Ventolin Accuhaler

[Pipsqueak77]

Hello All

Hope everyone is ok… just have a quick question. 😊

Is there anyone who is prescribed a Ventolin Accuhaler by their GP please(NHS)?

I am trying to move away from Salamol as a reliever and was really hoping to try a dpi inhaler instead. I suggested the Accuhaler to my GP but apparently it is not available anymore!?

I am just wondering if this is true or if it’s another story to save the NHS money? I would be prepared to buy my own if necessary…

Thanks for any feedback 😊👍

[_Badger_]

There's a chance it could be a manufacturing supply issue. There have been several drugs over the last year that I've not been able to get because supply issues. My salbutamol easyhaler DPI and Seretide were amongst them. The seretide they said I'd just have to wait but the reliever they had to give me a double strength version to cover me until it was available. May be similar issue for the Accuhaler.

[teddyd]

I have used Ventolin Accuhaler for years . To date I have never had any issues with supply. I would speak to your local pharmacist they can advise if there is a supply issues.

[Gareth57]

I am still getting the Accuhaler but have had several comments about it being very expensive, so perhaps your local health trust has decided to remove it from their list of prescribed medications, which is a bit short sighted when they want to get away from using the little gas canisters.

[Fonzytoo]

I have been and still use an Accuhaler on repeat prescription for many years now and I still get them . I prefer not to have pressurised delivery of meds hence the Accuhaler

[Poobah]

I'm prescribed Ventolin Accuhaler 200mcg and have only just picked one up from the pharmacy. There's only 60 doses per Accuhaler and it's made by GSK. Even if they did stop the Accuhaler, GSK would just bring out a different design of Ventolin DPI. I've been on various designs of Ventolin DPI for over 40 years.

[Gareth57 in reply to Poobah]

It's only 60 doses but they are double strength so the equivalent of a 120 dose pump.

[Poobah in reply to Gareth57]

My previous blister disc haler was 400mcg, so for me, the Accuhaler is half the strength. My GP just advised to double up inhalations, but I took the opportunity to stick to one inhalation and then decrease my use of it. Old practices that encouraged use of Ventolin before taking one's preventer inhaler were difficult to break. Of all the designs, I prefer the blister disks - I could get really good breath in. No doubt the Accuhaler will be replaced in time, probably as the patent runs out.

[Gareth57 in reply to Poobah]

Yes my now retired asthmatic doctor told me how safe Ventolin was and I could use as much as I liked. How things change 🤷🏻‍♂️

[Poobah in reply to Gareth57]

I took part in a trial back in the 80's and had to take my Ventolin before each dose of inhaled steroid, and plot my before and after peak flow. The results convinced the local respiratory research team to keep patients on the regime. As you say, how times have changed!

[Pipsqueak77]

Hi All

Many thanks for all your comments. Much appreciated! 😊 and noted.

It is interesting to see that it is still available, so I am pleased about that. I will speak to the pharmacist to see what they say.

As Gareth57 says - I find it really surprising that in this age of pushing to be rid of MDI aerosol inhalers there is virtually no option for alternative reliever dpi’s!

I think you are also correct about cost too..

Thanks all again for your replies!

😊👍

[_Badger_ in reply to Pipsqueak77]

Is the drug salbutamol sulfate? You could always ask about "Easyhaler" as a different DPI alternative.

Ignore the 1 not 2, they gave me a double strength but it looks identical

Back of reliever inhaler

[Pipsqueak77 in reply to _Badger_]

Hi Badger

Thanks for this… interestingly my GP has prescribed this inhaler ( as the only alternative!) but it appears that this is quite difficult to get too?

So I’m waiting on my pharmacy to get back in touch atm. I am a bit concerned to use this if supplies can’t be guaranteed.

Can’t believe the difficulty getting a dpi reliever..🤷‍♂️ Maybe it’s postcode lottery as usual?

😊

[_Badger_ in reply to Pipsqueak77]

I take meds for various conditions and in the last year probably half of them have had some form supply chain/manufacturing issues. Whether due to the state of the world at war or what, I don't know.

With inhalers I do wonder whether some of the problem may be more people needing them now following covid.

[Pipsqueak77 in reply to _Badger_]

Hi

Thanks… just a bit concerning isn’t it?

I don’t want my only reliever medication to be a chore to get all the time. I use quite a lot.

Thanks for your reply. 😊👍