I was on symbicort morning and night and then salbutamol as needed, however the past two weeks my asthma has flared up resulting in prednisone for 5 days (which ended the same day I got switched to fostair)
I got switched to fostair 100/6 on the mart scheme , I’ve been using fostair for 4 days now and I take 2 puffs morning and night & then up to 4 during the day if needed. But each day I’ve needed all 4 during the day and still not feeling 100%.
Today I ended up taking my blue which I know I shouldn’t do but I was wheezing and my chest felt tight. I’ve felt shaky the past few days and bad headaches. Wondering if this is a bad reaction to fostair? And whether I should go back onto symbicort and ask to try the mart scheme with that instead? Or do i need a longer course of prednisone and to carry on with fostair? Or give fostair longer to work but it’s abit scary in the meantime when I’ve used all the doses I can and still feel wheezy
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MrsE27
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Have you got an asthma nurse that you can speak to. Failing that go back to the GP for a review. If you are on a course of steroids you should finish them. Hope that helps
poor you - I would definitely get a phone appointment to speak with your GP of out of hours service. Recovery is never quick or straightforward in my personal experience.
Definitely talk with a doctor. If you need the blue inhaler don't be afraid to take it. One symptom of too much ventolin is feeling shaky and a rapid heartbeat but as you were feeling shaky before you took the blue inhaler (ventolin/salbutamol) then it would have been something else that caused the shakes and headaches - not the blue inhaler. There is a related post here - Fostair v symbicort. Check out the replies to see what people wrote regarding fostair and symbicort on that post.
Fostair contains two ingredients - a corticosteroid and a long acting bronchodilator. Ventolin (blue inhaler) is a short acting (immediate) bronchodilator.
This is Cornwall and everybody is feeling worse than normal, drugs not being very effective.Waking up nose dribbling uncontrollably with double doses of Loratadine. I have about 4 different inhalers, Symbicort over 4 years has made my lungs sore and they hurt when I walk.It barely works either long term or short anyway. NHS says it can do nothing. I recently was put on Revlar Ellipta and it clears asthma very well, managed to get me hill walking on the worse day so far but the next day, terrible headache. It does act very quickly works better than Ventolin but its expensive. I can't take any of these long term inhalers.I found Forstair pretty useless. Bricanyl is probably the best of the bunch for long term. Spirovac turns me speechless literally but it is very effective. My solution, no wheat, avoid outside, scrub the house, and if it gets worse head for Shetland. I have EhlersDanlos, I have never taken any drug that works without half killing me. For years consultants have told me if I don't take long term relievers, I will probably die. They've been saying it for 50 years.I never have, I only use emergency stuff sparingly.A month ago I had specialised 2 hour breathing tests and I was sent home with 99% lungs and I'm 72.The consultant was shocked but it confirmed my belief in my own judgement. You need to do what you think works for you. They try the cheap stuff first, Forstair being one of them.
Check the side effects on the leaflet in the box. My brother and I use Fostair 200/6 and Salbutamol as needed. Maybe go back to doc/asthma nurse to ask for check to see if higher dose needed.
Switching from symbicort to fostair may or may not be what suits you, as we are all different, however I love fostair 100 mart, but it took me a while to settle with it.
Changing inhalers, when your asthma is unhappy, and on the same day you are coming off prednisone will be a shock to your body, no wonder you are feeling done in. Take it very easy and avoid whatever your asthma hates.
I use my blue inhaler with fostair 100 mart, initially quite heavily, and my use of it has now steadily declined, but it took time. So I would not be feeling guilty or wrong for using your blue inhaler when just switching to fostair 100 mart. Far better to use your blue inhaler than have a severe asthma attack and end up in hospital.
You are a little vulnerable with your asthma at present, if it starts to get scary over the weekend, ring 111, they can help you.
On Monday morning I would get an appointment with your medic to discuss whether you need more prednisone, but pre the appointment I would ring the asthma UK helpline on 0300 2225800, office hours, to help you know what you are asking your medic for, and to discuss symbicort v fostair, and whether to persist with the change.
We can’t really give medical advice on the forum, so you would need to speak to a medical professional about the best way forward. I couldn’t use Fostair as I reacted to the aerosol in it and found the dry powder Symbicort a better option. However, the reverse is true for many and I believe both are now available in MDI and dry powder form. Also, I have seen many posts in the past suggesting that, when you change inhaler, you effectively start from scratch, so it can take weeks to get back to “normal”; I don’t understand the reasoning behind this, but it certainly seems a common belief.
Also, you shouldn’t feel guilty about using salbutamol; it is there precisely for the purpose of getting over a difficult breathing period, but excessive use would indicate lack of preventative control which would need to be referred to a medical professional.
I'd use Yr salbutamol inhaler when needed.im on mart with fostair.it takes time to get best re9sults from it.its made of smaller particles that are more easily absorbed by Airways.if u don't improve using both inhalers, do ring dr.ru on antihistamines? Pollens are high at present
Firstly, so sorry you're feeling so unwell right now. My observations are that you have just finished a short course of Prednisolone and your Dr has changed your preventer inhaler in quick succession. This isn't an easy time to make the switch, as any new inhaler that contains steroids can take up to 8 weeks to build up to full effectiveness. So your lungs are already twitchy, and a new inhaler may add to that, it's a challenge to say the least.
I think by asking you to monitor your peak flow, your GP wants to see if Fostair/MART is having a positive effect over time and they're not expecting instant results. But if your PF doesn't improve, they'll know that the new regime isn't for you.
As others have said, use your Ventolin/Salbutamol if it relieves your symptoms until you see your doctor. And have a chat to the Asthma UK nurses on the helpline on Monday. Phone: 0300 222 5800. They are in a better position than us to advise.
I would book a follow up appointment with your doctor too. If only to brief them on the situation and give them the opportunity to consider additional treatment to get you through this patch. Sometimes one course of Prednisolone just isn't enough and your doctor can make that call when they're told how much you're struggling.
I was given fostair but after experiencing crawling and aching in my legs and trembling hands, and unexplained sadness, I stopped taking it. Nurse said she’d never heard of these side effects but I’ve seen a lot of people reporting the same as me.
hi. I’m On fostairnexthaler 100/6 and I use my blue inhaler when I’m coughing more or feel not right. It may be you’re taking too much of the fostair Have you been shown how to use the inhaler correctly as that could be a problem too. I was told to use the MART scheme but I’m happier using the two inhalers when poorly. Hope you feel better soon xx
Sadly sounds like you have had a similar experience to me. After seeing ENT consulatantnow back on symbicort and feeling better than I have for months.
I'm afraid it can take two weeks or so for most inhalers to 'kick in' , some longer so its worth persevering because it could be a match made in heaven.
it’s seems a short time between you switching inhalers theses things take time to work your whole body will try to adjust to the things your breathing in it needs time to adjust probably attack it first in a way is there something different in your habits to alter your attacks for worse life style things, any way try not to use blue inhaler as I think you seem to use more and more keep up with your new one then in another few weeks if not calmed down then go back to inhaler you were used to good luck bless you
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Fostair excessive use maybe? 
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