Fostair 100/6 problems on MART with severe Asthma attack - anyone else had this?

[Mushypea15]

I've been seeing a Respiratory Consultant for the past year and a half for an issue that arose because my gp switched me from seretide 500 where I was stable to fostair 100/6. I got really sick with my asthma and had repeated chest infections. They upped me to 200/6 but the damage was done and I had a 3 year cough as my lungs were producing too much sputum. With the consultant, we finally got the cough cleared up after 9 months solid of antibiotics. Then they switched me to symbicort on a MART plan. Symbicort didn't keep me as clear in the chest as my seretide had but worked amazingly well as a reliever - best one I've ever had! Then last week my consultant decided to switch me back to fostair 100/6 but on a MART. I've been taking it since Friday and today I had a severe asthma attack. My fostair did nothing. I took 4 puffs and luckily was walking past a hospital so I went in for help. I haven't had a full blown attack for a very long time.Has anyone else had problems with Fostair? Do I need to give it more time? I'm now scared that it's going to happen again. I've never been to a&e with my asthma and I'm in my 40s now, had asthma all my life.

[Lynneypin]

why did they switch you? Did they explain?

[DannyQ]

Wow sorry for your troubles, I'm on fostair 100/6 and wow its been game changer for me although I did get sore throat from using it until I start taking a few tea spoons of greek yoghurt daily.Why don't you ask to go back on sertide if it worked for you in the past, im lost why they keep changing what inhaler you use especially when you've had control ?

[Patk1]

I'd be telling them it's not working for you.we r all different+ not every inhaler is suitable for everyone.id ring consultants secretary.also aluk helpline0300 222 5800

[Mushypea15]

They don't want me on seretide because it's too expensive apparently. I'm not sure if they think my asthma isn't as bad as it used to be - but that's because I control it really well. My asthma is moderately severe and I feel out of control of it now. It's a horrible feeling. I did mention my concerns about switching back to fostair as this is now the 3rd time I've been on it. The 1st time it was ok for about a year, then stopped working. The 2nd time, it was the wrong dose and made my lungs go crazy. This time, I've had my first severe asthma attack since I was a kid.

[Poobah in reply to Mushypea15]

Were you on the Seretide 500 Accuhaler? It is expensive compared to the Symbicort and Fostair dry power inhalers because it has 60 doses as opposed to 120 doses. But, any specialist worth their salt, weighs up cost against clinical outcomes. How is it cost effective to have to treat out of control asthma with additional appointments and meds? That's the argument I would be having and asking to go back to the treatment that worked well for me. You can either call the respiratory team at the hospital or talk to your GP. I don't think you should soldier on, given that you've already tried Fostair before, without success.

Fostair clearly doesn't suit you, and if you want to go back to Seretide, just prepare before requesting the change in inhaler by jotting down your reasons to help you stick with your argument.

It can be beneficial to have a chat with the Asthma UK nurses to go through your case. The phone number is 0300 222 5800, M - F, office hours.

[ChrissieMons in reply to Mushypea15]

It's too expensive!!! Not for you - you're worth it! Sometimes you need to go into battle with the NHS and this is one of them.

[Homely2 Administrator]

It took me a month or so to settle with fostair 100 mart. I really like it as it allows me to vary my dose to fit my asthma.

It has greatly reduced my use of salamol, compared to when I was on four puffs of fostair 200. However I still need my salamol on occasion.

However I did need to discuss with my asthma nurse how I was allowed to use the fostair 100 as it struggled to control long asthma exacerbations where the asthma gets worse day after day, so eventually they gave me alvesco as an add on.

I would have a chat with your medic or ring the helpline on 0300 2225800. Asthma is scary, so if you have had a nasty attack you do need to talk to an asthma medic a bit soonish

[Scrofulous]

I'm astonished that your consultant did that after all your issues with Fostair. Presuming he was aware of the problem, did you ask him why? I would go back and tell him you want to go back on your old meds. If he refuses, ask for someone else.

[ReedB]

I agree with the others. If it's not suiting you then tell them you want to go back. Fostair has been good for me but I remember being on seretide at one point (years ago!) and it was in hindsight a better inhaler, especially the reliever part. We're all different and our asthma changes. I hope you recover quickly and feel more in control.

[Mushypea15]

Thank you so much everyone for your advice and help. I spoke with my GP about everything today and we've decided to give the fostair a bit more time to see if it works but if I have any further issues, I'll go back to Symbicort on the MART regime.I was on the seretide 500 accuhaler and was on it successfully for probably about 13 years in total. I guess they are just experimenting now to try to bring my lungs back to the strength they were at before everything went wrong in 2020.

I'm really pleased I found this platform as you are all amazing xxx

[Caticelolly]

Hi, I had exactly the same problem with that inhaler, my GP said that I was the first person that this happened to 🤔 I couldn’t catch a breath at all

[Catkin1960]

Sadly I had similar issues on Fostair, quite happy with what I had had for years then changed to Fostair, when I had issues just told to increase and increase, also given 2 lots of prednisolone in a few months. Finally ENT consultant told me that Fostair was the cause of a lot of the problem, he could see the damage it had caused. Stopped taking it, now back on what I used to be and so much healthier. How can the asthma nurses cause such problems. When I saw a GP, as an emergency , due to the state I was in, he couldn't believe the dosage I had been increased to.