I had my asthma review yesterday by phone. I have been on the mart regime (fostair 100/6 and spriva 2.5) for a little under a year. Yesterday I was told that having a rescue packet of prednisolone at home after having an asthma attack to use isn't the standard treatment any more.
This was changed last year because people have been using them unnecessarily e.g. having a cold. I was also told that you should not have more than 5 courses of prednisolone in your lifetime. I have used more than that in treating my asthma in the years I had it. They don't want people getting side effects from using them i.e. diabetes.
However when I went for a replacement packet of prednisolone last month (after having covid and having two asthma attacks) I found out they were not long on my prescription list. I told the receptionist that I have had it many times in the past. The GPs did write me a prescription and pick them up a couple of days later at my pharmacy.
Now the doctors said that I would only have them prescribed to me if my doctor wrote to the consultant (who treated me in hospital for pneumonia.) and ask if I can keep a rescue pack at home.
So I have been told that if I have a flare up of my asthma and use my inhaler to its maximum dose over 2/3 days then ring the doctors for an urgent same day appointment or ring 111 out of hours. Then they will see me and decide what treatment I need. Has per my mart asthma plan.
Has anyone else been told they can't have a rescue pack at home?
Written by
elanaoali
To view profiles and participate in discussions please or .
“you should not have more than 5 courses of prednisolone in your lifetime” opps I’ve probably had that many just this year alone and what about people who are on constant low dose pred? That very much seems like a blanket statement without taking into account respiratory conditions which are very variable.
I’ve not had a rescue pack for a while but that is because my asthma is not controlled and my consultant wants me seen either by my GP or at A&E to make sure I don’t need admitted.
Are you still under the consultant at the hospital? It might be worth contacting them for advice
I think this is yet another example of how asthma treatment in the UK is a postcode lottery!
I picked up a rescue pack of pred on Monday after catching some viral cold last week.
No problems from my surgery and all on my repeat prescription.
I am under a tertiary centre on biologics and have been admitted with asthma 4x in the past year.. so there doesn’t seem to be any logic either in who is ‘allowed’ rescue steroids and who is not!
It’s just a complete chance as to whether your GP allows it or not…it’s their own personal opinion. I don’t feel that there is any official regulation to it at all.
🤷♂️ sorry but I would like to see some hard and fast rules so that we all know where we stand.
My consultant and GP practice do not allow rescue packs.
In theory you are meant to ring for an immediate appointment with the part time GP asthma nurse if you need prednisolone. The theory then says, if the GP Asthma nurse is unavailable you ring hospital respiratory team ansaphone, then if that fails 111.
The theory does not work very well in practice where I live.
That's terrible! Why won't your GP or consultant prescribe you prednisolone? I going to still keep my rescue steriods to hand. If I have an asthma attack at home (usually happens evenings after GP is closed or weekends) then successfully manage it at home I will still want to start taking my rescue steriods. I will ring 111 for an out of hours appointment. It will probably a long wait to get a call back. Then go and see a doctor be checked out then they would allow me to take my rescue steriods. I don't understand why I can't treat myself at home like I have always done. E.g last year cold then asthma attack 1 course of prednisolone then chest infection 1 course of prednisolone and then coming down with pneumonia unbeknownst to me. Asthma attack prednisolone started went to A&E diagnosed pneumonia admitted to hospital.
The GP practice and consultant want to check my asthma when it is bad, so the theory that I should go in and see them when I need prednisolone is fine and correct. When I do see them they are happy to put me on prednisolone.
The trouble is, that when my asthma is bad, I cannot get an immediate appointment, so the theory does not work, and a rescue pack, as a safety net, would be lovely.
How utterly mad grrrr. I can understand that rule for ordinary people and people incapable of managing their condition but definitely not patients with dodgy asthma. Should be at GPs discretion imo.I've not been allowed a rescue pack since I moved to Gloucestershire ten years ago from Wimbledon where I did have one & used it wisely.
I agree I try to reassure the urgent care practioner I didn't take prednisolone willy nilly but took it when I really needed it. Justba simple cold can set off my asthma and this is my worst time of year for my asthma. I work presently working with a reception class (TA) and they are bug factories. I love small children but not their bugs.
I'm stage 4 emphysema and I can't get any rescue pack not even antibiotics it's been like that in this area for nearly 2 years I was told it was due to cut backs so if I need antibiotics or steriods I have to do a sputum test first not have any of the tubs you do test in last time I waited 4 days for Dr to give permission for a tub even thou I said I didn't have chest infection that it was just the 5 day steriod I needed by the time the tub was allowed and test done which was 11 days altogether I was turned down on antibiotics which I didn't need also turned down on steriods all due to cut backs I've even tried getting the nebs for nebuliser which I said I would buy a nebuliser I was told no they won't prescribe so I feel I'm on the last trying to get help I don't have a pulmary Dr just a nurse who isn't much good sorry about the long story but thought I'd say the way it is here im in lancaster uk .
“you should not have more than 5 courses of Prednisolone in your lifetime”. Dear me, I am on prednisolone for life. Yes, it is not the most pleasant of medications I can say, but in my case, I have no alternative. It is part of my cancer treatment. When on Prednisolone, you have to control your blood glucose level on a regular basis. As you mentioned, diabetes is a concern if you don't follow a low-carb diet. I am also an asthmatic. It is well controlled with Relvar Ellipta. 92/22. If my Prednisolone is of help for my asthma, I don't know, but it has never been given to me for that reason.
I haven’t been allowed a rescue pack for some time now. I have found though that if I send a message to my GP practice ASAP they respond very quickly and I get a prescription the same day
I have a pretty severe asthma condition and I have been on prednisone low dose every single day for the last 3 years! It’s a drug the has side effect like many others unfortunately. But it did save my life and helped tremendously…. I’m a 57 years old male in the USA .
Hi Paul most of us posting here live in the UK and therefore are using the NHS (national health services). Those of us who are on a low dose of prednsiolone have severe asthma.
To treat my asthma I am on a combination inhaler (fostair 100/6), spriva inhaler plus monkelaust and dymista (steroid nasal spray). I am on the mart regime which means that my fostair is also a reliever. I use it to treat a flare up or in some cases an asthma attack.
In the past when I was on a different inhaler (fostair 200/6) I kept prednisolone as my rescue steroid so I would use it if my asthma flared up and didn't settle or for treatment after an asthma attack.
However I was told because of a review of how prednisolone was being used in some cases unnecessarily it has been restricted.
It seems some of us can get it still and some can't. I would like to have been told that the rules had changed.
I have Doxycycline and Prednisolone as my rescue pack and so far my GP surgery have been happy to prescribe it.My partner has always had rescue antibiotics for a bowel condition, (which can prevent hospital admissions if taken immediately at the first sign of symptoms) especially when we go travelling abroad for long periods of time. This time his request was refused and the GP was adamant that they can no longer prescribe "just in case medication" as he put it.
I think sadly this is the way things are going with the NHS.
They may be edging people to try private practice to obtain emergency packs of pred and antibiotics. Of course, the private prescriptions will cost you and, can’t be dispensed at at NHS Pharmacy…..so will cost again. I’m fortunate, inasmuch that my GP still allows me them on my repeat prescriptions.
I have severe asthma and have rescue packs for both Co-Amoxiclav and prednisolone and if i use them they are also on repeat prescription so i can just order if i have used them.
I do send my GP updates on health metrics like peakflow reading, blue inhaler and nebuliser usage but i am also on bialogical treatment with the hospital and have monthly calls with the asthma team and 6 monthly calls with my consultant all at the royal brompton.
yes i think even with my asthma you have to have the right doctors surgery, luckily mine is very good. Even if a specialist hospital like the Brompton say you need it for outside prescriptions the surgery have to continue the care in the community and there is a real lack of consistency with each surgery/area etc. I hope it all gets sorted out for you
I require pred. to counter nasal polyps caused by AERD (Aspirin Exacerbated Respiratory Disease). I have had 13 FESS operations over 45 years to remove said polyps. The ENT consultants happily prescribe pred. and then refer me back to the drs to 'manage' the problem, with notes to the dr to prescribe a 5 day course of severe inflamation after infections which cause significant polyp swellings. Recently, the drs have been very resistant to prescribing pred. My only solution has been to travel to Spain or Italy, where I have been able to purchase a 5 day pred. course (40 ml per day) for just 5 Euros from pharmacies. I have explained this to my surgery, who then tell me off for self treatment. My reply; what alternative do I have when there is no agreement between consultants and GPs? To conclude, I am fed up with polyps surgery but it is looking like I am course for another operation soon, which gets more dangerous with age. This is related to asthma because my breathing / asthma is much worse when the polyps deveiop.
I am not in favour of getting medication abroad without doctors input. Thats why they are trained professionals and we are not. I can see you have plenty of understanding of your condition l. However you need to ask why your doctors are restricting it. I suggest you ring asthma and lung uk helpline to discuss your treatment. 03002225800
Content on HealthUnlocked does not replace the relationship between you and doctors or other healthcare professionals nor the advice you receive from them.
Never delay seeking advice or dialling emergency services because of something that you have read on HealthUnlocked.
Anybody complained about GP?
Request different antibiotic in rescue pack?
Fostair 200/6 as MART
What to do after prednisolone rescue ended?
