MART Fostair or Symbicort

[Njhs]

Hi everyone, i want to ask the ones who are on MART, did someone switched from Fostair to Symbicort or vice versa and saw different?

i am on Fostair MART, i am getting better but my Asthma is still in the uncontrolled state since almost 2 months now.

[peege]

Are you taking the maximum of 8 inhalations per day? And are you using a spacer? - you get a lot more of the medication when you do. Thirdly can you check out your inhaler technique? I ask because my asthma became uncontrolled mainly because I was using it incorrectly - for three years! 🙄. You will, find videos on how to use on the manufacturer's website or YouTube. I changed from Seretide to Fostair MART and its been brilliant for me but we're all different. Good luck

[Njhs in reply to peege]

Should i take the maximum dose without having symptoms ? Yes i use a spacer. I was thinking about taking Fostair nexthaler, thought maybe suits me better than MDI, because i take spiriva too and i feel it’s reach deeper into my lungs and than the MDI.

[peege in reply to Njhs]

Hi, I'm not medically qualified to answer really but I definitely wouldn't take my Fostair MART MDI the maximum 8 times if I didn't have symptoms. My prescription is for 2 puffs twice daily & higher or lower doses when required, in winter I take the 2 puffs 2 x daily but well into summer usually one day & evening is sufficient. I only take any extra MART puffs when short of breath due to over exertion, an in infection or an exacerbation - colder temperatures affect my airways so I might take a puff before walking the dog (also covering my mouth & nose whilst out). I use it much like I used to take ventolin before the gym/swimming/ a hike (I'm talking pre 2008 beforemy asthma took a nosedive). For me the only times the allowed 8 puffs have been necessary have been during a severe infection ie I had two in 2023, one Jan '24 & after Christmas '24 when I also used out of date ventolin. I do consider myself lucky asthma-wise but it was a huge learning curve in the early days. The particles in Fostair are said to be finer, it really suits me. However I cannot stress highly enough that we're all different, what works for me doesn't necessarily suit everyone for ie steam from shower always helps me breathe more easily but for many it makes their asthma much much worse.

As my asthma has a propensity to chest infections I've taken Carbocysteine a mucolytic since 2013 and since 2019 I've taken a prophylactic antibiotic Azithromycin on Mon Wed & Fridays from November to April . I have Small Airways Disease as well (and CFS as a result of too many pneumonia & chest infections).

Hope this helps , this asthma forum and AsthmalungUK have helped me enormously and are a mine of information if used wisely. Good luck and do use the excellent helpline 0300 222 5800 uk office hours. P

[Ossing in reply to peege]

Hi Peege,Thanks for your response. I take two puffs twice daily with the spacer. The spacer is sometimes cloudy. I don't know if it means I am not doing it correctly.

[peege in reply to Ossing]

Ah that's just the residue.

We're supposed to wash them regularly and air dry. So we need two to alternate. I have great trouble getting anything from my surgery so occasionally buy one, about £7. I've little energy & brain fog so I only remember to wash one when its really cloudy & I pull through a cloth/Ecover washing up liquid to get most out then I put in dishwasher. I always rinse/gargle both before as well as after inhaling to ensure residue doesn't linger on the oral soft tissues . I had thrush years ago when using powder in inhaler & dont want it again.

If you check out the manufacturer's website for reassurance that youre using your particular inhaler and read the leaflet (I keep one of every leaflet in my meds box for future reference. P

[Ossing in reply to peege]

Thanks peege. I think I still have to learn the techniques of using a spacer. It's quite new to me.

[Patk1]

I've only ever b on mart with fostair,also take cecleside( alvesco)+salbutamol

[Birthday60]

I was on Symbicort and was moved to Fostair by a visiting asthma nurse - it was next to useless and they admitted it was a cost reduction project - I was switched back to Symbicort and have been happily using it for some years

[Njhs in reply to Birthday60]

Thank you for sharing, do you have Symbicort turbuhaler or rapihaler?

[Birthday60 in reply to Njhs]

Turbo

[Grapefruits]

Hi. I was also on spiriva and moved from fostairto symbicort turbohaler 4 years ago. It took a few adjustments to sort out what worked for me but now I am on 2xpuffs spiriv in ghe mornings znd 4xpuffs symbicort morning znd evening. Every day as they are are to help prevent exacerbations happening.I also have ventiolin whenever needed, I find its better used with a spacer.

But as others have said, we are all different with our needs.

Good luck

[parra]

Exactly the same as the reply from Grapefruits.