Diprofos Injection for asthma

[miriALsumayra]

does anyone ever take this injection for asthma, I take it before several times in country outside UK, it treat asthma immediately, I asked the doctor her in UK to give me it and he said this medication prohibited in UK and banned in most of the countries around the world, I went private hospital her in UK and they give me Betamethasone, but it did no thing for my asthma, so I think there are different kinds of this medication because Diprofos injection contains Betamethasone Dipropionate, and this medication doctor gave me contains another ingredients, Diprofos Injection treated my severe asthma about 3 times before in my country.

[Poobah]

In the UK hydrocortisone shots or IV delivery are reserved for acute asthma attacks rather than asthma flares and usually given in hospital rather than by primary health care (GPs)). You can look up the standard "UK Stepwise Management of Asthma" online to see how treatment of asthma is licensed in the UK. Your GP can prescribe up to a certain level of medications after which you would be referred to a specialist hospital consultant who can prescribe further medications after appropriate tests and review of the patient.

Emergency treatment of acute asthma is usually treated in A&E.

You can also bypass NHS treatment by paying to see a private consultant but they too are only licensed to treat asthma with authorised & licensed treatments.

[twinkly29]

Yes, I completely agree with Poobah.

They cannot prescribe what is not licensed here.

[EmmaF91 Community Ambassador]

Agree with Poobah

Diprofos is not available in the UK as it is not approved. There are only hydrocortisone IV which is used in severe acute issues (a&e/ITU) or kenalog injections if you’re on maintenance oral steroids and they think you either have an absorption issue or a compliancy issue. But either long term is more damaging that having an inhaler (same as diprofos).

Diprofos is not in the BNF so you won’t be able to legitimately access it in the UK, privately or otherwise.

[miriALsumayra in reply to EmmaF91]

hi Emma,what you mean by this phrase?

But either long term is more damaging that having an inhaler (same as diprofos.

thanks

[EmmaF91 Community Ambassador in reply to miriALsumayra]

Having IV/IM steroids does more long term damage to the body (increases risk of osteoporosis etc) than having inhaled steroids for the same time period.

IV tends to only last a few days whereas IM lasts 1-3 months, but the IM damage from 1 dose is usually greater than the damage from taking the strongest inhaler multiple times a day. Just like oral is more prone to side effects than inhaled.

Inhaled is one of the weaker ways to administer steroids. It’s also focused directly to the lungs so is a lot less likely to cause systemic issues, and treat mainly just the lung inflammation.

Oral or injected steroids spread around the body so is more likely to cause the ‘bigger’ side effects (and will cause them faster than with inhaled).

So what I meant is; hydrocortisone/kenalog/diprofos is more damaging and more likely to cause long term side effects if you keep having it, compared to inhaled steroids. This is why you don’t have injected steroids unless you really need to cause nothing else works.

Hope this explains things better

[miriALsumayra in reply to EmmaF91]

yes, I take Betamethasone her after I plead to doctor in private hospital, so they make it less effective, I took it by myself IM, after I took it 2mg IM, it did nothing for my asthma, and I surprised, then I realised something wrong, so I read information on package it contain different ingredients from that in my country.

[twinkly29 in reply to miriALsumayra]

Well the UK can't give what you have in your country because it is not licensed.

[Poobah in reply to miriALsumayra]

Beclomethasone can be taken regularly every day as an inhaler in order to prevent asthma symptoms. It takes a few weeks to build up its full effectiveness but is the main type of treatment for asthma in the UK. For short term and immediate help you can use a Ventolin inhaler.

If your asthma is more severe then your doctor can prescribe stronger medication that you take every day.

Emergency treatment can also be accessed by A&E at a hospital.

What medication do you take every day for your asthma?

[miriALsumayra in reply to Poobah]

I been taking fostair 100 for two months, I felt little better but it didn't completely treat my asthma, I fell bouts asthma about 15 times every day, its better than before because its less pain and less tightness, before tightness all the time.

[EmmaF91 Community Ambassador in reply to miriALsumayra]

Then you may need an increased dose amount or a stronger inhaler (like fostair 200). Or an add on (like montelukast) to correctly control your asthma.

It sounds like it is working and helping so it’s a matter of working out what works!

[Poobah in reply to miriALsumayra]

Emma is right, you may need a stronger inhaler. I was on Fostair 100/6 but now take 200/6. I take it in the morning and again in the evening- I never miss a day. I also have a Ventolin inhaler which helps if I get short of breath. Montelukast tablets are very good too.

It's important to visit your doctor again to talk about your ongoing asthma symptoms and ask about stronger medication.

[miriALsumayra]

I didn't have asthma before I cant imagine my life will turn into hell, the doctor refuse give me injection or stronger medication I don't know why I don't have experience in this country also I don't have knowledge about medication because I don't have asthma before I came to this area, I want leave this place at April for 6 months, now its very cold, I will try to talk with the doctor again, thanks Emma