Luforbec

[tinytears67]

Hi All,

New to the forum and just wondered if anyone is having a problem after being switched from Fostair to Luforbec?

I got changed over in December and got very chesty, run down and a lot of mucus production that wouldn't shift. My peak flow dropped about 80 points. I'm not breathless but get out of breath a lot faster than I used to and wheezy and coughing at night.

At first I didn't link it to the Luforbec because I had a tooth out and got a dry socket so thought that is why I felt run down, then I caught Covid but just felt yucky for 2 or 3 days from that. For a few weeks I still blamed being run down on the tooth till I visited the GP and asthma nurse. I ended up getting a 5 day course of high dose steroids and anti-biotics and now also have to take a couple of puffs of Spiriva Respimat a day.

The steroids and anti-biotics didn't seem to be working but I found a Fostair inhaler with a couple of weeks worth left so on the last day of the meds I started back on it and by lunchtime most of my symptoms were gone. I spoke to the doctor and we did a test for a fortnight to stay on the Fostair and then I went back on Luforbec and all symptoms are now back again.

Before Luforbec I'd never had steroids or used the Spiriva inhaler and it's been a few years since I've had anti-biotics for anything. I did a bit of research of my own and found that the Luforbec contains maleic acid which isn't in any inhaler I've taken before. I'm thinking I have a sensitivity to the maleic acid.

I've got an appointment with the asthma nurse tomorrow and I am not wanting anymore Luforbec so it's either got to be Fostair or another combination that doesn't contain maleic acid.

How are you doing on Luforbec?

Thanks for reading, I know it's long.

Di

[Troilus]

I have been using Luforbec. My prescription says Fostair but the pharmacy started sending this alternative. I just could get away with it so I rang to ask if I could have a real Fostair one😀 I was told they just could get them at the moment.

So, I have persevered but no it is not the same. The casing looks the same but somehow I can’t get a good inhalation on it so must use a spacer. Even then, it wasn’t as good but like you, I thought it must be me and increased my dose as per action plan.

Then this month I was sent a real Fostair one. It is as magic as when I first got it. So, the boffins can argue as much as they want, but my experience is that their effect is not the same.

[tinytears67 in reply to Troilus]

It's an amazing difference going from Luforbec back onto Fostair, like night and day. I've got a feeling the asthma nurse is going to try and get me to increase my dosage to see if that works but I don't want to do that. I don't want to take more amount of a drug that I didn't need before and the lower amount on Fostair works better.

I reported my symptoms through the governments Yellow Card Scheme and my improvement by going back on Fostair. I don't think there are a lot of people that have been put on Luforbec reporting a decline in health to their GPs yet but I think it will happen eventually. This helps if GPs don't report the small amount of people with symptoms or if people with symptoms are scattered around the UK, it kind of brings it all together.

[Patk1 in reply to tinytears67]

Do tell yr asthma nurse what you've told us - make your wishes clear

[tinytears67 in reply to Patk1]

I did and thankfully she took it on board and put me back on Fostair. I know the NHS want to save money by giving a cheaper alternative but I think this has cost them more money by all the extra drugs they had to give me.

[Patk1 in reply to tinytears67]

I'm glad yr sorted x

[Bambillie in reply to Troilus]

Exactly the same with me they tried telling me it was the same but it's not.Your not supposed to cough as soon as you inhale because your not taking any in if you do.

[Redrose04 in reply to Bambillie]

I have had luferbec for 2 months now feel dizzy and sick and chest wheezy not sure if it is this but that is the only thing I can think of and I’m coughing so much

[Aldersey]

I have not had Luforbec but I am on Fostair and Spiriva Respimat which seems ok for me and better since I was told to add 2 puffs of Spiriva Respimat in morning to my 2 puffs of Fostair and it seems to be much better for me. I Also take 2 puffs of Fostair at night. Hope you get your medication sorted out soon.

[tinytears67 in reply to Aldersey]

Thanks, I got my medication sorted out, very easily in fact, I was expecting to have to argue my case to get the Fostair back but the asthma nurse has put it down that I have an adverse effect on the Luforbec and put my meds back to Fostair. I'll stay on the Spiriva till they review it in about 4 months to see if I still need it, summer-time by then so I probably won't. Can't wait to get my breathing back to what it was before.

[chickentikkapasty]

after being on fostair for years I was also changed onto luforbec the last couple of months and I absolutely cannot breathe it in 99% of the time it comes straight back up as a cough (as if it were a first smoke) I’ve had asthma all of my life and never had this issue in my life with any inhaler before !

[Pompompurin1 in reply to chickentikkapasty]

Hi yes!! This is happening to me too !as soon as I inhale it ,I’m coughing it back out again! Definitely something different with the make up of it , going to contact doc and ask to be changed back over to fostair

[tinytears67 in reply to Pompompurin1]

I think everyone that has a problem with the Luforbec needs to fill in the MHRA yellow card scheme form, just search for it and it'll come up. I'm pretty sure the docs aren't.

[revcathfrog in reply to Pompompurin1]

This is happening to me. Coughing so having to take extra. There is a slight difference to what is made of. Thankfully I have some forstair left, so gone back to that this morning after reading the comments on the forum.

[SNW11 in reply to chickentikkapasty]

That is exactly what has happened to me from the first day that I was switched from Fostair to Luforbec and while using a spacer. After 20+ years of using inhalers, this is the first time that I have had a problem. I was sure that none of the medication was actually going in and stopped using it. Unfortunately my GP doesn't seem to listen when I say that this may be causing my current wheezing and breathlessness problems.

[revcathfrog]

Just out of interest those of you having problems are you asthmatic or do you have bronchiectasis?

[SGguitargirl]

So far not good! I think there may be something in it that's no good for me. I am going back to Fostair for comparison.

[SGguitargirl]

So far not good! I think there may be something in it that's no good for me. I am going back to Fostair for comparison.