With the push to move asthma sufferers ‘onto the Fostair ‘powder’ inhaler from the tried and tested Fostair pressurised inhaler ( with spacer device ),, what are your experiences with the ‘powder version??
I have found the powder type to not last as long as the pressurised type and a slight feeling of chest/lung tightness, - it feels to me as if it is working at 80% as opposed to 100% with the pressurised type!
I have followed all the instructions on how to inhale the powder correctly and indeed the Fostair videos on this!
I know we can all vary with these asthma medications, I’d like to hear your experiences with the two types if you would kindly share!..
Best regards,
Phil……
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I'd always say no thank you to any offer of powder inhalers. Symbicort gave me oral thrush and with the breath actuated powder rescue inhaler Easi-breathe when I needed it I couldn't draw in a breath strong enough to get any medication. MDI with Spacer for me. (Mine's Fostair 100/6)
The dry powder Fostair inhaler is probably the best DPI design in my experience. It's been over 40 years since I took a MDI, and have always managed with various DPIs, even during a flare up. The Accuhaler is the worst design for inhalation.
The carbon footprint chart assesses Fostair MDI as high. The generic MDI is medium and Fostair DPI is low. But at the end of the day, it should be a clinical decision based on what controls your asthma. It's going to be difficult changing from an MDI plus spacer to a self activated DPI. Others have successfully negotiated a return to their chosen inhaler, so if you're struggling, let your GP or asthma nurse know.
Hello, I am new to the forum so forgive me if I am not up to speed with things but are people aware that the only reason there is a push to move patients on to powder inhalers is because of net zero? I have been prescribed a powder inhaler for years but lately have been really struggling and after a review told the nurse I am finding it more challenging taking the powder inhaler and that, after trying my daughter’s blue Ventolin inhaler in emergencies, I found it far easier. After an assessment it showed my asthma was not under control and was moved onto a puffer inhaler which really surprised me knowing what I know about net zero targets.
If a powder inhaler is not working for you, you should request to go back on a puffer.
I was tried on powder inhalers first and they were horrible. I felt like my lungs were filled with sharp gravel all the time, though they did improve my breathing about 50%. The doctor kept giving me stronger and stronger powder inhalers but the jitters and palpitations made it clear they were too strong for me.
My first pressurised inhaler was Fostair and I couldn't believe how good my lungs felt after using it! It took a few weeks to get rid of the gravel and it hasn't come back.
I've been asking to be put back on the pressurised version for three months now and they keep messing up an prescribing me the powder inhaler again somehow, but they are at least in theory trying to switch me back.
If you're not comfortable with the new version, don't be afraid to ask to go back. Lots of people are fine on the powder inhalers, let them take the brunt of being more environmentally friendly rather than sacrificing your quality of breath!
both my inhalers are DPI and I wouldn't go back to MDI's, I always found the gas distasteful at best or irritating and apart from a brief spell 2 winters back my asthma has been better controlled.
It's not long ago they wanted me to change back because of cost, now it seems they want everyone to change because of the environment which is a bit ironic when they are made from plastic!
Does the NHS really care about those of us that costs it so much? I don't get on with powders of any kind so I'm not going to be happy if this happens in Scotland.
Over the years I have been offered powder inhalers and have yet to find one I could take. Every time anything touched back of throat I would cough and choke so inhaler was ineffective. Haven't been asked to change yet and I hope they don't. Contact whoever deals with your asthma. Good luck
I started taking the combined FostairNEXThaler 4 weeks ago. I was previously on brown and blue inhalers, preventer and for attacks.
After an annual review the FostairNEXThaler was suggested.
My asthma was well controlled with the new inhaler BUT I have had really awful allergic rhinitis every night, it's left me very tired and as if I had hay fever. My Dr agreed for me to go back to the old regime. Rhinitis gone!
I'm not usually one for conspiracy theories and, generally, I trust my Dr, they have shown they my interest at heart over a number of years. I am now a little suspicious as to whether the push to new inhalers is health based or something else. I was a bit surprised that both my Dr and Pharmacist asked if they could call me after a week or so of taking the new inhaler to see if I was ok. I took that to be professional medical care and concern.
The push to ‘powder’ inhalers is all to do with ‘Net Zero’ and government departments have applied pressure to the health system/NHS to switch patients away from ‘pressurised inhalers’ because of a ‘supposed’ carbon footprint’…There are many differing opinions on that!!….It is evident that this switch does not ‘medically’ suit everyone and some patients are not finding the powder as good as the normal ‘pressurised’ types!…It is a case of going back to your asthma nurse/doctor and explaining your own experience with the powder as opposed to the pressurised type and what ‘suits’ your asthma best!!….
It’s all because of Net Zero! Patients should come first! Asthma could be a matter of life or death. I’m glad that your Dr agreed to go back to the original regime.
The funny thing in terms of carbon footprint, is the size of the FostairNEXThaler box, the plastic/foil packaging and all the plastic and the size and the number counting mechanism built into the inhaler!
I took aerosol fostair 100 for quite sometime and it suddenly (after about 18 months) stopped working .... I was taking 8 puffs a day for about 3 months and suddenly my peak flow tanked and I was finding it hard going... so made an out of hours GP appointment
The very nice GP put me on Seretide (the strongest one an asthmatic can have, which is one below the maximum) and recommended tioptropium... she also wrote a letter to my GP
The seretide was great but gave me really bad insomnia... so after 6-8 weeks I had to switch
I was then put on duoresp spiromax which to this day I'm adamant made my condition worse ... and I had varying doses of the powder one
My GP finally agreed that getting a chest infection every 2-3 months wasn't "normal" and she recommended fostair again .... I said thing is I've already been on that and it didn't work/wasn't strong enough .... so she said that we would prescribe the strongest powder fostair as it has a "slightly higher equivalancy than the aerosol"
.. and she showed me the differences to standard beclomethasone and the dry powder does indeed have a slightly higher equivalancy than the aerosol... but she put me on the 200 dry powder .... that was a number of years ago now
At some point they also prescribed me tioptropium and switched my salbutamol to a dry powder salbutamol... I spent a number of years on montelukast too
Have you tried an inhaler trainer? .... I bought one to help me with the transition from liquid to powder and it's interesting to see how much "suck" you need is quite different for the different Inhalers ... even the dry powder salbutamol requires different Inhalation to the dry powder fostair
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