Switch to MART fostair from seretide

[elmothebrave]

Having been on seretide 250mg for a good few years, as well as added in spiriva respimat, fexofenadine, montelukast and nasal spray (recent change to dymista), have been switched onto fostair 100/6 MART. According to my plan, its 2 puffs twice daily, plus an extra 4 as and when. This change was made Tuesday 15th so am 4 days in.

I'm wondering how long people have found it has been before seeing and improvement on MART. I know the steroid can take 8 weeks, but asthma nurse said the formeterol should be really improving my symptoms.

I have seen my peak flow drop from around 480 on Monday to 395 this morning, so a little drastic and hovering just under 400 which rings alarm bells for me. I have a deep harsh cough and lots of noise coming from my chest. Still waiting to see specialist, but just wanted to hear other people's experiences of switches of medication.

Thanks

[twinkly29]

The formoterol will work more quickly, as the nurse said, but because the steroid is a new one compared to seretide, it's like you're starting again with the steroid for the 8 weeks. So the formoterol is a bit like someone using ventolin with no preventer - it can open the airways but there's no steroid to reduce inflammation (or so the body thinks). Hence it might feel worse or no better for a while until the steroid kicks in.

395 is still 82% of your best peak flow so I wouldn't be too concerned about that at the moment - it's still your green zone.

[elmothebrave in reply to twinkly29]

Thanks for the reply.My best is around 510 so I'm just into the yellow zone I think. I'm not too concerned about peak flow as it's not dropping further, just found it a bit mad how much it dropped in a couple days.

It's just frustrating as I'm taking all 8 puffs per day due to symptoms, which seems a hefty amount of formetorol but it barely helps. Plus am really not enjoying the fairly severe tremor that seems to be permanent now, hoping that side effect disappears soon!

[twinkly29 in reply to elmothebrave]

The side effects should diminish over time, partly because they do anyway but partly also because as the steroid kicks in, the amount you need the extra puffs should decrease, thereby reducing the formoterol you're having.

Unfortunately even taking all 8 a day won't necessarily hurry up the process - though hopefully you'll see an improvement soon. If you are concerned contact your GP or nurse - sometimes people need a short course of steroids during the changeover, although hour pf not dropping any further is a good thing.

Hang in there - but I hope things are better soon.

[watergazer]

Hi I changed over to fostair a few years ago. I think it took around a month for my lungs to adapt but I’ve been great since apart from the last couple of weeks when I got a chest infection due to a fall and bruised ribs. I also think the current pollen and humidity is affecting peak flow as mine dipped last week after getting back to normal from my fall. Take care. If you’re worried seek advice from your nurse/GP x