Anyone else had problems with Salamol CFC-Free MDI Inhaler 100mcg

[Alw75]

I was given this in place of ventolin. From the start, it seemed like a ventolin inhalor when it's blocked (slow and sluggish to spray) two weeks in and hardly used it just stopped working at all. My doctors surgery have said ventolin is no longer available on the nhs and have now prescribed me airomir. I'm hoping this is better, but I'm really worried that it will also be unreliable

[peege]

That's a worry, I've used a lot of ventolin over the past month. I've still got some although I've got the Salamol & not needed to open it yet. Fingers crossed

[Homely2 Administrator]

I use the salamol cfc free. It is the only preventer that I have had, so I cannot compare it.

One hour ago it stopped a really sudden nasty asthma attack I was having, so I am rather keen on it.

I have had one inhaler of it that just stopped working, so I always make sure that I have two of them available, in use. With a full unopened one in reserve.

I also find that I need quite a lot of it to sort out an attack, so would like it to be a bit more powerful. Basically a bad attack needs ten puffs to hold it, and if I do not do it quickly I will lose control and get carted off to hospital.

So I get your comments.

Good luck with the replacement and try to get two inhalers of it, just in case.

[eleanordigby]

It’s all part of the drive to make sick people responsible for reducing carbon emissions, whilst our leaders and “celebrities” flit about in private planes. I know “eco” inhalers are better, but ime salamol is nothing like as good as Ventolin. I know it’s the same drug but it must contain different additives. My gp is continuing to prescribe ventolin for me, thank goodness. For now, anyway.

[TheWelshWriter in reply to eleanordigby]

I'm all for trying to reduce carbon footprint where feasible, however I hope that the eco inhalers being prescribed are not to the detriment of asthma patients as we have enough problems as it is.

[eleanordigby in reply to TheWelshWriter]

Exactly! Sadly, it’s only fellow asthmatics who get it.

[kallimera in reply to eleanordigby]

Ventolin Evohaler is also CFC free yet my Dr changed it to Salamol without telling me and pharmacist told me it was to "save the environment!" Would they rather save the planet than save patients? Salamol leaves a vile taste in the mouth no matter what you eat or drink afterwards and is NOT effective with me. Takes 4X as long to work as my old Ventolin.. this is purely a cost-saving exercise by NHS but who actually implemented this change? Is it NHS, government or GP's themselves. Does anyone know. It needs to be investigated.

[Melmack]

Totally agree with the comments made but my GP's practice only allow one inhaler per month and the thought of running out makes me rather edgy .

[Birthday60]

I was given the same a few years ago and reported nausea and other side effects and was returned to salbutamol ventolin CFC free

[Gareth57]

I use the ventolin dp inhaler, which is still on my repeat list and not changed to anything else. I think they are trying to cut costs but if you say you want ventolin and say the substitute is not working for you you should get it.

[TheWelshWriter]

Sorry that you have had a negative experience. I've had this rescue inhaler for nearly a year and have not experienced problems with it. That said, I've not had a full blown asthma attack during the past year but it helps with milder ones for me. We humans are all so unique that it makes sense we would need different medications. Good luck!

[Hidden]

I would ask for the dry powder salbutamol easyhaler. I never found the salamol inhaler any good.

[Christ0706]

I’ve always had ventolin since I was a child I’m 45 now and my GP tried to change me to the cheaper version and I totally refused as I when I was in hospital I had the salamol version and it was absolutely rubbish, I had to explain why I would not try it, and told my GP the reason it hardly works it blocks constantly but I think it’s down to cost aswell as I had ventolin nebs for home and had these for a long time as I use a neb at home and they have been changed to the generic versions, personally I would speak to your GP and say I want to stay on ventolin and tell them the benefit you have with ventolin

[Thomas45]

I've never had any problem with Salamol which I've used for many years. Mine have never "blocked", but if it had I would have cleaned it.It's acknowledged that if you need your blue inhaler more than twice a week, then your asthma is not controlled, and you need a medication review.

[Alw75 in reply to Thomas45]

My ventolin inhalers do block from time to time but this tends to slow down the distribution of medication, this just suddenly stopped working completely. Luckily I wad at home and still had a ventolin inhalor that I could use but the concern is if I had been out and needed it, I would have had no reliever. I have filled out a yellow card report and they say they are going to investigate the issue (we'll see I guess if that actually happens) hopefully it was just a faulty one but that's never happened to me before in 35 years.

[CDPO16]

Salamol doesn't work for me and my GP who has asthma agrees. As a result I get ventolin provided by my pharmacy at the request of this GP.

[Poobah]

The MDI version of Ventolin apparently has twice the carbon footprint of the Salamol CFC free inhaler and both contain the same amount of medication in each dose. There's definitely a push towards these low carbon footprint inhalers BUT as the salamol uses less propellant gas, the delivery will be compromised (slow and sluggish).

The Salamol requires weekly cleaning as it does clog up and can stop working, according to complaints in the first year after it was launched. But if your inhaler still doesn't work after cleaning, then take it back to the pharmacy and raise a yellow card report.

It's also possible that delivery can be improved by using a Volumatic spacer with Salamol.

But if you want to stick with Ventolin then you could ask your GP for the dry powder version, but it is self propelled delivery and technique is everything in order get a lung full of medication.

[Alw75]

I'll give the airomir a go, but if that's no good, I think I'll make a complaint to the surgery as when I was first given the salamol the receptionist did say some people don't get on with it and if that happens I can request ventolin but when I did I wad told its no longer available. Thanks to your helpful reply I can see that, it is possible to stay on ventolin so I'm not going to take no for an answer as we shouldn't be put at risk while the pollution that causes so many people to develop asthma just continues

[Shirleyj]

I'm not keen on the new salamol, but when it stops it probably needs a wash. It blocks up quite a lot. I keep an old salamol so I can swap it over if is gets blocked.

[elanaoali]

I have new salamol and have not yet used it as I still have Ventolin to use up. I have used salamol in the past when I was given it in A &E when I was having an asthma attack. I had a funny taste but it worked fine for me. I am all for inhalers who are last damaging to the environment.

[Patk1]

They do get blocked.a quick wash and airdry always sorts mine.i usually keep a spare blue casing to swap over to

[Wheezycat]

I have also recently tried to get used to Salamol. In wintertime a big reason for using salbutamol is being affected by the cold on walks. Unfortunately the sluggish response has meant I have become much more worried about going for walks this time of year, and that is in spite of dressing warm, wrapping scarves and all that. Luckily I still have a ventolin with doses left, so I have returned to that for now. I must check our the other alternatives people have mentioned above.

[Jal12 in reply to Wheezycat]

I've been on salamol for a long time yes it does stop even when you clean them I've only one but I have to ask for another one but my doctor will not give me another one they say it should last a month yes it should but it stops working I've been out with it it just stops after a week why the hell do they stop I've had to buy another before today so I can use one not good salomol when it stops working

[Pilgrimoldboys]

Hi, and from my previous posting I too was taken off ventolin after many years and put on salamol , experienced the same as yourself , very weak dose, continually blocking up no ‘oomph’ in it at all. It took a serious chest and lung infection after a bout of covid earlier this year to go to a walk in clinic and was prescribed ventolin again and a major recovery was the result . Over the last two years I have gone through three Salamol inhalers whereby one ventolin was sufficient !! Hope you get yourself sorted soon in this area.

Would like to hear from ex Pilgrim School , Seaford people from the early sixties to see how they are getting on .