Possible Pulmicort irritation?

[Gracey888]

I was swapped from Clenil to pulmicort a few weeks ago. It seemed the aerosol was irritating. Since the changeover I seem to have got more irritated in my throat. It feels sharp and by the evening I find I have swallowing issues, which is a bit unnerving. It’s affected my voice as that seems to be strained and sometimes a bit horse. I’m also getting a lot of phlegm (tmi)! Everything I eat seems to trigger coughing & also a tightening in my oesophagus. If I drink cool water even! It feels like a pressure there (which could also be acid reflux which I’m medicated for but it’s only helping the stomach a tad). It’s really distressing and the cough hurts my sternum area (I may have chostocondritis). My PF is only a little lower - avg 370 when usually 400-420. It’s hard managing multiple issues to know what’s what and they all crossover!

I’m wondering what I could changeover to? Many years back I used symbocort.

[twinkly29]

Symbicort and pulmicort use the same steroid. So I would assume if you were ok on symbicort you would be with pulmicort. Is the pulmicort the dry powder turbohaler?

The feelings in your throat sound like acid reflux to me, though what's causing it I don't know. Do you have a drink after using it or rinse your mouth out?

[Poobah]

Sounds like you should discuss these side effects with your GP as they may well want to put you on a different inhaler and there a few to choose from.

I'm sure I don't have to tell you that after you take your inhalers that it's good to clean the mouth by brushing and gargling to make sure the residue is cleared so it doesn't cause irritation.

[hilary39]

That would worry me, too! Definitely talk to your doctor and maybe a pharmacist (?) Are you gargling a lot after using your inhalers? I try to be religious about doing that. 15 years ago I got an ulcer in my esophagus from not rinsing out my mouth enough after using my inhaler and it took almost a year for it to go away.