Changing to MART , but worried!

[kc01kc01]

Can anyone give me advice/reassure please?I've been on fostair 200/6, 2 puffs, twice a day, plus ventolin as and when needed for years. At my recent asthma review the nurse convinced me to try the MART regime instead with the luforbec inhaler 100/6. She said to being with I will need all 8 puffs everyday for the first couple of weeks. My query is if I'm already taking 800/6 of fostair and am still having to take ventolin some days, how is swapping to the 100/6 dose, potentially 8 times a day so ultimately the same dose I'm on now, but not allowed ventolin going to improve my asthma??!

[Homely2 Administrator]

I went from 4 puffs of fostair 200 to fostair 100 mart. It was a good switch for me, my Asthma is very variable, and being able to vary my dosage was lovely.

Make sure you get a new asthma plan, as to what to do when you have a bad attack. Asthma UK have a plan on their website if the nurse has not given you one. If you are unsure ring asthma UK on 0300 2225800 and talk to a nurse there.

It took me a long time to reduce my ventolin need though, but I did get there. I would be a bit iffy coming straight off it.

Four puffs of fostair 200 does not exactly equal eight puffs of fostair 100, have a look at the contents for both. I think it will give you the same budesonide but you will get more formeterol, hence need for less ventolin.

Formeterol is the instant acting stuff, while budesonide is the long acting stuff.

If the switch nearly works but not quite, ask if you can try, fostair 100, rather than luforbec.

A new asthma plan is vital.

[kc01kc01 in reply to Homely2]

Thank you for your reply

[Patk1]

Ring aluk helpline0300 222 5800

[Poobah]

Just my observation. For starters your prescription has changed from the branded Fostair to the generic Luforbec, as well as changing the amount of long acting bronchodilator you're used to (if you're taking 8 doses of 100/6, then you're effectively taking double the amount of long acting bronchodilator). So you've experienced two changes to your treatment.

So if you're not experiencing any improvement in asthma control or your control has declined, it could be because 1) Luforbec doesn't suit you, or 2) large doses of long acting bronchodilator doesn't suit you.

I know from trying MART for 6 months that high doses of long acting bronchodilator doesn't suit me. I was fortunate that I was able to keep the branded version of my inhaler during the trial, otherwise it would have been difficult to say that MART was the issue rather than the change in inhaler ingredients (there are other ingredients in addition to the medication).

I know it can sometimes be a challenge to say to your asthma nurse or doctor that their idea didn't work, but at the end of the day any decision should be in partnership with the patient, and their experiences taken seriously.

Have a chat with one of the Asthma UK nurses on the helpline about your concerns, they are extremely helpful.

[Lunabi in reply to Poobah]

I recently picked up my prescription to find that it had changed from Fostair to Luforbec. I rang the surgery after researching and found people had had negative results, to say that I was not prepared to take the risk with the new inhaler as I am under the Brompton in London and my asthma has not been good. No one had discussed changing my inhaler with me so I felt I had a right to state my case. Sometimes, I just think we need to stand up for ourselves.

[Poobah in reply to Lunabi]

Totally agree! It's important to stand our ground regarding our health and well-being.

[kc01kc01]

Thanks for your reply :-)My asthma nurse and the pharmacist has assured me that fostair and luforbec are absolutely identical in ingredients so hopefully that part of it won't be an issue

[Poobah in reply to kc01kc01]

Except that's not accurate when taking ingredients, other than the medication, into account. Check out the numerous posts about this and how people have faired when some changed to Luforbec from Fostair. That's why it's important to acknowledge that Luforbec may be the issue, not MART.

[Lunabi in reply to kc01kc01]

I was told although they have the same ingredients, they are not made the same. Most of the asthma sufferers on one of the forums I visited had quite negative results as a result of the change.

[kc01kc01]

Thank you, I think I will email my GP and ask if I can change to fostair 100/6 to try the MART with as I don't feel confident about luforbec from what people are saying!

[Poobah in reply to kc01kc01]

Keep us posted.