my fostair prescriptions have never been a problem before. However, yesterday I found out that my latest request is approved, but on hold until the 8 February. Seems I can now only have them every 30 days.
120/4 does equal 30. However, as is often discussed here, the dosage is affected as the inhaler runs low. I usually switch to a new inhaler when the count is usually around 18.
If they’ll only give me an inhaler every 30 days I have a problem?
What to do next? Has anyone tried discussing this with their GP?
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Ts777
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Yes. I had the same when I first started. I spoke to the receptionist and explained that there was a risk that I would run out. Delay in prescription being issued, delay at pharmacy, chance of renewal being a Friday etc. They then changed it but it has never been on open request.
I am lucky, I have fostair and all my asthma drugs on open request with little control on usage. Apart from pred which they guard like a family jewel.
My gp practice has outsourced the authorisation of repeat prescriptions. The effect is to put a delay of up to two weeks in getting the prescription.
To get around the inevitable outcry, they seem happy that you stockpile, as you can order 7 days after the last prescription was authorised. I have never had an order refused or delayed.
They even gave me extra salamol at Christmas, when I did not request it.
My gp system of basically leaving the asthmatics to it, has its advantages, but is very scary when your asthma goes out of control, and reception just say ring 111 or 999. I dislike being carted to hospital when it can be avoided.
So I do not know, is it better with a gp practice that actually, however irritatingly, tries to manage your asthma and the drugs, or to be a bit more deserted to do what you want.
I suppose the worst would to be deserted by the gp practice but have your ability to order restricted.
My GP practise has always been very good. I can count on them to see me if I need them. My local hospital also has been there for me when my asthma got really at one point. I do not like going to A&E especially when the wait can be very long.
I keep a rescue pack at home for helping me recover from an asthma attack. I have no problem getting it replaced when I use a course up.
I have never heard that about inhalers (running low as the dosage counter reduces). I use fostair 200/6 It lasts me 30 days. I have never had any issues with it not being effective however much is left.
I have had this problem too - my local pharmacist told me that the CCG has labelled this as a restricted item and that means only one a month can be dispensed. If I try to order one too far in advance it is held back too. I do worry that I never have a spare..
I’ve had the same issue with Fostair 100/6 sometimes feeling like it has run out before it has run out on the counter. I took the inhaler into the GP surgery (as they dispense the meds) the first time it happened to explain - they didn’t seem surprised and dispensed the next one early. Since then if I request one a few days earlier they haven’t queried it.
Fostair certainly often feels less effective when you start getting below 20 or so actuations. I have taken to giving it a bang before I use it each time when this happens and this seems to have a good effect... may all be in my mind of course.
yup- I am on the mart regime and need the maximum of doses which does not last 30 days- it’s a real pain but I have to phone the surgery every time I need a repeat and they issue it, without checking anything with me. I explain every time and ask for it to be changed but the message doesn’t seem to get through. 🙄
I am assuming everyone has the pump style gas actuated inhaler, I use the dry powder inhaler and never notice any dosage difference, which is good as my gp practice has clamped down on availability of repeats
Until recently many of my prescribed Fostair inhalers would cease to work when approximatey seventy/eighty inhalations were left on the counter. Sometimes by cleaning the outlet nozzle with a damp cotton bud I could get them working again 50% of the time , I cannot imagine the trouble I'd be in if my surgery opted for a strict dated regime as yours has. As I take fewer inhalations during summer months I've managed to build a small stockpile over the years thank goodness.
Fortunately a respiratory nurse changed my prescription to receiving 2 x 28 days worth at once saving 6 trips per year to collect my meds from the nearby chemist and I'm in the habit of requesting the prescription a few days early. Since Brexit I've been anxious about any problems the NHS may have in supplies of imported medications.
I hope you get something sorted Ts777, it seems ridiculously counter productive to ration your fostair in this way.
Even without the inhalers running out when they get to (for me) 20 left, there isn’t enough tin there for 30 days.
Why? They usually come with 120 or 121 actuations. 30 x 4 is 120…. However, if you look at the instructions you’ll see that when you open a new one you should do some actuations to get the thing started. I’ve been taught to do 4. This means there’s only 116 or 117 to see me through the month. That’s just 29 days 🤔🤔
I'm on Fostair 200/6 dry powder inhaler and I get every last dose every time, so it lasts 30 days. I even got an extra prescription over Christmas as I had a chest infection and had increased my daily dose in order to avoid Prednisolone (didn't work), but nurse practitioner insisted I continued with increased Fostair, so I got an extra prescription without question and no delay on my next request.
Having Googled "my inhaler has stopped working", 2 issues are big hits for MDIs.
1) the MDI has to be cleaned as instructed every week.
2) If the inhaler isn't shaken properly before every use, the propellant and drug isn't mixed and can affect delivery over the life of the inhaler. Shake for at least 5 seconds otherwise the mix isn't right.
What it doesn't say is, it's the propellant that runs out if inhaler isn't shaken sufficiently or it's the drug that runs out too quickly.
You could ask to try a dry powder version of Fostair, the inhaler technique is different, but there's no shaking or cleaning involved as the device cannot be dismantled.
I'd speak to your GP to see if you can bring it forward a little. What happens if you are ill and can't get to the chemist to collect it, or if you have to go away, or if they are closed or...
I'm on Relvar ellipta and I usually get my next one about 10 days before the old one runs out. But last month there was a problem with the system and my prescription got 'lost' in the ether - I used up the last dose of the old one in the morning and got a call at 3pm to say the next one had arrived at the chemist. It was really stressful not knowing if I was going to be able to get hold of the new inhaler in time. I wouldn't want to be facing that worry every month!
My practice issues 2 inhalers every prescription, they have done this for a few years now, put a request in to ask if you can have 2 inhalers, you will only pay one prescription fee for the 2
I spoke to my GP this morning. He thought there was enough in a forstair inhaler. Then realised it needed priming… this takes it for 30 days to 29.
I then told him that the inhalers don’t give a full dose as they run out etc. I said they give 25 days at most. He solved it all by giving me an extra inhaler. Not sure that solves my problem though.
If it really does become an issue, I’ll switch to the dry powder version 😱
I think this is what I’ll end up doing. An admin lady called me. The number of days between prescriptions is now 28 but they don’t seem to believe that the inhalers give reduced doses as they run short.
The solution is that I put a message on prescription requests, to say my inhaler has run out early. I think there will be problems here!!!
Apparently, I’m late on my asthma checkup. She wanted to book me an appt for that. That wound me up!!! How does is a single blow into a peak flow meter sort this out? I may well go for one to ask for the dry powder version 🙃🙄🥱
Glad you were able to speak to your doctor. I'm fortunate and have a couple of inhalers in hand so don't worry if I have to change before the end of one.
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