Alvesco 160

[ewusia28]

Hi. the doctor changed my inhaler to Alvesco 160, one dose twice a day. Does anyone of you have experience with this inhaler? How long does it take for the inhaler to start working? And I wonder if this is a sufficient dose if I have severe asthma? Thank you for all your replies. Regards

[Homely2 Administrator]

I was on fostair 100 mart, plus spiriva, my consultant added in alvesco 160, twice a day, while keeping the fostair mart.

The combination is keeping me out of hospital, and mainly, though not completely, off prednisone.

I still have have poor control but my asthma attacks are only taking me down at worst to 50 percent of peak flow, which I can survive, and fostair mart is great for dealing with the attacks.

So alvesco 160, twice a day, has worked to a degree for me,and I would not be without it.

Alvesco is the inhaler my hospital use to keep people away from prednisone.

My consultant put me up to 4 doses of alvesco 160 a day for a short time, but the tertiary centre who get my notes were not keen, as they said that was systemic.

I am unclear as to how long it took to work as I was on prednisone at the time, which confuses matters.

[peege]

Hi, a great reply from Homely2! I can only suggest you have a thorough read of the leaflet to see if it tells you how long it takes to 'kick in'. Failing that, check out the manufacturer's website for information. Some people give up believing a new inhaler is useless however inhalers usually take up to 8 weeks to be fully into our systems.

Good luck with it. P

[Merryroundabout]

I’m on Alvesco 160, one puff daily, as my only preventer, I’m very pleased with it. I was previously possibly over-medicated on Fostair 100/60, I felt fab to start with but due to side effects I moved back to Qvar, but that affects my throat and voice despite all the rinsing, teeth clean ing, gargling, yogurt, spacer etc. Asthma nurse and GP said I had to be referred to hospital and have a barrage of tests if I wanted to try anything else and the consultant suggested a trial of Alvesco. It’s come out well in clinical trials but it’s not the cheapest. It doesn’t start working until it’s in the lungs so there’s no steroid absorption on the way down and my voice is getting back to normal now (previously in the mornings I sounded like a smoker on 4 packs a day, lol)I didn’t notice any change to asthma symptoms or PF when I changed but shortly afterwards I had a huge PF drop and chest infection over Christmas so had 5 days of Pred plus antibiotics plus onto 4 puffs of Alvesco daily for a short while but weaned back down quickly and it’s been fine through the recent heatwaves.

[Biggles2612]

I use Alvesco one puff twice a day added to my Trimbow which works well for me

[ewusia28 in reply to Biggles2612]

Thank you for your answer. What dose do you have trimbow?

[Biggles2612 in reply to ewusia28]

172/5/9

[risabel59]

Hi Alvesco 160 has been the best steroid inhaler for me. I use up to 6 puffs daily, ( but mostly 4 puffs a day and occasionally i manage to cut to 2) I have complex asthma, and I use it in combination with a LABA LAMA combination inhaler, slow release theophylline tablets, Montelukast and Fenofexadine. Do use it with a spacer. I still have to use prednisolone and nebules for flare ups, but I would not change back to any of the other inhaled steroids that I have used in the past. I have tried most of them at one time or another.

The only thing to look out for, is I have found that sometimes there are delays in production and have struggled get inhalers, do always make sure you have a buffer extra inhaler at home in case the pharmacist can't source it. Also Pharmacies don't always keep this in stock as it tends to be prescribed by consultants. On the NHS formulary its a 3rd tier medicine, so you're meant to have tried other stuff first.

One of things doctors look to do by prescribing combination inhalers is reduce the number of inhalers that people have, to increase compliance . But the advantage for me of having the steroid separately is that you can adjust the dose, but keep the same dose for the laba & lama. And for me personally the idea of taking just one drug for asthma is a fairy tale that's not likely to happen.

Cheers

R