stopping Fostair

[Lel1]

Decided to stop Fostair as making me ill. Anyone else stopped Fostiar and did ypu get side effects.

[JumpJiving]

Transition to an alternative, rather than just stop. You're presumably on a steroid-based inhaler for a reason. Stopping rather than transitioning can be dangerous, not just because of your asthma. If your body's adrenal system is suppressed because of steroid-use (or otherwise), the little bit of steroid being absorbed from your inhaler might be keeping you alive. If that is the case, stopping rather than transitioning could put you into potentially fatal adrenal crisis. Better to talk to your respiratory consultant about an alternative (Alvesco perhaps?) and to ask for your cortisol level to be tested.

I am transitioning from Fostair to Alvesco, but am also on hydrocortisone tablets due to adrenal insufficiency thought to have been caused by previous Seretide usage. Alvesco is less potent than Fostair and Fostair is less potent than Seretide - my transitions are in the hope that using a less potent inhaler will allow my adrenals to recover so that I can get off the hydrocortisone in around a year, fingers crossed.

[peege]

Goodness, I wouldn't dream of stopping my inhaler. I'd definitely have the side effect of being unable to take a breath & end up in A&E where they'd chastise me for not taking prescribed inhaler.

[Homely2 Administrator]

I would be very concerned if I stopped taking an inhaler without talking to a medic.

As we are on a bank holiday you can ring 111 to discuss.

[Poobah]

I note that you've been on Fostair less than 3 weeks, so any benefits have yet to kick in. I strongly advise you discuss your concerns about Fostair with your prescribing doctor or asthma nurse before stopping treatment so that other causes for your symptoms can be ruled out and an alternative prescription provided, if necessary.

[Lindsayf]

Hi

Yes, it caused me to cough, produce phlegm and feel like I couldn’t breathe. This went on for months to the point my consultant wanted to put me on antibiotics long term. I only found out I was allergic to it when I had to stop talking it for a histamine test at the hospital. My Asthma Nurse has never experienced this before. I went back to my old brown inhaler and I feel amazing. Please please get support from your GP or Asthma team. For me, it seems my body doesn’t like a combination inhaler.

[Wizzerwood in reply to Lindsayf]

I had exactly the same response 😬

[ReedB]

I agree with the others. Though it can be frustrating dealing with possible side effects I really wouldn't recommend just stopping. Your body won't like it and, speaking from experience, you could end up having a more serious asthma attack!

[Heaven20]

I stopped using fostair as I didn't feel well with it, after discussing with my asthma nurse went back on my original brown and blue inhalers. You need to discuss it with your gp/nurse before stopping. Hope you find what's best for you.

[crille]

Hi, I agree with JumpJiving. To stop a steroid inhaler without going to an alternative can be quite dangerous. Your body normally produce a small amount of steroid, which stops when you take an artificial steroid (like your inhaler). If you then stop taking your inhaler, your body is without a natural defence for a while. It is not regained immediately, therefore speak to a medical expert for advice. I think that you should be put on an alternative if your Fostair is making you sick. Good luck!🙂

[Wizzerwood]

I stopped after two days. I was getting a scratchy throat, cough, trembling hands and my lungs felt like they'd been Botoxed! Horrible stuff. Apparently it's what doctors in the UK are recommending now even though it's more expensive that what I was taking before. I went back onto Qvar and added a daily antihistamine and am feeling much better. I have yellow flagged the side effects - everyone should who is getting side effects from this stuff.

[Koala365]

I switched back on to Clenil when I took myself off Fostair as clearly needed something to help my asthma but couldn't cope with the nasty side effects I was getting from Fostair. Luckily I had some Clenil left from when I had been on it previously. I did also get a GP appointment and agree that this is what I would be on going forward so I didn't have any problems getting repeat prescriptions. What symptoms was Fostair giving you? It gave me anxiety (which I hadnt had previously) and made me sweat profusely (which was also very unusual for me)

[Catkin1960]

I have also just stopped taking Fostair due to side effects and seeing an ENT consultant at the hospital. Waiting for an appointment as to how to proceed. Left in limbo by GP Have spoken to GP or asthma nurse several times this year and do not feel they have helped me enough. Their last action was the referral to hospital when I was told the problem was the Fostair. No plan put in place following this apart from my medical record being noted about the Fostair problem, by it seems admin at the GP surgery. My chest has felt tight and I have used my blue inhaler. Hoping for an appointment tomorrow at my local surgery.

[jamieb977]

I also don't seem to get on with fostair, the more I take it in a day the more breathless I get doing things I was able to do before, have been on it for 2 months now and instead of 4 puffs a day I take 1 or 2

Previously I was on seretide, the severe asthma team have now requested my gp switch me ravlar eplipta which is a once a day puff, I think this inhalor is very similar to seretide though and my breathing was awful on that so am worried a bit about the future. Seems no inhalor suits me apart from ventolin, all of them combination ones make my breathing dysfunctional and like my lungs are puffed tyres that can't get any more air in, like in almost gasping for breath.

Is there any alternative to these inhalors ? Like tablet/liquid etc ?

I feel despair with it all, feeling like I'm suffocating when I when wake up and struggling to breath all day

[FoxBrush]

PLEASE do not stop your ICS without medical advice. I tried this and if you read my latest post, I experienced some horrendous symptoms. You are also risking a potentially life threatening asthma attack by stopping your preventer meds as well. If you are not getting on with your inhaler, you could ask your GP to try you on a different type of ICS, however I do NOT recommend you just stop taking it. Please see your GP asap for advice.

Adrenal suppression is where your body 'forgets' how to naturally produce cortisol due to steroid use, and it can take some time for your adrenal glands to adjust.

Again I must stress, talk to your GP or 111 before making any drastic changes to any of your asthma meds.

[swinstan]

Yes, like many of you, dreadful side effects from Fostair. Reading all this I wish I had never started it.