Problems with alternative inhaler to Seretide

[thelongestday]

I have been on the Seretide inhaler for 3 years , it was fine. However now I Am told that the replacement from the pharmacy ,which does not seem to have the same effect for me ,is the same , it clearly isn't ,I have changed my technique of inhalation and it makes no difference. I studied the leaflet in the box and the new one stated Do not take if you are allergic to nuts or soy . The old one did not say this . How can it be the same therefore ? I am allergic to nuts and soya.

I have flagged this up with my GP and she has written the issue on my next prescription , although when I discussed it with the pharmacy they were not convinced they would be able to supply the original Seretide Inhaler.

Anybody else had this problem.

[Troilus]

Hi longestday. I had a similar thing with my Fostair. I rang the pharmacy and insisted that replacement didn’t work as efficiently. Reluctantly she said she would order a replacement but it might be a while before I got it. (It was about 4 days I think)

However, in your case I would argue that you cannot take this inhaler as you have a nut and soya allergy and insist on something else.

[Poobah]

It amazes me what they put in inhalers. Nuts & soya just doesn't make sense, how can these ingredients be used when they're known to be potentially a trigger? But I'm glad you shared this as we, as consumers, should scrutinise the accompanying patient leaflet so as to avoid unexpected issues.

[Ern007]

What on Earth are nuts doing in an inhaler. lots of people are allergic. Asthma is treated with inhalers. asking for trouble .

[Homely2 Administrator]

My brother had issues with his pharmacy of this nature, so he took his prescription to another pharmacy and asked them if they could get everything as he wanted. They could, so he changed pharmacy.

[Thomas45 in reply to Homely2]

That's not easily done in these days of electronic prescriptions.

[Homely2 Administrator in reply to Thomas45]

All your prescription shows on your nhs app on your phone. I love the NHS app.

[Patk1 in reply to Thomas45]

U can change the pharmacy on nhs app or patient access

[Thomas45 in reply to Patk1]

Very true, but I wanted to have two nominated pharmacies, one for repeat and acute medication, and another for compression socks. I could not see how to add a second pharmacy. The medical centre did it for me.The pharmacy for repeat and acute medication took 14 weeks to supply made to measure compression socks. The 2nd pharmacy can supply them in 2.5 weeks. They come from the same source, a specialist manufacturer in Germany..

[Thomas45]

Yes but if a GP has sent a prescription to your preferred pharmacy, it's not easy, though possible, to reclaim it from your preferred pharmacy to send by electronic prescription to another pharmacy. It is possible to do it, and to have a different preferred pharmacy for different ailments, but it's not easy to do, when prescriptions are no longer printed.All my prescriptions, except those for compression socks go to my local pharmacy, while prescriptions for compression socks go to a specialist pharmacy. It took weeks to sort that out. They were all on the NHS app.

[implicit]

So, what was the manufacturer's name that implied it had nut and soya?

[Patricia1306]

hi thelongestday. I’m also on seritide . But I had to go private to get the correct inhaler an was told by the private consultant that they , the nhs will try and change it for another inhaler telling me it was the same because seritide is the most expensive inhaler out there. Luckily for me he put it on my records that I was not to be given a substitute

[Angrywheezer in reply to Patricia1306]

Thanks, Patricia. That's useful info and I had suspected something like that myself. I've had serious resistance regarding Seretide but never seem to get a rationale for wanting me off it. It's annoying because Serevent/Seretide is the best control I've had in my life and my control has deteriorated with fluticasone/vilanterol. I'm also thinking about going private for asthma treatment as I have a poor relationship with my asthma nurse and don't feel they are listening.

[awilso]

what was the replacement they gave you please

[EnglishPeach]

I had been on Seretide for years and then GP wrote to say they were switching me to Combisal. On the Combisol I got very breathless over a period of time, so I requested to go back to Seretide. It took two months to become ‘my normal’ and I’ve just picked up my new prescription, to find they’ve prescribed me Sirdupla - I’m now panicking this won’t suit me either… why can’t they just keep me on the Seretide?? x

[Angrywheezer]

I've often had trouble getting Seretide from a pharmacy, and sometimes they've only had a single Seretide in stock. I've been changed to Fluticasone/vilanterol by my asthma nurse and there seems to be a professional resistance to Seretide for some reason. Personally I'm getting fed up with health professionals chopping and changing my meds and I feel I want more personal control.