Having issues with relvar ellipta

[invisiblei]

I started taking relvar ellipta 92/22 5 days ago. The first day I felt great and had no side effects or breathing issues. When I took my second dose the next day I didn't feel like the medication got to my lungs. My tongue was coated with the powder. This has been getting worse each day of taking it. This morning my mouth was so full of powder I don't think any of it got to my lungs and I was needing ventolin by 3pm. I followed the inhaler tutorial video exactly from day 1 so I don't know what I'm doing wrong. I have a really sore throat (even though I'm rinsing/gargling), headache, anxiety and I feel like my breathing is getting worse. I'm not sure what to do.

[Patk1]

I'm not on that.perhaps request an appointment with respiratory nurse at gp surgery

[Mandevilla]

Can you get an appointment with the asthma nurse to get some help in using it? I have occasionally had a day when I feel like I don't breath in properly and I'm conscious of some of it in my mouth, but it's usually when I've been rushed and haven't really focussed on what I'm doing. If it is happening every day, then it sounds as if maybe your technique isn't quite right, so trying it in front of the nurse might help.

[invisiblei in reply to Mandevilla]

I'll give my GP surgery a call today. It's so frustrating because the first day I was like wow. I could breathe all day long and I didn't get any powder in my mouth. I don't know what I did differently. Now I'm wondering if that was a mixture of leftover clenil in my system along with the relvar making my breathing better.The tutorials on youtube are inconsistent. Some tilt their head upwards, some tilt their head slightly down. Some do a fast breath in, some do a slow steady breath in. I've been following the A+LUK video and still having issues.

[Mandevilla in reply to invisiblei]

If it helps, I stand upright to do mine with my head level or slightly tilted up. I breath in as fast as is consistent with a strong, steady, deep breath if that makes sense (I could do a faster 'gaspy' sort of breath, but this is as fast as I can breath whilst also breathing really deeply.) Once I've breathed in, I tend to sit down as I sometimes get dizzy by the time I let the air back out again! When I do it like this, I get little or no powder in my mouth. When I have a lot, it's usually because I've either had my head downwards or I've not breathed in deeply and steadily enough - usually when I've got blasé about taking it and am rushing!

[invisiblei in reply to Mandevilla]

That really helps! Thank you so much. I tried Tiggertheterrier 's tips below this morning and I had less powder in my mouth. So far it feels like a better day. I really want to make sure I've given this inhaler a good try because I don't know what else I can do. I've got lung function tests next week so I'm hoping that will uncover something. I've never actually been properly tested for asthma.

[Tiggertheterrier]

Hi invisible, I had similar issues when I switched to Relvar a few years ago. I found it helped if I stood, leaning against the kitchen sink to steady myself, then breathing out as far as a possibly could, until I felt I couldn't squeeze anymore out of my lungs! But do it slowly and steadily, this helps to dry the inside of your mouth too! Then open the Relvar, seal your lips round the opening, tilt your chin up slightly and take that quick and deep whoosh in as far as you can, hold your breath for 5 seconds or a bit longer if you can, then breath out gently. If you feel dizzy, that's not unusual, but you will be leaning on something! Wipe and close the Relvar and have a good gargle with slightly warm salty water and spit out - repeat the gargling about 3 times. Give yourself 2 to 3 weeks to get used to it, sometimes a new inhaler takes a couple of months to "settle down" with your lungs. It might just be that dry powder inhalers don't suit you. Hope thar helps.

[invisiblei in reply to Tiggertheterrier]

Thank you for the advice. I'll give that a go today 🤞🏼

Update: followed your instructions and there was less powder in my mouth. Hopefully it will work better today 🙏🏼

[Jollygood]

hi

I’m on relvar & it has really helped me. I do the long breath in & hold technique. I’ve never rinsed afterwards. As said above it can take a few weeks for a new inhaler to take effect. Good luck.

[crille]

Hi, Maybe the Relvar was faulty. I have been on Relvar for a number of years without any problems. Are you using it correctly? Not putting your fingers over the air inlet? I hardly ever feel the powder in my mouth.