Asthma not controlled

[Mickeyboy2020]

Hi all I’m on fluticasone inhaler, can anyone tell me if Fostair is better than this

My severe asthma not very controlled atm, steroids up and down like a yo yo and lots of puffs of salbutamol

Been on all the biologics ( mepolizibub etc etc)

Consultant says new drug coming out soon but not approved yet

Last I heard from Brompton hospital was telephone consult in March

Feels like they’ve forgotten about me

Regards

Mickeyboy25

[twinkly29]

Whether it's better or worse is personal so some will find it is and others will not. But it's worth asking to try it if you haven't tried it before. Sometimes I think our bodies get fed up and want a change. Any switch though will feel worse for several weeks because it will take about 8 weeks for a new steroid inhaler to kick in and in that time the body feels it has nothing.

Are you on antihistamines? It might be worth trying them if you're not, or at least asking your GP for advice, as at the moment the weather/pollen could be the culprit and by treating that, then the asthma won't flare like it is. Or if they don't help at all then at least you've ruled that out.

3 months isn't bad though - many people haven't seen it spoken to consultants since before covid!

[Poobah]

Hi Mickey. Fluticasone is different to Fostair as it's a single med inhaler, just containing steroids, whereas Fostair contains steroids plus a long acting bronchodilator. Just wondering if you're on an additional inhaler apart from Salbutamol? Normally, if you have difficult asthma you would have progressed to a combination inhaler, such as Fostair, Symbicort or Seretide. Seretide contains the steroid fluticasone so maybe a good next step if you haven't had a combination inhaler to date. If you change to Fostair then, as Twinkly has explained, you're changing steroids which will mean you're almost starting from scratch and it may take at least 8 weeks to see any improvement. If your asthma is triggered by allergies then antihistamines or Montelukast may be a good add on.

Twinkly is right, in that asthma meds are very much trial and error to find your best match. What suits one patient may not suit the next. Same goes for biologics. It may be time to discuss a change of meds with your consultant - I would ask your GP for a referral if you can't request an appointment directly with the Brompton.

[Mickeyboy2020 in reply to Poobah]

Hi it’s FLUTICASONE WITH FORMOTEROL flutiform that I take 2 puffs twice a day

Thanks for all replies 👍🏻

[Poobah in reply to Mickeyboy2020]

Ah Futiform not fluticasone, that makes sense. Sometimes a change of combo inhaler could be the answer and there are other options to Flutiform. But it will take time to try each option and it's important to review each new med after 8 to 12 weeks to establish its efficacy. Good luck.

[Mickeyboy2020 in reply to Poobah]

👍🏻👍🏻

[Itswonderful]

Hi Mickeyboy. I think routinely you are contacted for a follow up around at 4-6 months. On the top of your copy of the GP letter there is an email address for the asthma nurses at the Brompton. I think it is on the top left as you read the letter. You can contact the ANs that way or phone and speak to your consultant’s secretary who will be able to find out when your next appointment is due and you can talk to him/her if you need it sooner. They are all there to help. Best wishes.

[Mickeyboy2020 in reply to Itswonderful]

Many thanks for the info, I think I’m gonna have to follow it up with them, been 3 months since I spoke to anyone there 👍🏻🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿👍🏻