Fostair and Mucus

[_Badger_]

I'm in the middle of trying to get my asthma under control and have been switched from Revlar to Fostair (powder) 100/6 2 puffs twice daily. I was just about bearing the racing heart, the palpitations, the shaking hands (there goes the fine motor coordination) and the sore throat. I've ended up producing lots of mucus especially when I exercise and at night. The last few nights I have woken gasping for breath and feeling like I was suffocating because of how much mucus was in my throat.

Called the Doctor, thought the heart/hands symptoms were quite common and probably a reaction to high does of reliever, however they were suprised by the mucus and had never come across this as a side effect before. They suggested dropping to 1 puff twice daily and see if that fixes it before my review with the asthma nurse next Friday (who is apparently the best at the practice). Is this normal or am I a weirdo?

[Gareth57]

Hi, I use the dry powder nexthaler 100/6 and get the shakes and palpitations if I increase the dose from 2 twice a day to 4 twice a day, but don’t get the mucus if everything is under control. I also find exercise that makes me breath deep clears my lungs.

Good luck, it may be you need to change inhaler?

[watergazer]

Hi I've been on a fostairnexthaler for 4 years and I haven't experienced the excess mucus in fact I hardly get any . I get bruising on the limbs which last for ages and if I bump myself I bruise very easily .My blood sugar levels seem to be rising. The inhalers seem to affect people in different ways. x Anita

[Poobah]

I'm on Fostair, previously Symbicort, and tolerate it very well. I've even gone from 100/6 to 200/6 without any side effects.

I'm wondering if the mucus is a coincidence rather than a side effect. I know Fostair can give some patients the shakes and a racing heart rate.

The only way to check on what side effects are linked to Fostair is to stop it and revert to your previous treatment - under medical supervision.

In the meantime, while waiting for your appointment, try sleeping propped up and take a dose of your Ventolin before bed time. But if you're not coping talk to your GP again.

All the best.

[Bluebusadventures]

I use fostair 100/6 and also have problems with mucus however I don’t think mine is anything to do with the fostair. I have struggled to run at all recently due to the mucus and it getting worse when attempting to exercise . My asthma nurse has now given me montelukast, a steroid nasal spray and a saline nose spray and these are now doing the trick. Hope you get a solution soon. Maybe speak to asthma uk nurse ?

[sparklyhat]

I started FostAir and was coughing thick white phlegm from my lungs into my hand within 48 hours. For around a month it blocked my airways at night in a condition described as stridor, which was quite close to suffocating. Gradually the thick phlegm moved up to my throat, where it blocks my voice and requires incessant clearing. This has being going on now for a year, though I reverted to Ventolin and Clenil Modulite. I suspect FostAir. It is like having superglue in the lungs at night, requires coughing in the morning, then settles in the day as it drains. Yuk.

[Freezers83]

Hi i am a 74 year old who had fairly well controlled childhood asthma and have been diagnosed with copd , I use the fostair inhaler 100/6. 2 puffs twice a day. i am not convinced it helps much, I suspect it is irritating my throat.

[Whiteclouds]

hi I’m on fostair and told to use this more than the blue spray ventolin. I have asthma and have been struggling with my asthma as I have a lot of wheezing and mucus this only improves with amoxicillin and prednisolone steroids but when the meds are stopped the wheezing and mucus returns. I also take Montelucast and a nasal spray and a strong antihistamine for the post nasal drip but I’ve still got it so I think you may be right maybe it does create this terrible mucus which will not budge.