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does anyone know where to buy the medication for a nebuliser (ventolin) as it is my GP's policy not to allow patients a home nebuliser. ?

huggs profile image
56 Replies

I have had asthma for around 10 years and use seretide and ventolin accuhalers. I have now been started on Spiriva, but feel I would benefit from a nebuliser, but I cannot find the medication on line. Can anyone help? Thanks.

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56 Replies
stone-UK profile image
stone-UK

Hi

You are very unlikely to find a prescription drug online that meets the requirements, you GP will have a good reason for not prescribing, have you asked why?

Using a spacer several time is equal to a nebulise ,

huggs profile image
huggs in reply to stone-UK

Thanks stone. It is just the policy of the health centre not to allow patients to home nebulise because they want to keep a close eye on patients lung conditions, and would prefer patients to be nebulised in hospital conditons. I thought it may save trips to the hospital if I could use my own. I will be seeing a respiratory consultant soon so will ask him his opinion. Thanks again.

helingmic profile image
helingmic in reply to stone-UK

Also, have you been referred to a consultant. My GP refused me to have a nebuliser, but my consultant prescribed it with the drug! This was in 1998, had nebuliser and Combivent ever since.

peege profile image
peege

I was told by a respiratory nurse that 10 puffs of Ventilin into a spacer is equivilant.

You wont be able to buy prescribed drugs on the internet. If you found Ventolin then it would quite likely to be fake and dangerous.

Perhaps your consultant will help. If not then you may be able to get a private prescription form him/her.

huggs profile image
huggs in reply to peege

Thanks peeg. You are quite right in what you say. I'll just wait and see what the consultant says.

mskpjb profile image
mskpjb in reply to peege

Hi peeg, did you really mean 10 puffs of the inhaler into the spacer or inhale one puff 10 times ? If the former`s true I`m going to have to get a plentiful supply of my Seretide in as my doc only prescribes one a month. Was given a spacer but never told exactly how to use it. Best wishes, Sheila x

Maximonkey profile image
Maximonkey in reply to mskpjb

Hi mskpjb, be very careful Seretide is not the same as Ventolin and I believe 8 puffs per day is the recommended dosage of Ventolin as you can get the shakes if you take too much. Please go back to your GP or phone your respiratory nurse and seek advice. Maximonkey

peege profile image
peege in reply to mskpjb

Hi Mskpjb,

OMG, no it was Ventolin (blue, spray inhaler) ONLY that she was talking. It's an emergency measure which would be the equivilent to nebulising Salbutamol.

And as an emergecy measure it's 10 sprays into the spacer, then your normal inhaling from your spacer the once.

Seretide is our 'preventer' so you'd be over dosing on it if you were to put 10 puffs into the spacer....... oh my goodness, just shows how peeps could get the wrong end of the stick.

I must be more careful with information in future.

All my inhalers (Seretide twice daily preventer and my blue emergency BreathEas)i are both powdered so dont require a spacer.

This is where PR is so useful because they teach you about different inhalers and the correct way to take them.

Sorry for the confusion, when in doubt DONT - or speak to your health professionals.

xxx Peeg

I know one Seretide spray inhaler cost £60 & the powder, disc shaped ones are much less.

I was changed to the powdered Seretide because I'd been using the spray with spacer wrongly for 3 years! Numpty me

phillips1 profile image
phillips1 in reply to peege

Don't knock numptys Peeg. The world needs numptys to make people like me look clever. lol

Bobby xx

peege profile image
peege in reply to phillips1

oo thanks, I feel ten feet tall now :D

mskpjb profile image
mskpjb in reply to peege

Thanks peeg and maximonkey for your replies. I`ve never had Ventolin so didn`t realise the difference. There`s always something new to learn on this site and you aren`t made to feel thick if you ask a question. Keep well, Sheila xx

in reply to mskpjb

Hi Sheila, when it comes to medicines, each person should be listening to their own doctor or respiratory nurse and taking their own medicine as prescribed. As each of our medicines and dose may vary from the next person. What may have been ok for one patient may not be ok for another.

Take care and breathe good.

mskpjb profile image
mskpjb in reply to

You`re right BlakeyC and I certainly wouldn`t ever just do something that was recommended to someone else but I would get it verified by the respiritory nurse. Cheers, Sheila x

cofdrop-UK profile image
cofdrop-UK

As far as I know you can't and if you could you have no way of knowing the medication is not contaminated. You really need your docs to be onside. Not sure what your condition is hun but I would think your best bet would be to discuss with your consultant if nebulising would be beneficial for you.

Good luck

cx

huggs profile image
huggs in reply to cofdrop-UK

Thanks so much for responding and I agree with you and Peeg. It is just so frustrating at the moment but I'll have to wait and see the consultant. I have asthma and currently being treated for copd, but they are not sure if it is that or bronchiectasis. Thanks to all who replied.

in reply to huggs

I don't have a nebuliser for the same reason as you don't. I can fully understand why some GP's refuse to issue nebulisers as, from experience, I know some patients do use them when they should really be under hospital care (I was a Nurse until I had to take early retirement).

If required, I use a Spacer with my Salbutamol inhaler as others have mentioned. This DOES work.

Thérèse

huggs profile image
huggs in reply to

Thank you for replying to my question. This is the first time I have been on this forum and I appreciate the advice from everyone. Part of the problem is that I live on a small island in Scotland and it can take some time to get proper medical attention. However, I will be seeing a consultant soon and will take his advice and maybe bring up the question of a spacer as a number of you who have replied have mentioned this. Thanks again

peege profile image
peege in reply to huggs

pleasure :)

kassy6767 profile image
kassy6767 in reply to huggs

what is a spacer?

The respiratory consultant at my local hospital gave me my nebuliser. I only got it because I needed to use Colimycin for eradication treatment for pseudomonas. Otherwise I don't use it. But I have met those with serious Asthma and COPD who have nebs at home. I think they might get their prescriptions on the hospital's advice. Your GP would have to do as they advised if that was the case.

cofdrop-UK profile image
cofdrop-UK in reply to

Agree with poemsgalore if your consultant loans you a nebuliser and sends a treatment plan to your GP to prescribe the medication, then your GP would follow the advice. I have bronchiectasis and under any neb treatments it has 'as directed by hospital' below it.

Good luck

cx

huggs profile image
huggs in reply to cofdrop-UK

Hi again, thanks for your advice and once I see a consultant the picture will be a lot clearer. I hope!! Much appreciation.

huggs profile image
huggs in reply to

Thanks for replying. I was thinking of discussing this with my respiratory consultant when I see him, which will be a first appointment. I am sure that if he thinks I need one then he will recommend that to my GP. My circumstances are a bit complicated due to where I live and other health issues, so I will put my trust in the consultant when I get a definitive diagnosis. .Thanks again.

huggs profile image
huggs in reply to

Hi poems galore. Thanks for replying and I really appreciate the advice. If the consultant thinks I need back up treatment available at home then I am sure he will advise my GP. As I said earlier my situation is complicated by where I live and other health issues. I will bring things up with the consultant when I see him though, which will be a first appointment.

hopetorun profile image
hopetorun

hi Huggs I would not go down that route unless you absolutely have to. the nebuliser is the first line of defence when you are realy ill or have an asthma attack. if you sue it at home you take that option away it is much better to continue with the sprays for as long as you can. best wishes

huggs profile image
huggs in reply to hopetorun

Hi hopetorun, Thanks for replying. I have used accuhalers for years and now my condition has deteriorated and as I live alone ( we all know how scary it is when you cannot breathe) I just thought some back up would be a good idea. I will follow the consultants advice though. Thanks again.

zaney profile image
zaney

Hi huggs , I was given a nebuliser by the respiratory nurse at the hospital , she said it was because i have asthma and stage 4 copd and if my breathing is extra bad i have problems with the inhalers , something that was never suggested by my doctors . Good luck with your app with the consultant hope all goes well . x :-)

huggs profile image
huggs in reply to zaney

Thanks for taking the time to reply and sending me good wishes. I will make sure that the consultant realises how my respiratory problems have had a terrible impact on my life in the past year. I realise now through everyone who has replied that the consultant will advise me if I need one. Keep well

alanjudy profile image
alanjudy

I have a nebuliser at home but that is because my consultant told me I needed to nebulise salbutamol. I also nebulise colomycin. My GP prescribes the medication but won't give me a nebuliser!

Judith

huggs profile image
huggs in reply to alanjudy

It seems crazy to me that your consultant is advising you to have a nebuliser, but your GP will not give you one. It may depend on the area you live in and the budget etc. Good luck and keep well.

CornishBrian profile image
CornishBrian

It seems that the general ruling now is that any drug through the neb can have adverse effects and has to be strictly controlled by the medics. I have a neb but just us saline through it , relying on my spacer for drugs. Incidentally, my GP informed me that the small phials of saline are more expensive than the phials of drugs.

huggs profile image
huggs in reply to CornishBrian

Thanks for replying CornishBrian. As I have been saying I will need to see the consultant and it may be that he advises a nebuliser for steam. Hope you keep well and thanks.

cofdrop-UK profile image
cofdrop-UK in reply to CornishBrian

Brian I am interested in your statement. Can you elaborate where it is now the general rule drugs admistered through a neb can have adverse effects, remembering most drugs can sometimes have adverse effects. It is very common with bronchiectasis that we contribute massively in the management of our condition and work as a team with our medics, so I am interested where the source of your post came from. Many bronchs have to nebulise abs through a nebuliser and indeed many do their own IVs.

Surely it is at the discretion of the consultant if a patient is sensible enough and able to manage their medication as they do with oral meds, and let's face it there are tons of side effects with orals being systemic.

Love cx

in reply to CornishBrian

Blimey, I didn't know that Brian. You use an awful lot of saline phial up when on 3 months eradication with Colimycin.

jinx703 profile image
jinx703 in reply to CornishBrian

Keep you eye on lidi they now and again sell nebs . and sell phials of saline . with2 year shelve life

huggs profile image
huggs in reply to jinx703

HI jinx,

Goodness me, I had forgotten about this old post. Thanks for the tip.

Take care,

hugs from Huggs xxx :)

kassy6767 profile image
kassy6767 in reply to jinx703

what type of Saline do you buy and do you mix with something? I HAVE A NEBULIZER BUT NO MEDICINE FOR IT AND I HAVE COPD

annienell profile image
annienell in reply to kassy6767

Hi Kassy - This is a very old thread so you may not receive any replies. I suggest you post your question on the main home page of the forum - click here: healthunlocked.com/blf then go to 'write a post'.

Eve3066 profile image
Eve3066

I can't understand the reasoning behind not Issuing a nebuliser. I am sure you are not stupid enough I to use it all the time and only keep it for when necessary. I actually bought mine years ago and it has been a life saver. Not only does it dispense the salbutamol more efficiently, it also seems to calm you down if you are panicking.

Surely this is part of the home emergency I pack that you need if your. Not near a hospital. A spacer is not the same when you are gasping for breath

huggs profile image
huggs in reply to Eve3066

Thanks a lot for replying Eve3066. I see my GP later today and will bring the subject up again, but I think she will say to wait and see what the consultant says.

CornishBrian profile image
CornishBrian

I can't point you in the direction of written instructions, From my point, Royal Derby Hospital, The Derbyshire Respiratory team and my GP have all informed me that if I need medicating through a neb, I have to attend hospital and be monitored during the time I am on it. This I have done four times in the last 13 months. It is a serious health issue. I couldn't even buy a neb through a chemists..even though they had sold them previously. I did get one but can only get saline water or sterile water on prescription.

Lurcherman profile image
Lurcherman

Steer clear of any drugs on the internet, end of!!

pearlsmith profile image
pearlsmith

unfortunately some doctors are refusing to supply Ventolin for nebulisers at home the reason being they feel people become to be too reliable on them and sometimes this tends to mask the underline problem. maybe if you speak with the practice manger they can explain why your g.p. reuses to give Ventolin out for nebulisers and she may well be able to let you know if and how you can get it although sometimes this may result in changing your g.p.

huggs profile image
huggs in reply to pearlsmith

Thanks for replying Pearl. I fully understand the reasoning behind some doctors not wanting patients to home nebulise. I would not use it unless it was absolutely necessary and my GP has actually said he knows I would not do this. I live on a small island with one practice so it is difficult at times. At the moment they do not know if I have copd or bronchiectasis, although I am being treated for copd. I also have asthma and have been a non smoker all my life. I am waiting to see a consultant so hopefully the situation will be clarified soon. A great big thank you to all who replied and gave sound advice. I hope you all keep well.xx

pearlsmith profile image
pearlsmith in reply to huggs

hi huggs when you see the consultant explain this to him/her and maybe thats why the g.p. wont supply you because you have not yet been diagnosed has having c.o.p.d however you do not have to have been a smoker to have c.o.p.d has iv explained to lots when doing the awareness days and they say iv never smoked. its not all caused through smoking its also through air pollution. so factories if you have worked where there is any dust. or where there has been a caol mine or coalite plant car pollution. and things like this can contribute to it there is however a 1 in so many millions that have a gene that could also be the course of this however when you have seen the consultant im sure he will be able to put your mind at ease and you will hopefully feel a lot better off once you know for sure what it is

huggs profile image
huggs in reply to pearlsmith

Hi again Pearl. I appreciate your input and advice. I agree with you that when the picture becomes a lot clearer then I will get some back up home treatment if the consultant thinks its necessary. I have only been on Spiriva for 12 days, and, when I saw my GP two days ago she said it was too early to show any improvement. I have been ill with this for a year now and she said because I had it for so long and my lungs are hyperinflated it might take a bit longer to see any improvement. If there is no improvement she said it would probably be bronchiectasis. Thanks again. xx

happyfeet59 profile image
happyfeet59 in reply to pearlsmith

My understanding from newspaper reports is that research has shown that the proper use of a spacer with ventolin is as effective as nebulised salbutamol so gp's don't necessarily prescribe nebs.

I've also read similar to pearlsmith, that drs have found some patients used nebs and don't seek help soon enough. Too much Ventalin makes me shake.

pearlsmith profile image
pearlsmith

for those that can get stuff for nebuliser,s but cant get a nebuliser they do sell the machine on the internet we bought six of these for our pulmonary nurse to use

banneyj profile image
banneyj

My doctor prescribed Fostair & ever since my asthma attacks have dwindled to a point where I don't seem to struggle breathing any more. Fostair is a preventative medication & seems to work brilliantly ( for me )

huggs profile image
huggs

Hi banney,

Thanks for your reply. I had completely forgotten about this post.! LOL. I have had asthma for a good numbers of years which was controlled well until around 2 years ago now when there was a deterioration following a viral infection. My respiratory symptoms became much worse, and since I posted I have been confirmed as having copd at the first stage. I am on seretide 500mg, Spiriva and ventolin. The Spiriva has made a world of difference to me, and find I do not need to use the ventolin as often as before, although I still have to use it daily. Have had numerous infections since this post, but happily am free from them just now.

Glad your fostair is working well for you, and long may it continue. Good luck

hugs from Huggs xxxx

Colours23 profile image
Colours23

Ok,some gps surgeries don't,but if the message is to keep out of hospital, and you know if you get bad the first thing you need is a nebulizer,also surgery where I live now didn't even offer a service that if you had an attack you could go to docs and be put on one,blimey!!!so to keep me out of hospital I was given a no.to ring if I needed help from the oxy people had to double up Their job,also get a relationship with the chemist and they can support you too,I bought one fro m chemist and asked if they could help me as I really need to stay out of hospital,and have this back up med!,! It worked I get a box a month now it has saved me this winter to loosen the muck,not have emergencies ,I was spoken to in a rude manner;"their only for emergencies)!!made me realize right then that nursing staff at the docs do not have enough knowledge of this disease to stop patients help,we need more people that have an understanding of copd at surgeries Or it is pure negligence against hunman rights. So there! That's what I think.

Koalabear69 profile image
Koalabear69

Try looking on Amazon on the internet they have quite a few different ones and the medication that goes with it.

huggs profile image
huggs in reply to Koalabear69

Thanks Koala, I had completely forgotten about this post.

I have needed nebulised 3 times in the past year, so will bring it up with consultant again.

hugs from Huggs xx :)

Lolly2 profile image
Lolly2

Hi there Huggs,....(This is an old post, but....)

I'm not sure which inhaler it is, but it contains the same medication you find in a nebuliser. In fact, I believe it may be ventolin/Salbutamol to open up the airways. I'd check with your doctor about the inhaler. How on earth can he/she have a principle of not allowing nebulisers at home?.....probably price driven.

I had a nebuliser at home for 5 years, but now I do not need it, as I have more effective inhalers for my various complaints.

I hope you are getting better....a little bird said you had been unwell!

Much Love from, Lolly. {{{xxx}}}

Please help I am buying my own nebuliser but need the medicines for copd quite desperate many thanks

Diemond1 profile image
Diemond1 in reply to

Hi i seen your post about the medication for the breathing machine and i litteraly have a case just sitting in the closet i will sell them to you for a little bit of nothing if you still need them

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