Fostair Inhaler 100/6

[Bandstandlad]

How safe is the Fostair 100/6 inhaler please? After having been on a Symbicort inhaler since earlier this, my Asthma Nurse has changed my medication to a Fostair. Usually my breathing is under control but since beginning of this year, and after testing positive for Covid just after Christmas 2020, I don't feel control has been maintained. I take Ramipril medication for high blood pressure and I also had a stent fitted 9 years ago due to narrowing of left coronary artery. Is the Fostair safe for me to use please? Many Thanks!

[risabel59]

Hi there, Fostair has a different steroid to Symbicort, but the same LABA (Long acting Bronchial Antagonist) Fostair is Beclametasone & Formoterol and Symbicort is Budesonide & Formoterol. There is not going to be a great deal of difference in side effects / longterm or short term unless she has changes the dosages as well. Some people react differently to different steroids, But Fostair is a very safe inhaler, just keep a close record of how it works for you. ie a PEF and breakthrough symptoms diary, ie how much reliever you are using, are you getting night waking etc. It's hard to remember if you don't write it down.What you should know is that there other very safe medications and add ons, that can help if you are still getting asthma break through symptoms with the Fostair. But do try for a month, as sometimes it takes that long for a new inhaler to take hold. However of course go back to your G/P / Asthma Nurse if your asthma gets worse.

Cheers R

[twinkly29]

Inhalers wouldn't be prescribed to people with heart conditions if they weren't safe but you would need to contact your GP or heart specialist (or whoever oversees your care for that) if you want advice or reassurance specific to your health (which understandably you may do!)

A couple of things to bear in mind:

1) new steroid inhalers take about 8 weeks to become fully effective so, during the switchover, one can feel breathing symptoms are worse because the previous steroid has stopped but the new one in Fostair has yet to build up. This largely needs to just be worked through as the embedding period is needed for it to show if it's working. Additionally one can get side effects such as increased heart rate at the start while the body gets used to the new meds. However, hopefully that shouldn't be too much of an issue for you as the long-acting bronchodilator (or LABA) which causes this is the same in both Symbicort and Fostair.

2) Given your symptoms have been worse since you had covid, it might be worth asking to see a respiratory physio because most breathlessness post covid isn't worse asthma (or newly developed asthma) but breathing pattern disorders caused by having had covid - these are mechanical issues where the body breathes in a weird way which then continues and actually causes asthma-like symptoms. No amount of asthma meds will help if breathing pattern disorders (BPD) are involved but breathing exercises do, hence the need for physio.

That's not to say the Fostair is wrong, it may be really good for you. But if BPD is part of it, it other approaches are needed as well.

[Poobah]

I take Fostair and Losartan (for high BP) without any problems. I was on Ramipril but my asthma consultant took me off it because it has a tendency to provoke a cough in asthmatics. It wasn't till I stopped taking it that I noticed that I wasn't coughing as much. Having said that, Losartan isn't as efficient as Ramipril in controlling BP so I've changed my diet and having lost weight, my BP is much better.

You will have to watch your potassium levels while on Fostair (as with similar inhalers) as it can deplete potassium in some patients, which plays an important role in controlling blood pressure. Introducing potassium rich foods into your daily diet should be enough to counteract any effects from Fostair 100/6.

[DevonWolfyFox]

Hi, I take Fostair. It’s been good for me. It do get a slightly hoarse voice from time to time and crucially I gargle mouthwash after using because I had a series of very sore throats to begin with. I always drank water after taking my inhalers but even with water the fostair irritates my throat.

Breathing wise it works well but I can’t miss a dose otherwise my breathing is rubbish.

I’m sure the asthma nurse wouldn’t offer it if it weren’t suitable with your other meds.

Good luck.

[Bandstandlad in reply to DevonWolfyFox]

Thanks for that. Origianlly, years ago, I was on Becotide as my brown inhaler, then it was changed to Qvar but I always carried a Ventolin blue inhaler with me. With Qvar I didn't use the Ventolin very often, in fact not at all. Since the brush with Covid last Christmas, and it was only like a winter cold, I was put on the Symbicort inhaler which had kept me clear of breathing problems during the spring and summer. However, I never felt really happy with the Symbicort, perhaps because the turbo inhalers are slightly different to use, not sure. Anyway, I have now been prescribed the Fostair 100/6 and will see how it goes. Thanks again for your comments.

[peege in reply to Bandstandlad]

Weird isn't it that were so different. Both Symbicort and Seretide gave me a sore throat. Seretide also gave me a hoarse voice and very thin skin but on Fostair I've not looked back for last 3 years. I find it brilliant, rarely need ventolin, no sore throat, voice back to normal and a huge improvement to my skin.I suppose the only way is to try it for the 8 weeks but keeping an eye on your BP and have ventolin handy. Good luck. P

[Superzob]

If you're ever concerned about the safety and/or efficacy of a particular medication, I always referred to the British National Formulary (this is the page for Fostair: bnf.nice.org.uk/drug/beclom....

Fostair seems to be the default prescription for asthma because it's cheap, but also very effective for some people. However, I can't tolerate the aerosol in that type of inhaler, and I consequently have to use Symbicort Turbohaler; I don't know whether that was the version you previously used, but it may be that a dry powder inhaler might suit you better (although it's the reverse for other people).

I recently saw a post which suggested that Symbicort is now comparable in price to Fostair so, if the change was a money-saving exercise, then you could argue to revert to Symbicort - it would not cost your health authority much more and, after all, the whole purpose of the exercise is to treat your condition effectively! However, there are scores of alternatives and, as my GP says "asthma is big business", so I'm sure you'll be able to find a suitable inhaler if your surgery is willing to compromise a little.

[Bandstandlad in reply to Superzob]

Thanks very much for your comments, much appreciated. I will take a look at that web page. Many Thanks!