Reducing inhaler for spring/summer

[elanaoali]

I I have been told I can reduce my fostair 100/6 (spriva inhaler 2 puffs once a day too) from 2 puffs twice a day to one puffs twice a day. I I have been on these two inhalers since the beginning of November (when I was in hospital for double pneumonia). Before being on these inhalers I was on Fostair 200/6 2 puffs twice a day all year around.

I used my fostair as a combination inhaler and Mart regime. I am waiting for the weather to change and to get warmer.

What do I look for to see if I am okay on the lesser dose?

[Patk1]

Personally, I'd do it slowly, only reducing 1 at a time maybe alternate days to start with x

[Homely2 Administrator]

I would make sure your asthma is settled before any reduction, by recording your peak flow for a while. Then record your peak flow after the change, so it is easy to pick up if your asthma is worsening.

My asthma likes the summer as well but does not settle down until early July. Last summer it was very nice to just be on a low dose of fostair and spiriva.

[Emaych61]

Look for an increase in symptoms (eg lung irritation) after you switch.

I’ve been switching from higher doses in winter to lower doses in summer for decades and I usually know from how my asthma is feeling when to make the change (both up and down). At the moment I’m on maximum amount of inhaled steroids (due to an additional problem though I don’t think the very wet and cold conditions we’ve been experiencing have helped at all) so I wouldn’t consider making any changes. I’ll know from how my lungs feel when I can start reducing the dose.

[elanaoali]

Thank you all for your advice. Hopefully spring will come soon.

[Chip_y2kuk]

Look for twitchy airways.... its normally subtle I reduced inhaler many moons ago I went from 4 puffs a day to two puffs a day and I started noticing a slight cough.. the breathless walking upstairs ( I'd walked up them stairs multiple times a day for years)

Then the cough got worse and I got more breathless ... I had to switch inhaler at that point because it was clear it wasn't going to end well.

[peege]

I have been doing this for several years as taught by respiratory nurse. Now only on Fostair 100/6 MDI (spray type) MART for 4 years.

It would depend on your triggers.

Personally, I generally go down to 1 puff twice daily only when the weather is very settled . It's probably not correct but I go down to one puff in the mornings earlier perhaps March (nights are worse for me) but take a puff before walks or exercise.