I've just been switched from Sirdupla to Forstair, to try and get my asthma under control (ongoing issues for over 4 months). I took my first dose around 11pm and immediately afterwards I felt heart palpitations, and a strange sensation that I'm struggling to describe. Maybe...wired? Jittery, anyway...
I've never had anything like this happen before with inhalers, so I wondered if anyone else have had similar experiences and if they settled down after a period of time? I'm willing to give it time, as I'm obviously keen to get my asthma under control, but it's definitely not a pleasant experience and not one I'd like to be an ongoing concern.
Any advice would be appreciated!
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garfunkel
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Hi Garfunkel, it certainly is a side-effect of Fostair, I definitely used to get the heart fluttering/nerve jitters - like you've had 40 cups of coffee. It's been some time since I took Fostair myself, so I can't remember if it 'settles down' over days/weeks/months. But somebody else here will certainly come in with an answer to that part of the question.
Hi Mark. That's a perfect way to describe it. I still feel a little jittery now, which is probably my body's reaction to that feeling - I quit caffeine several years ago, so my body isn't really used to it anymore.
I use Fostair and had similar experience however for me it did settle and I now only get that feeling back if I have to increase the dose up to 3 puffs twice a day. Overall I have found fostair to have helped with my asthma control however I know that others may have different experiences. Has the GP or asthma nurse scheduled some follow up with you you to review how you are doing so you can update them about this?
Hi Bluebusadventures. I'm glad to hear it settled for you - it took over an hour to settle for me last night, which was pretty uncomfortable. My body still feels a bit weird now...The asthma nurse is due to call back in 4/5 weeks, but she told me to phone if I had any issues before that. I was considering doing that today as it was so unpleasant and makes me apprehensive about taking fostair again, but perhaps that's too early.
Hi, sorry you're going through this garfunkel, I get this feeling if I take prednisolone tablets (I now take them at 5am so I'm not getting the palpitations at night). I too avoid caffeine after 9am or it keeps me awake so understand whats happening for you, its horrible, the 1st time on pred I thought I was going to die.
I can only suggest you adjust the times you administer your Fostair. I try to take mine at 8am and 8pm or at least that the doses are 12 hours apart..
Its a shame if it doesn't work for you, for me its been the best thing ever since my asthma took a downturn 3 or 4 years ago. The beauty of Fostair is that its a MART inhaler meaning that you can lower or raise the dose if your needs change on a daily basis. For ie this week one puff morning and evening is fine but last week it was one in the morning and two at evening.
For me its even improved the integrity of my skin beyond belief, when on Seretide it ripped to shreds too often. Sirdupla didn't work at all.
Perhaps call your nurse or the help line for advice? Good luck, I really hope it works for you but we're all so different. P
Different inhalers seem to suit different people! I can't tolerate anything with Formoterol in, but Salmeterol( for me anyway) has far fewer side effects! Formoterol makes me very, very, very dizzy 24/7 even on a low dose. Salmeterol will make me a bit off balance for maybe an hour after I use it, then the spinning sensation wears off. It's weird, but can only assume it's to do with their slightly different chemical formula.
Hi garfunkel Im on Fostair 200/6 Mart. It did give me the racing heart too start with. However it has been the best to control my not well controlled asthma. The Mart regime is great although the cramps for me cause problems, but I no longer get the fast heart racing or jitters. See how you go, if its still troublesome, let your asthma nurse know.
Hi I have ised fostair nexthaler 200/6 2 puffs twice a day for the last 2 years. I did get the shakes at first but now I shake just a little when I take it. Infact I hardly notice it. I take it early evening and morning. Dont drink caffeine for medical reasons.
Yes, definitely. Salbutamol makes me jittery, but my first dose of Fostair, I swear I was high - trembling like a leaf in the wind and giggling like an idiot at myself. From the next dose for the next couple of weeks I was just trembly. I wouldn't have tried to pluck my eyebrows in case I took an eye out. That gradually subsided to just feeling a little left-handed-all-over; clumsy, uncoordinated, having to concentrate quite hard on where my limbs all were.
I've just started my second inhaler so I'm 4 weeks in and now I hardly notice anything. Maybe I've just got used to it, or maybe the side effects have settled down. My breathing is better than it has been since March, so it's a win for me.
You are not alone! I hope things settle down for you too.
(I hope no one minds if I do a message for everyone here, rather than replying to everyone individually)
Thank you everyone who replied, I really appreciate you taking the time to share your experiences. I left a message for the breathing nurse yesterday and continued to take the fostair. I felt pretty wretched for most of yesterday with it - restless and jittery - and this morning my hands shook for over an hour on top of those sensations, which wasn't great. The hand shaking came back later in the day too, although not as severe.
The breathing nurse got back to me early this afternoon and once I'd explained what my experience had been, she told me to immediately stop taking it and return to the sirdupla for a few weeks to stabilise. After that she's going to try me on another inhaler, so hopefully I'll get on better with the next one. I was really starting to dread taking it, so it's something of a relief, although I'm disappointed it'll be a while longer before the asthma is under control (not been the easiest year, that's for sure...).
Hi Garfunkel I have had to stop taking Fostair and Seretse - very bad headache - a pity - Fostair v. effective at helping breathing - have tried to persevere but side effects too bad
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I left a message for the breathing nurse yesterday and continued to take the fostair. I felt pretty wretched for most of yesterday with it - restless and jittery - and this morning my hands shook for over an hour on top of those sensations, which wasn't great. The hand shaking came back later in the day too, although not as severe. 
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