New to MART

[Fraggle1234]

Hi, my 16 year old daughter has been seen by the respiratory team recently and they have prescribed a MART inhaler for her and I wonder if you can offer some advise please.

She was previously on Clenil but earlier this year moved onto Alfoflute (Seretide). However she does gymnastics 4 times a week and was unable to complete a full floor routine on this inhaler. She started taking her ventolin before training in order to actually finish her routine and also not to be tight chested once finished. The consultant implied that her asthma was not controlled if relying on her ventolin so suggested a MART inhaler may be the way forward for her and to give this a try.

She has been prescribed Luforbec (which I have seen several posts on here) so I am just hoping she takes to this inhaler with no side affects!

She has been advised to take this once in the morning and once at night and then up to 6 times if needed. I am assuming this type of inhaler can be 'doubled up' either morning or night depending on triggers / weather etc (similar to her Clenil 50)?

I guess I am trying to work out if Luforbec is a stronger inhaler than Alfoflute? Whether she should try her gymnastics without any additional Luforbec to start off with and to see if the morning dose is sufficient or if she should take an extra puff before training?

Any advise would be very much appreciated as I know she is apprehensive of trying a new inhaler again.

Thank you in advance.

[Bevvy]

Suggest you give the helpline team. Number above a ring. They can be extremely helpful and you can discuss fully your and daughters concerns.

[Patk1 in reply to Bevvy]

0300 222 5800

[Homely2 Administrator]

I love being on the Mart regime, though I am on fostair 100.

The ability to vary your dose is a superb freedom. So, experiment with it, and see what keeps the asthma under control.

My asthma nurse allows me to do what I want, within agreed limits, as long as I tell her what I am doing.

It takes me a month or so to settle with a new inhaler

[Patk1]

I'd be inclined to use before gymnastics+ during if needed,while symptomatic

[peege in reply to Patk1]

Me too Pat, as MART stands for Maintenance And Reliever Therapy so I use mine (Fostair 100/6) as I used to use Ventolin before exercise .

[Chip_y2kuk]

They are different ingredients and different inhalers seretide actually can't be used on MART because the salmeterol takes too long to work and there are tons of strengths ranging from 50mcg fluticosone to 250/500 mcg

I would say see how she goes the idea of MART is you have wiggle room and increase not only the fast acting reliever but also the steroid causing inflamation... so it's probably worth trying without any increase but having it nearby incase you do need it (do bear in mind it may take some time to take full effect)

[Fraggle1234]

Thank you for your replies.

I guess it’s all trial and error now and what works best for her.

Thank you again.