Clenil or Qvar

[Fruitandnutcase]

I have taken Clenil for years and years - basically since it was decided it was better for the environment and I’ve been trundling along very nicely with no problems at all.

I was recently given Qvar - it was back at the start of lockdown, there seemed to be some sort of a delay then I was told the pharmacist couldn’t get Clenil. I know that they are more or less the same, Qvar is finer, doesn’t taste as disgusting as Clenil and I take one puff morning and night as opposed to two puffs morning and night with Clenil

I’m finding into my second week on Qvar that my chest feels tight, I’ve woken up twice during the night and done my peak flow. It is usually either just slightly above or below 400 which it’s fine for my age and height, it is now down between 300 and 350.

I’ve doubled up to two puffs twice a day but I think that I was much better on my old Clenil, I just took it, never ever needed to use my blue inhaler although on advice I always carried one. Yesterday I felt I needed to take a couple of puffs of my blue inhaler and felt really shaky, my hands in particular.

I know the pollen count is high but we’ve had high pollen and great heat before and I’ve not had this problem. I also seem to be getting indigestion which I don’t normally get although I have had a couple of cans of Diet Coke over the last couple of weeks and I don’t normally drink that.

Does anyone know if a) there is a problem getting Clenil and b) should I ask to go back onto Clenil or c) is it just me and it will settle down.?

Thank you.

[EmmaF91 Community Ambassador]

Hi

Sorry to hear you aren’t doing great atm. It does sound like you’re having issues atm so it’s worth speaking to your GP (especially as from the sounds of it you are dropping up to 25% of your PF everyday).It’s not uncommon for people to be ok on one medication but not cope with an alternative (even if just shifting from branded to non-branded or vice versus).

I think at the start of lockdown there may have been a bit of a run on clenil, as people prescribed who don’t usually take it suddenly started ordering it, plus others started trying to hoard them, and that is combined with a current (and from memory back at the start) manufacturing issue for it. This means a lot of GPS will have tried to ‘shift’ people onto different inhalers to reduce the load. Some will be fine with the change, others won’t be, so the GPS will reply on feedback from the people struggling to either switch them back to clenil, or try another different inhaler (hope this makes sense 😅)

With the addition of hayfever into the mix, do you take a regular antihistamine to help calm it? I know you said it’s not normally an issue, but if you don’t it may be worth seeing if taking one helps.

Whilst I think it’s very rare, reflux/indigestion can be a side effect from some inhalers, however it is more likely to be the fizzy from the sound of it (coke is a notorious issue.. or any fizzy/caffeine 😅). Ingestion can also be an asthma trigger/mimicer so it may be worth tracking what triggers the episodes, and if it affects your breathing /PF at all.

So yes, there is a difficulty getting clenil atm, but it’s worth discussing returning to clenil with your GP. Usually when you start a new inhaler side effects settle down the longer you’re on it, whereas you seem to be worsening (it can take up to 6 weeks for the new medication to fully kick in, but if you feel like you’re getting worse asthma wise you should contact your GP sooner)

Hope that helps. Good luck

[Fruitandnutcase in reply to EmmaF91]

Thank you, for the really good advice. I’ll stick with the Qvar and see how it goes. If I felt the need I would have doubled up with Clenil anyway so I’ll do that with Qvar.

What you have said about shortages sounds like what I thought. I did expect to go back onto Clenil and it doesn’t look like I will.

I’ll also get and start taking some antihistamines- I bought antihistamine eye drops yesterday because my eyes have been very itchy - I should have got tablets too.

And I’ll ditch the Diet Coke - it isn’t caffeine-free anyway - I haven’t had coke for years for some reason I just took a fancy to it and my other half bought me a pack of six cans - normally I drink decaf tea or coffee and water.

I’m due to pick up some meds so I’ll have a word with the pharmacist when I collect them.

Thanks again, that’s a great help 😊

[Wintersbite]

Hi I was given a try on this as I was allergic to becotide and other forms of it my doctor moved me into this and I was having like you are now but I had within 3 days as in my case it was trying to find a proventer I could take I was told to contact my doctor if any issues as we knew he might need to come out with a nebuliser for me he told me to stop it take my ventolin until I could breath and my chest stopped hurting and asked for my PF to see if it had gone up that's when he made his medical opinion that I'm allergic to all proventers and can only use the ventolin . So for you it could be settling down to the new inhaler or you may be allergic to something used in it but best suggestion would be especially during these times talk to your doctor about this.

[Fruitandnutcase in reply to Wintersbite]

Gosh it must be difficult not being able to use a preventer, I think some of the carriers are pretty horrible - Clenil is pretty foul. I’ve got a feeling it is a combination of weather, hay fever and something new. I’m using a spacer with it and I’ve tried without too. I’ve doubled my dose, PF is still a bit down but not as bad as before. I’ll speak to the doctor and see if I can go back Onto Clenil because that was all I ever needed, having to use ventolin was a bit of a surprise and it made me feel really shaky do I’d rather not have to use it.

[Wintersbite in reply to Fruitandnutcase]

That's probably all it is but it is best to talk to your doctor about this as I pointed out it might be you just can't take it (my case is rare) but it could be something like seasonal changes but always best to talk to your doctor especially during these times you need to keep yourself in top form to keep yourself safe and well.

Take care my friend and I hope you get this sorted out soon good luck.

[Fruitandnutcase in reply to Wintersbite]

Thank you 😊

[plastererken]

I’ve tried other inhalers but I find it’s fine for myself.i did have a bout of coughing wheezing i now now take antihistamine and has made such a difference.so I feel really good now.i get a bit mucusy but soon clears.hope this may helps.

[Fruitandnutcase in reply to plastererken]

It does, thank you 😊