Hello , has anyone else found that the inhalers do not really have the amount of puffs claimed on the actual inhaler ?
I have never got 100 puffs out of my inhaler therefore being left without usage because the GP will not repeat my subscription until a set date .
Thanks , keep safe all.
What inhaler do you have that has 100puffs? The ones I've seen are 60,120 or 200?
It's a preventer , in my experience they don't last long . I thought it would be a common thing for people. Thanks for the reply.
No definitely not my little girl takes clenil and that's 200 puffs and she sometimes (not all the time) has issues towards the end (but the counter on the back of the inhaler counts down from 200 so we know its getting low) and mine are powder so its the same at the start as it is at the end
Mine's not powder with a counter Chip .Gosh , I remember horrible powder ones as a kid . They had little fans in them back then.
Nah I don't think there are fans in mine.... I do remember them though
Hi
Do you clean/rinse the plastic? (Remove the canister). Often the drug can collect and block the hole that the spray passes through. I think this may be more common if you don’t shake it properly to start with. Just an idea
Hope this helps
Do you find there's not really 200 puffs in it , Emma ? Mine is out within a month easily.
I often find that the last 20-50 odd puffs are less effective but it still get the spray and drug and the inhaler still works etc if that’s what you mean
They are light and definitely empty, but my doctor is not available due to their coronavirus fears . I will be buying online at a time when I've lost my job , its expensive but I'm not attempting any more GP contact.
Have you done the float test to check that it’s empty?
No , I've disposed of each one when it's empty. Maybe I'm too heavy handed . I'm using it every other day now .I'm hopping mad really ! I got to the point where there's no charge after working since 1976 and the GP didn't reply.
I've finished with them , don't want their asthma clinic , covid jab nothing now .
Next time you think it’s empty try the float test. Sometimes it may feel empty but still has things left and the float test will let you know.
Which inhaler is this?
What is the float test?
It doesn’t work with all inhalers so you need to test it when you first get it. You take out the canister of your spray inhaler (don’t do this with dry powered inhalers). You place it side ways into a glass of water.
A lot of canisters when they are full will sink to the bottom. However not all of them do, so check first with a new on to see if it sinks. As you use it up the inhaler can start to rise to the top of the glass. Once it’s completely empty it bobs immediately to the top.
It’s not an exact science 😉. But if you have an inhaler that initially sinks and you think that you’ve only used 1/2 the doses it should sit in the middle of the glass or slowly rise to the top, if it is empty (or is basically empty) as you think it is it will very quickly Bob to the top.
Again it’s not exact. And it doesn’t work for every spray inhaler so test a full one first.
But I really would advise to try rinsing the plastic first if you don’t already do that. Spray inhalers do lighten a lot as they go so it may be something that’s making it seem empty when it’s not (ie it’s lightened and the channel is blocked so you think it’s finished, however if you unblock the channel you find there is still a lot left and it can get lighter still)
I know some run out early and that’s besides the point as the intelligent and caring pharmacy we’re the people who told me I should have a spare and offered to ring on my behalf if I had any problems with my docs. So I called and said “ my pharmacy etc etc , and it worked ! our car is to iced up to go out for meds and roads dangerous but also other things can happen, contact an intelligent medic on health Unlocked and see what they say . Take care , good luck and never be afraid to put up a fight 😊😃👍🏻
You shouldn't have to buy them. Your GP can answer the phone can't he? Ideally get him to make you a repeat prescription.
So agree with you
Have you tried contacting your pharmacist. My gp gives preventer inhaler once a month on prescription
Hi , thanks . It's only says on my app that I have to wait a ridiculously long time , maybe it's not my Gp saying it ? Asking the pharmacist won't help I think , I have to request my inhalers .
It's the only thing I've needed during my life , so annoying because there's also no communication nowadays.
True. My gp rejected my salbutamol inhaler in November. I phoned them up and got one. Phone them or see to face asking why.
I agree with Kitty2823, I'd phone the GP and ask for a callback. They're unlikely to do face to face at the moment but phone consultations can be just as good (and in this case should be perfect). If they are offhand at reception say it's about your asthma. It is but they don't need to know more. Then you can discuss the prescription with a GP themselves.
I went to my surgery to book a appointment. The doctor gave me a prescription. For fostair my gp issue month prescription. His son is asthmatic and he knows about asthma
That's good 🙂. Most surgeries aren't doing things face to face at the moment unless they absolutely need to see you (but it's good you were able to be seen!) but they should be doing appointments by phone. Obviously you didn't need that as they saw you but a lot of people feel that they can have an appointment regardless.
I've never counted but my new one is rubbish and I feel worse now sadly
It's very common to feel worse initially when starting a new inhaler - the previous steroid has been stopped and the one in the new inhaler takes time to build up, often about 8 weeks. In this time it's usual to need to use your reliever inhaler more. Usually though it's not that the inhaler is rubbish but the embedding time. Sometimes someone does need a different inhaler because a different combination of drugs inside them are more suited to them - but each time the several weeks testing time is needed.
That’s awful and very stupid as refusing means your being put at risk and also wasting time and energy for the truly valuable paramedics who may be called out as I had to once when I was refused antibiotics !!! I suggest it needs reporting as any decent doc would obviously make certain you had a spare one at home for emergencies as I have now after putting up quite a fight to get it. We all should have a spare. It’s going to cost a lot more if negligence makes us all so ill we need emergency help. They should know better . Good luck it’s for all of us if you complain 👍🏻👍🏻
Totally agree. What happens at the end is that my cough starts to reappear especially at night. Fortunately, my doctor tends to over prescribe so it is not a problem
Which inhaler is it? My son used Seretide 250 and has realised that his asthma kept dipping towards the end of his inhaler. He has searched on line and found that lots of people have noticed it seems to run out about 20 from the end. I also feel my ciclesonide inhaler stops delivering such a strong spray with about a week to go and I can’t taste it any more. You are not alone. Maybe tell your GP that from your research a lot of people with asthma find the same.
Yes me too on seretide definitely 20 from the end is dodgy 😂
I am a long time Asthmatic and have been on Ventolin for decades. There is no way I get 200 puffs out of each one. My GP knows it as well as the Asthma nurse and Asthma clinic at our local hospital.
I would say that by the time it's half full the inhaler empties very quickly. I use a turbo haler to get the inhaler as empty as possible.
My GP is very generous though and understands 
If your inhaler is not administering the right dose, don’t waste time with doctor, get to a pharmacy right away and explain the situation. They won’t let you go without medication and will give you and emergency one.
Yes!!! I've managed to get 2 on my prescription for this exact reason. So stressful - hope you can convince them at your next Asthma Review.
No asthma reviews nowadays W. I got a phone call in May and I noticed it's marked as face to face on the app .
Call them up and chase. My gp surgery seeing all patients through telephone consultation.
I agree with you. I think logic says that less comes out when it’s gets to the very end.
I also think we get a bit more on a newly opened one. Dosage wise I think it averages out. Of course that’s not helpful on a day by day basis. Now I just need my hypothesis to be proved 😂😂
I've noticed my mouth flares up more (blistering/ulcers) when I start a new one...
Hi, yes to your question. My inhaler changed a while back and it appeared empty before reaching zero too. I regularly check it to make sure it’s not clogged up- as experienced that in the past with my previous inhaler.
I also use an aerochamber 😊
I use a cotton bud and twirl it at the opening now and again too to keep it clear.
I have just done the float test suggested by Emma and it did float on the top.
Thanks for the replies, all read : )My update is that there was no call to me and no email regarding my concern .
Maybe it's true after all , a cull going on , no jab for me now . Of any kind !
You don't need to contact your GP after registering with a pharmacy, ring them and they will order your medication for you; you can then collect in a couple of days , most have a delivery service. My chemist started doubling up for me when lockdown started so that I would never be in danger of running low.I have found that my fluticasone doesn't have the same oomph as it reaches the end, probably the last 3-4 days
Thank you Lapaul for the reply. I agree , my old pharmacy let me request at their shop but one time a member of staff asked if I could also pop to my GP which to be fair was just along the road.
Everything is sorted out now , I spoke to a nice lady at the surgery on the phone.
Everyone seems lucky here - my Salamol does not even have a counter...!!!At my last review I requested a spare - but was clearly told by the nurse that I couldn't have one - but to use my Fostair if I ran out of Salamol - despite the Fostair clearly stating "I should take 2 puffs twice daily" - being a 120 puff inhaler (120/2x2 x28 days) = 112 days - only leaves 8 puffs to play with over a month.
But she wouldn't have any of it...!!!
Mine is a preventer , no counter, and an emergency blue one , obviously no counter on that .Hope you sort out your inhalers , I very rarely have had a second preventer at the same time except when I purchased some online back in April ish during the first lockdown.
Fostair Dosage
Blue Inhalers- advice needed. 
Asthma
autumn asthma
Fostair dosage question 
