroids can take a couple of weeks at least to make a difference.

Regular use is key to the meds being successful. If you think there's been no improvement after four to six weeks then talk to your asthma nurse.

[SueWhite73]

Morning folks - thank you so much for your responses. I have been worried & you have all reassured me. I’ll continue with the inhalers and knowing that I should expect a good few weeks for them to kick in will certainly reduce my worries. Massive thanks 😀