hi I’m not sure if anyone or even an asthma nurse on here can help me. I have had asthma since childhood and it was not until the age of 19 I was put on monteluask tablets that I was controlled. Back in 2017 I had what I thought was a chest infection and for the next 2 yrs has breathing / no air constant thick green phelgm , i found out after a trainee doctor finally tested my phelgm I had hi infection and it took many many months to to get rid of this and seemed to be prone to chest infections and lung bacteria after this . Needless to say. Had a high usage of vetolin during this time as often felt like I had no air feeling. I for the last 2 yrs been on azrimycin one tablet every 72 hours , a yr ago my doctors literally stopped mr ordering any ventolin in haler refusing to renew my prescription before I went on holiday . The respatrary nurse wrote to the doctors asking can they give me this back on prescription ( luckily I got one inbetween from a family member inbetween times ) . They have since let me order an inhaler in July but have not it back on repeat percription tho , I am half the time not taking any too frightenened if it runs out sooner than they expect it to last . At present I’m waking up with odd wheeze ( think because cold air in the night ) but holding off taking inhaler ( luckily the flutiform I take kicks in and wheeze goes ) so can anyone tell me how long doctors expect an inhaler to last ? Thank you
how long do doctors expect your asthm... - Asthma Community ...
how long do doctors expect your asthma inhalers to last ? sabutamol Or ventolin inhalers ??
My doctors expect my salamol to last a month, which is rather generous. Mine actually lasts more like 2 months.
So I would ring up and ask for another prescription, and if they do not give it, arrange for a GP appointment.
For the longer term I would ask for a formal medicine review and an updated asthma plan. This should help you make your case and discuss how much ventolin is reasonable to use, and generally check your medicines.
The asthma UK helpline at 0300 2225800
Is good at advising on handling the NHS bureaucracy, as well as discussing your medicines.
The NHS website states that if you need to use your blue inhaler more than three times a week, it's normally an indication that your asthma is uncontrolled, and needs further investigation.What strength of Flutiform do you use?
My GP surgery allows me to have Salamol every 28 days, but I only request it 2 or 3 times a year, usually when I've mislaid the one that should stay in my coat pocket. Then when I have the new inhaler, I find the "missing" one and use that until it's empty.
I use a different preventer (DuoResp Spiromax 320/9). It's a dry powder inhaler. I've been treated for asthma for 48 years, starting with it when I was aged 30. I hope you have a Healthy and Happy 2024.
My GP surgery has been fairly laid back about issuing Ventolin most of the time (although I did have a panic two months ago when they cut it completely with no warning and it took several days and lots of stress to get it reissued!), but I only get through about three a year. The advise is that if you are using it more than 2-3 times a week, then your asthma is not well controlled and you need to have a review, so I guess your surgery is working on the basis that if your asthma is well controlled, you shouldn't need more than two or three a year. But it's daft taking it away just like that. As well as very dangerous! Something that keeps you breathing in an emergency is hardly 'optional'!
I'd suggest asking for a medication review with the asthma nurse (usually find they are more help than the GP anyway) and see if there is any more you can do to reduce your need of Ventolin, but also, what they feel is a reasonable amount of Ventolin for you to be taking and why. But first, I'd ring the Asthma UK helpline - they are great at giving you the right questions to ask/right phrases to use, so that you get the best possible result out of your appointment.
Hi I think my problem has been the surgery pharmacist keeps making himself busy ( stopped my monteluask a few yrs ago right before Christmas saying how did I eveh know I had asthma if I have not had a lung funtion test . ( had enough doctors / hospital trips , predislone courses my whole life to know grr. Then with the lung bacteria undiagnosed for 2 yrs 2017-2019 ( kept picking up lung bacteria snd chest infections after they finally bothered to check my muscus. That’s why had the high usage of ventolin. But again was pharmacist who looked at my notes decided to stop me having it . The respatary nurse from hospital asked them to give it back to me but I’m scared to use it incase they stop it again 
.
My asthma nurse said that they would never change my asthma meds while I was still seeing the hospital respiratory team regularly. This pharmacist sounds as though they're over stepping the mark. Talk with your hospital team or asthma nurse and get your records noted that the pharmacist cannot change your medication in the future as they're not an asthma specialist. If necessary, make a formal complaint with the surgery.
I used to be a regular Ventolin user but after my curren asthma nurse took me in hand, I'm now on less than 2 Ventolin inhalers (60 doses per inhaler) a year. She's achieved far more than some of the consultants.
hi resp nurse has just signed me off in October so not under her now. It’s was her who got me the Ventolin back but she wrote a letter asking them but honestly don’t think she would have got that involved told her they stopped it and had done the same with my monteluask previously. ( bearing in mind I was trying to figure out why I had no air feeling and struggling with thick phelgm constantly ) pharmacist at that point said how did I know i even had asthma and stopped monteluask in december right before Xmas my script I put it for over Xmas that yr. I rung asked to speak to doctor and I was very upset he laughed at me told me to calm down basically and gave me them telling me to make an appointment with asthma nurse after Xmas , jokers
It would definitely help if you spoke to one of the Asthma UK nurses to figure out a way forward, given the arrangements at your GP surgery that means your asthma meds are withdrawn without proper investigations. It shouldn't be down to a pharmacist to withdraw vital treatment.
The Asthma UK helpline in available Mon to Fri, 9 to 5, on 00300 222 5800.
think Im going to try to speak to the (new practice manager and ask her to ask and see if i can sort it ) I have only ordered one inhaler since july but like i say no one has told me how long they expect it to last me). Also another reason I am wary taking it further is on my local fb site someone said you complain to anyone that strike you off . As much as i don't rate my doctors I struggle to get to it let alone having to go further away.
I have never heard of a pharmacist at a GP's surgery. It sounds to me like the tail wagging the dog, if the pharmacist is overriding the GP's prescription.
I guess there are thousands of people on unnecessary medication, which tends to be prescribed and then forgotten about. I would hope the pharmacist had discussed the matter with the surgery and had some kind of authority from the GP to question whether medication is unnecessary.
What I find difficult is the sheer extent of the different asthma medications that individuals with asthma are on. I have had asthma for nearly 60 years, but my experience of different meds is limited to those I have been prescribed.
The nurses on the asthma community health line are really excellent. It's worth having a chat with them.
It is heard enough living with asthma and trying to understand the causes. But it gets even harder when this is combined with chest infections. Last year I was struggling with a combination of bad asthma and repeated chest infections.
Eventually I was referred to a chest consultant. He organised a lung function test referred me to a regional asthma centre. At the regional centre I was prescribed an asthma medication that was new to me and has made a difference.
Have you seen a chest consultant ? It's worth pushing for. Ultimately a lot of this is about the training of GPs.
My Medical centre is run by a larger group of GPs who manage several medical centres, employ pharmacists When last year I had a very bad reaction to stale tobacco smoke on a friend's clothing, it was a pharmacist attached to the group of medical centres who contacted me with helpful advice.
That's good to hear.
Hi I saw a consultant at resp clinic who checked to see it I had a low imunine system ( it was borderline ) but he didn’t think it was why I kept getting the infections. I’ve been having regular video consultations with resp nurse from hospital but honestly found her as helpful as a chocolate teapot lol. Sent jr for lung funtion test while I was on predislone steroids ( which she knew ) then said the lung funtion test wouldn’t be accurate because of this why send me for it then. Wanted to send me for qjnxray to check my chest to see if it was clear at that time . ( I told her ih the 2 yrs I had the lung bacteria it had never shown up in the X-ray . She wrote down I refused the X-ray . ( bearing in mind I actually had no symptoms at that time I spoke to her ) so felt as tho she was just sending me for things to say she was doing something . All in all think it’s rubbish where I live. Honestly I never even see the same doctor twice at my surgery it is a training surgery and even my asthma chest the pharmacist told me he could do over the phone.
What did you think of the consultant and the consultant's team ?
Hi Polly. My salbutomol is on open request. There have been times when I have ordered two a month. I also have Fostair 200/6 on open request.
I would book a review with your asthma nurse to optimise your normal daily meds and at the same time ask if you can have your rescue medication on open request until you regain control.
Hi we don’t have an asthma nurse as such . I’ve had the in-house pharmacist do my asthma review in past but because I was under hospital for resp nurse those have counted as my review. Resp nurse wrote to doctors telling them to give me my ventolin back but I emailed in saying I received the letter they did could they now please let me have my inhaler they issued one inhaler ( just have no idea how long they expect one to last me so using it sparingly even tho with cold air effecting me ih night I feel I could use some ,
Hi Polly. I also attend the respiratory clinic at hospital. In the past when I have had difficulty I have rung them up. The last time it was because I couldn’t do the mart system as my GP would not give me the Fostair. They emailed my surgery and the Fostair went on open prescription.
Maybe you could try that?
I can't say I have ever had any problems getting my sabutamol. I always have one in use and a spare. I also have sabutamol for my nebuliser. I can understand how stressful it must be to feel you need to ration the use of it.Hopefully you csn get this sorted out .
Hi, I think I'd be changing my GP surgery. It's outrageous that a pharmacist can stop your ventolin. Please give the helpline a ring they re-open tomorrow at 09.15, 0300 222 5800. They will give you guidance on how to deal with the practice. Having regular green sputum needs assessing especially if you've had the HI bacteria, it can come back. If they're not treating this how on earth can they expect you to survive without ventolin
Are you still on the Azithromycin?
My surgery are reluctant to allow me ventolin ( the replacement is Salamol now) but luckily my asthma is quite well controlled with Fostair which is licensed to use like ventolin, ie like a rescue inhaler . It's called a MART inhaler so you can use more or less as needs alter (and it has a counter so you know when it'srunning out). I order about 4 per year mainly to prevent them taking it off my prescription.
A good session with the respiratory nurse is needed - or that decent GP who got your sputum tested . Since being on it I only need the rescue inhaler during an exacerbation or infection. My asthma also has a propensity to infection, any & every viral cold or cough turns into a bacterial infection once any mucus lingers in my lungs. I take copious vitamins to boost my immune system.
Do call the helpline tomorrow, good luck
Hi sadly my doctors is a training surgery and literally isn’t many per ment doctors there. The doctor who finally picked up on u symptom was disgusted that it took 2 yrs and him to finally test my mucus. The doctor before that visit actually said the next step was copd drug ( even tho I didn’t have copd) . I tried for 6 months to speak to practice manager who finally took my call , totally placed dumb hadn’t received any of my messages and laughed it off . Told me would look into it never called back ever . It took like 6 months to finally be clear or hi and then was prone to infections after . During covid times it’s was guess the infection as they wasn’t seeing patients face to face and only then did they refere me to resp clinic thinking maybe I had bronchiectasis ( I haven’t ) . My surgery literally is linked with 3 others nearby locally so still same surgery. I don’t drive and have to get taxi to doctor’s appointments due to my osteoarthritis. So sadly I can’t afford to be paying even more going even further away for doctors. They way it’s going the older I get I’m just getting more and more health problems too. Thank you for your reply and happy new year 
my doctors used to let me have as much as I wanted but then suddenly reduced my prescription to 3 per year. It says on the label , use up to 8 puffs a day which would use up 1 inhaler in under 2 months.
The asthma nurse said they would never limit the amount prescribed as it’s dangerous. Yet that is what’s happened. Both she and I have tried to get the prescription changed but so far without success.
Like you I was able to use a relative’s inhaler for the time being. I think you should be able to use the inhaler as much as you need, although I take the point about it indicating that your asthma is not properly controlled.
I hope you succeed on getting your prescription changed.
Hi yes honestly think it’s about costs now , same as you they never limited me before . Just looked at my box it says 2 puffs as required. Honestly don’t think they was giving it back to me only did because hospital resp nurse sent them a letter. But they next Warned me I was using to much /spoke to me literally I telephoned for something to speak to doctor ( I thought was a doctor calling me back ) was the pharmacist I told him I was going away and didn’t think was much left in my inhaler he refused to give me one and took my repeats off grr. Honestly holding back taking it / have no idea how long they expect my inhalers to last . Thanks for your reply happy new year
Do you know you can buy an extra Ventolin at Superdrug online, it's useful in an emergency or if you need an extra, they deliver quickly. I hope you can get your asthma better controlled. Happy New Year.
Hi thanks for that info, I shouldn’t have to tho eh . I pay over £100 for my yrly prescription fee for my meds . My asthma is controlled now I’ve finally stopped the chest infections with the antibototic tablet every 72 hours , but just think where it’s cold not putting heating on (cos of costs ) so think the cold air in the night making me little wheezy some mornings atm . Happy new year to you too
That’s useful information, I didn’t know that. Thanks.
ahh glad could help defo helps when you are on multiple medications this is it nhs.uk/nhs-services/prescri...
Yr drs sound unrealistically strict.u need a review x
it’s the in-house pharmacist who keeps looking into my notes and has stopped my monteluask a few yrs ago ( questioned did I even have asthma ) then a yr ago took ventolin off my repeats and refused to give me an inhaler wheh I said I was going away on holiday needed it, same person I had to speak to to say respatary nurse wrote to them asking to give me ventolin back and they gave me one but still haven’t put it back on repeats :-/.
Technically 28 days (1 per month), but my gp also isn't fussy as long as I'm not ordering more than one every 2 weeks they just approve it
Thanks for the reply , Wow the most I’ve ever orders is 4 a year ( wheh I was getting constant chest infections and lung bacteria sbd my doctors refused to give me anymore go figure
The thing is for *most* the blue/salbutamol inhaler should be a "rescue " used infrequently and frequent use is seen as a need for further attention (asthma UK has some research that shows using it more than a few times a week shows your asthma is uncontrolled and your quite a bit more likely to have an exacerbation)
So your GP is probably trying to look out for you and has an automated system or policy that flags/rejects prescriptions being re-ordered too often and the aim of not putting it back on repeat is to force you to go see them .... so it can be discussed and medication can be reviewed.
But 4 a year doesn't seem lot to me (but I have shares in boots the amount of stuff I order every month)
Sadly I honestly think it’s more about the cost than them being concerned. ( bearing in mind I had the chest infections / lung bacteria infections untreated for 2 yrs because they didn’t look into It properly. Then evev when the trainee doctor realized and checked my mucus I was then prone to the infections . Now I’m on the antibotics tablet every 72 hours I’m not using ventolin no where near like I was but I just thought would ask oh here as I have no idea how long they expect one to last. I hear you on shares in boots , I do the prepaid percription thing as I’m on 7 different meds myself . So reading most people’s replies even at my highest usage doesn’t seem that high considering all I had going on. So must be my surgery dont want me using it because of the cost of them.
There not that expensive though at one point (now stopped) you could go to most pharmacies and buy 2 ventolin inhalers (subject to a small consultation with the pharmacist) for £7
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