Fostair and skin problems

[Aldersey]

I was changed from Fostair inhaler in lock down by a pharmacist who told me he was reviewing my medication and put me on Trimbow.

I never felt well on the inhaler but doc would not change it.

By end of year I was having trouble with all my muscles aching and getting to not be able to get up out of chair without help from my husband as my legs felt so weak. I got so desperate I stopped taking Trimbow and my breathing was really terrible but my doctor made me suffer for over a week before actually prescribing me with Fostair again.

My skin also got so bad on Trimbow just falling off in tiny specs but on taking clothes off like a shower of snow. It has not improved at all being back on Fostair so has anyone else had this problem .

[Patk1]

Poor do leaving u to struggle so long. Re skin- have u tried moisturising daily x

[Aldersey in reply to Patk1]

Thank you for reply and yes I have tried lots of moisturisers but it does not stop the skin snow unfortunately

[Patk1 in reply to Aldersey]

Could u gently exfoliate in bath/ shower to get dead skin off before moisturising? It should help x

[peege]

I do have a problem with dry skin and its definitely worsened this winter, it had never occurred to me that it could be anything to with my inhaler. And put it down to aging. I always exfoliate first in the shower, use Aveeno shower stuff and moisturise afterwards (I leave my bottle of Vaseline moisturiser on the radiator to warm up as I dont keep the house hot).

[Aldersey in reply to peege]

Are you on Fostair inhaler or Trimbow.

[peege in reply to Aldersey]

Fostair MART MDI, for 5 years now however, seriously dry skin has only recently occurred so I'm definitely not saying it has anything to do with Fostair. More age related I'm positive

[Scrofulous]

Hi. Having been.on Fodtair for years and now Luforbec my skin is like tissue paper and tears at the slightest knock. I even have to stop the dog jumping up at me because she has broken my skin so many times. I can only suggest intense moisturising.

[hoven]

what stress we have with these inhalers! I was put o n Forstair from Clenil which irritated my throat and caused big problems, ending up being unwell for a month with chest infection, cough, Clenil is not really enough for me but it doesn't cause any side effects. I had leg weakness with a biologic and now can only walk with a stick!

[BigBawsTam]

I am on Fostair and my Health Board wanted to change me to Luforbec. That's when I first discovered this forum cos I was suspicious of the reason for the proposed change - although the Board said the active ingredients were unchanged. From what I've now read here and elsewhere, I believe the ONLY reason for the proposed change was the COST (Fostair is dearer). In my opinion Fostair is a superior product. Unfortunately, I cannot comment re skin loss, but I would advise anyone to use Fostair where possible .

[Simi55]

I too was changed to Luforbec, and it made me cough as soon as I took the dose, I carried on for a month and did not improve. So my Asthma nurse was able to put me back on Fostair thankfully. There is a difference in cost but also a slightly different propellant, more acetic I seem to remember, this I believe is what made me cough every time I took the Luforbec.

Good luck, getting back on Fostair.

[Wimple]

I too have been on Fostair for years and have noticed that my skins has become more fragile and dry. Research has shown a correlation between high doses of inhaled steroids and skin thinning bmj.com/content/300/6739/1548 , I’ve found differences of opinion on whether Fostair 200 is a high dose steroid inhaler or not. I also have atopic eczema and as a child and young adult used steroid creams liberally- no one knew the risks then -so this has contributed to my skin fragility. I have tried many moisturisers and found that glycerine based creams suit me best. I currently use Altruist, which was developed by a dermatologist and is available on Amazon UK. Sometimes I supplement this with Neutrogena dermatological cream when I need something a little thicker. I sympathise with the ‘snow’ flurries and hope you find something that helps.

[Shredded73]

I was breathless on Luforbec and was changed back to Fostair. Skin atrophy and bruising are a side effect of using long term steroid inhalers, but we can't do much except use sunscreen and heavy moisturisers every day. I like the Vaseline lotion for mature skin (in purple bottle) and Palmers lotions.

[4someone]

Years ago I had very dry painful peeling skin due to steroids but not via an inhaler. The doctor at the time wrote me up for a high dose of vitamin C, vitamin D, and fish oils. He also suggested moisturising with olive oil as well as having a tablespoon a day on my food. I think it took about two weeks to kick in and went completely with no fresh outbreaks within 6 weeks. Has any health professional offered you a supplement route?

[peege in reply to 4someone]

Interesting, I'm always thinking I need to ingest more olive oil. I'm a great believer of sorting things via diet

[Aldersey in reply to 4someone]

No I have asked several doctors but they just ignore me so no point keep asking.

[Gareth57]

I've had some spots of dry itchy skin which I first noticed when taking Fostair 200, after retiring I found I no longer needed 200 and discussed going back to 100, it's still there but not as bad but I don't (as far as I've noticed) have the clouds.

[Ern007]

I had a pharmasist revue and he wanted me on trimbow instread of Atrovan, Fostair and salmanol. - I simply said NO - Over the years sick of changes - I refused trimbow and little he could do about it.. Asthma/COPD nurse tried and again NO - I am good on my inhalers, WHY would I want to change and trimbow, I have heard so much about that - I simply would not have took it had it been forced on me. My GP would have backed me in any case.

[Aldersey]

Thank you all for replies