Flutiform query as I am having problems

[Tibet88]

Hello

I am new to the forum. I wondered if anyone has had a problem with Flutiform. I was diagnosed with Asthma 5 years ago at 65. At first I was given Clenil and Salbutamol inhalers by my GP. At a review with the Asthma nurse the preventer was changed to Fostair which made me cough and that was changed to Qvar which I stayed on (together with Salbutamol and Montelukast) for almost 3 years, able to carry on life fairly normally with few worries. However, the Asthma nurse retired earlier this year and the other practice nurse took over her duties, it is a small village practice with 2 GPs.

In July I had an annual review by phone with the nurse. I mentioned that I had an occasional cough and she changed my preventer to Flutiform. Looking back I think that a couple of weeks after starting on Flutiform is when I started to feel a bit breathless on dog walks which has gradually become worse. Since August I have spoken to the nurse twice about my breathlessness who told me to make phone appointments with the GP. I have had 3 short courses of antibiotics and prednisolone since the end of August, 1 of the steroids was 30g and 2 were 40g. I am not sure that these have helped much. As well as the breathlessness I have a lot of mucus. I spoke to the GP on the phone last week and he prescribed Carbocisteine capsules for the excess mucus as he felt that may be causing the breathlessness plus a rescue pack of antibiotics and 30mg prednisolone to keep at home. I asked him about the Flutiform, perhaps it doesn't agree with me but he said make appointment with nurse in 10 days to discuss that, which I have done for next week, phone only. I am very sorry that this post is so long but I just don't feel right on Flutiform as I feel these symptoms do seem to have come about since changing from Qvar and I am worried. I could be wrong of course but I would like to go back to Qvar or similar. I just desperately want to return to how my life was before July. As well as breathlessness and a lot of mucus I am now lacking in energy and my appetite is not as good as it was. As the symptoms I have are listed in the Flutiform info I am very concerned. Just wondered if anyone else has had a similar experience with Flutiform. Apologies that this is a long post but I just need and would wecome some thoughts, please.

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[Hidden]

Hi Tibet88, I didn't get on with either Fostair or Flutiform. In my case it was the long acting bronchodilator ingredient common to both inhalers which is Formoterol. Didn't feel well on either of them, plus they both made me very dizzy 24/7, side effects which did not wear off despite persisting with them for a while!! I would say if you have given the Flutiform a good trial and still have issues, then it needs discussing with your GP. Not all inhalers suit everybody, we are all individuals with our reactions. Hope you get sorted soon.

[Tibet88 in reply to Hidden]

Hi Captaincough,Thank you so much for your reply. I really don't think the Flutiform suits me at all (Fostair didn't). It could well be the long acting bronchodilator as I must admit that I have not felt completely well since I started on it in July but have been a bit slow connecting the inhaler with how bad I feel. The side effects are really becoming more awful. My GP told me to make an appointment with the Asthma Nurse which I have on Wednesday morning by phone. Not the same as in person!

Thanks again so much for your reply, I am glad to know that I may be on the right track and not the only one who has experienced these problems. Hopefully I will be much better soon.

[Hazyeyes]

Hi, I have had issues when I changed my inhalers. In the summer I changed from Qvar as I felt it wasn’t helping after three years and they put me on fostair which gave me bronchospasm reaction to it like an asthma attack which I would never normally experience. Then they tried me on another inhaler which has a propellant and the same thing happened. I have been on propellant sprays for years and they had been fine. Anyway I am now on pulmicort turbhaler 200 a powder spray which made me at first feel a bit of an itchy throat then after five weeks it is fine for me.

I hope you find the next one to suit you as apparently after a while our body can build a resistance against certain ones.

[Tibet88 in reply to Hazyeyes]

Hi Hazyeyes, Thank you very much for your reply. I have been told that the Flutiform should not cause my symptoms. But I am generally not feeling well, breathless, tight chest etc which has been going on for a while, compared to before starting on Flutiform when I felt well without any problems. I have a phone appointment with the practice nurse on Wednesday morning and will see what she can suggest. I think that I have given Flutiform enough time since July and feel that I need to try a change.

[Hazyeyes in reply to Tibet88]

Yes I would expect after six weeks you would have settled down with it so I would change it and do your peak flow to keep a check. Also the weather is really damp at the moment and I find that is an issue. So I always have a scarf or a face mask lately. I find dry and cold weather is fine but not damp days. Maybe you should have another additional medication to keep your asthma in check. Like montelukast.

[Tibet88 in reply to Hazyeyes]

Thanks, I will see what the nurse thinks and suggests on Wednesday, can't carry on like this any longer. If it doesn't have any good effects after all these weeks (it has been since July, so a long time and getting worse now) it probably doesn't agree with me, everyone is different. It's very damp here at the moment, icy cold and snowing this morning. Damp and cold always makes things worse. So stayed indoors and warm today, dog didn't seem to mind as she hates getting wet!

[Hazyeyes in reply to Tibet88]

Yes stay warm inside and you can’t put up with those symptoms too long as once they control asthma it should be manageable. Hope you feel better soon. I’m sure the nurse will have a good plan for you. Tell us how you get on.

[Pugdog]

I’m sorry to hear you’re not feeling good on flutiform. I’ve been on it for years and it works well for me, no side effects. However I have a very mucas producing asthma and also like you tried carboscisteine which had no effect. Numerous courses of oral steroids and antibiotics to treat flare ups. Was about to start Montelukast which I really didn’t want to take because of the ghastly reports of side effects and was offered Spiriva Respimat inhaler along with my flutiform. It has been amazing and completely reduced the amount of mucas and flare ups/breathlessness. I’m staying on it for now and will review new year as to whether to take it just for flare ups. It might be worth discussing trying Spiriva as a possible add on treatment? I feel it really opens up my lungs. I hope you feel better soon .

[Tibet88 in reply to Pugdog]

Hi, I am thinking that it could be the Flutiform causing problems because they started very soon after I was switched from Qvar which I had been on for quite a while. I have been taking Montelukast tablets for some time because I was coughing at night. I haven't had any problems with those. I'll try and have a warm and restful weekend. Then if I still feel the same (which is pretty grotty) on Monday I may not wait for the Nurse phone appointment on Wednesday but ring and ask the surgery for a GP appointment as the nurse isn't there on Mondays (never had to do that before but they must have arrangements for that sort of thing, surely)? Thank you for your good wishes.