Luforbec makes me cough

[Geordiespanner]

I’ve recently been changed from fostair to luforbec and had had difficulties taking it. It feels like an irritant, it’s painful when it hits my lungs and I have the urge to cough it straight back out. I have persevered with it for a month but back to coughing morning evening and night, peak flow down and using my reliever more often. I only have mild asthma but it’s exhausting when it flares up. Had a nice chat with my asthma nurse who said she would put a note on my prescription to prescribe me fostair. The pharmacy did fulfil this but now I can only have 1 inhaler per prescription. I wondered if anyone else had experience the same?

[Blue-Breeze]

Hi there. If you search my post you will see my reaction to it. I reported my reaction to the yellow card scheme too. I lasted a week only.

[Geordiespanner in reply to Blue-Breeze]

Thanks, I've since found loads of posts. I think it's worth reporting too.

[Troilus]

Hi Geordiespanner. I can’t take Luforbec either so Fostair is named on my prescription. Sometimes my pharmacy deliver Luforbec instead, but I ring up and they take it back.

My Fostair 200/6 is restricted to 1per month, but I also have a Fostair 100/6 to use for mart - that is on open prescription. If you are on mart, it will be worth contacting your GP as one per month is not enough doses.

[Geordiespanner in reply to Troilus]

Thanks, I've been told to check every prescription before I walk out of the pharmacy!

[Gareth57]

I used to find the gas in my inhalers was either unpleasant or in ventolin made me cough, so I got both changed to dry powder and been on them for years now.

[Geordiespanner in reply to Gareth57]

That's interesting thank you

[Lilaceyes]

Hi - I had exactly the same thing happen to me and had a fostair inhaler prescribed as an emergency first as the Lubfebec made me cough too

It took one or two goes but I just put a note with my prescription request to go back to the usual two inhalers per prescription . (Fostair needs to be kept in the fridge by the pharmacy as it only lasts 3 months once out of the fridge so you can’t really over order I’ve discovered. ) So I would say just persevere every time you make a request and eventually I’m sure the doctor will change it.

[Geordiespanner in reply to Lilaceyes]

Will do thanks. Sorry to hear you had the same problem.

[DannyQ]

Hi I'm glad your nurse listerned to you and put you back on Fostaircbut annoying she put you down to 1 inhaler again to save money, if I was you I would have another chat with your nurse asking her to put you back to 2 inhalers per prescription. I myself have gone through the same problem and got it corrected to two inhaler per prescription.I hipecthis helps you

[Geordiespanner in reply to DannyQ]

Yes I will call them. I just wanted to see if I felt better back on fostair and a week later I do with no problems. Thank you

[DannyQ in reply to Geordiespanner]

That's good news your feeling a lot better being back on Fostair. Your welcome

[Wodie]

Hey GeordiespannerDitto. I did the same. Went to GP and was changed back to Fostair without question.

My brother had the same experience and was also changed without question. We live a distance apart.

[Geordiespanner in reply to Wodie]

Can't believe they are supposed to be the same inhaler! Sorry to hear you both had the same problem. Thankyou

[Thesunisout]

Yes, it happened to me too... I wrote a post here a few months ago about it... Luforbec made me cough straight away and the cough had increased during the day. I do not have asthma but was prescribed Fostair because I tend to cough in the morning and bring up mucus. When fostair changed to luforbec I decided to stop everything and things have been better ever since, still got some cough and mucus about 30/60 minutes after i get up but I am ok the rest of the day and I feel I can fill my lungs completely when I take deep breaths, unlike when on luforbec I felt a massive restriction. Good luck!

[Geordiespanner in reply to Thesunisout]

Gosh sounds so similar to me. I've since found loads of posts on here about Luforbec. Glad you're you're improving. Thank you

[BigBawsTam]

The ONLY reason Health Boards promote Luforbec over Fostair is that Luforbec is cheaper.

The fact that it's cheaper is because it's an inferior product. They say the ACTIVE ingredients are the same.....Whilst failing to say that not ALL ingredients are the same.

My advice would be to stick to Fostair if possible.

[Geordiespanner in reply to BigBawsTam]

I agree they can not be the same! Trying to stick to fostair. A week in and I already feel better. Thank you

[BigBawsTam in reply to Geordiespanner]

Great. I'm very happy to hear that. Glad you feel better.

I think the attitude of the Health Boards are despicable and penny-pinching.

The nurses and doctors must KNOW that Luforbec is inferior to Fostair!

[Allbranuser]

Hi

Regarding Luforbec, a widespread change from Fostair to Luforbec was initiated by the regional pharmacist. So if your prescription was brand specific ( Nice guidelines) it was electronically changed to Luforbec and you were told not asked. Money saving but as number of Fostair prescriptions drop their price to NHS might too.

I had mine changed back to Fostair by the practice nurse.