Blocked inhaler

[INeedAUsername]

Ho there,

Despite regular cleaning with cotton buds as per instructions, my brown inhaler is blocked and won’t clear - nothing coming out. It’s one of the ones with a dose counter, so can’t flush through with running water like my blue one. Any ideas how to avoid this?

Thanks!

[peege]

Ah, I've only heard about Fostair doing this. Also having a counter they would regularly give up the ghost around the 78 mark. I too did the cleaning with a twist of a damp cotton bud, sometimes it worked sometimes it didn't. Very annoying if your gp is strict about prescription dates. I think there were many complaints because it no longer happens. I must have had to recycle at least 10 with over 70 inhalations left, I complained to the pharmacist but he didn't give a toss. There were several members complaining about it over on AsthmalungUK forum. You could try contacting the manufacturers of your brown inhaler, ask for some firm of confirmation that it's happening so you can get an extra one prescribed by the gp. That's all I can think of im afraid. P

[peege]

Just wondering, I only ever cleaned the inverted nipple of the pink Fostair container where the medication comes out. I dont think I ever tried cleaning the actual aerosol nozzle.

[ReedB]

Sometimes I can get my fostair to unblock by using a pin/needle.

[Troilus]

Try giving it a bang. I sometimes hit it nozzle down and it does the trick

[Free2Breathe]

I use Clenil, from Chiesi, and it ALWAYS stops working properly around the half way mark. I wrote to Chiesi but they were more interested in my asthma management than the mechanics of their MDI. I have had moderate success running it through warm water but it only seems to help once per inhaler. I will certainly try giving it a bang! Otherwise, any other suggestions?

[TalkieToaster]

I've had this problem with every Fostair inhaler I've had, they're rubbish. What I've been doing for years is putting the Fostair cannister in an old Ventolin inhaler body, I get a good dose and it never blocks .