Meds...

[beeperoni]

My GP is the one who diagnosed me via spirometry, FEV1 64% - FEV1/FVC 70%. She put me on Breo Ellipta right away, but I think it made me worse. I get chest burning, sore/red throat, and lightheaded. She just switched me to Spiriva. I go see a pulmonary Dr on the 25th. Anyone else have problems with certain inhalers or corticosteroids?

[SeasideSusie]

Yes, definitely! I was first put on Ventolin (blue metered dose inhaler). With and without the spacer device I suffered sore/raw chest and throat and indigestion type discomfort. It was decided that the propellant was causing the problem so I was changed to dry powder Ventolin. I still suffered problems with that, similar but the chest and throat were still sore but not feeling as raw, plus the same indigestion type discomfort. I was then changed over to Bricanyl and again I experienced side effects similar to before.

I was eventually put on Spiriva and it was the first inhaler I could use without any real side effects or discomfort.

I recently had a worsening of symptoms and my GP added Seretide 250 (dry powder) and that of course is a steroid inhaler. Right from the start I had side effects - again sore throat and chest and some indigestion type discomfort but also I could feel aches in my back in the lung area. It also gave me an irritating dry cough at night in bed which would last for about an hour and I got some relief by sucking a throat sweet. I also generally felt worse for taking this new inhaler. I lowered the dose myself by only taking the morning inhalation and leaving off the evening one and that resulted in the nighttime cough disappearing.

At my request GP lowered it to Seretide 100 once a day (morning), side effects were still there, still sore throat/chest and aches in lungs. After a total of three months I felt no different from when I first went to GP, asked for a referral back to consultant and it was refused, I was given a gym referral instead!! I came off the Seretide at my request and am now just on Spiriva again.

I was prescribed Asmasal dry powder inhaler (another salbutamol one like Ventolin) at the suggestion of the pharmacist because he noticed I didn't have a reliever inhaler but it started to give me similar side effects as the Ventolin so I've stopped using that now.

Not sure what I'll do when I get another worsening of symptoms. There doesn't seem much alternative to what I've already been offered

[beeperoni in reply to SeasideSusie]

The inhalers seem so rough on my chest, lungs and throat too...I'm already scared because I'm newly diagnosed, but to not have anything work either???

[soulsaver in reply to SeasideSusie]

Hi Susie

There are a few others to try that may suit you better, but you don't say what your diagnosis is? You should start your own thread on this to get support.

[Hidden]

Hi sometimes an inhaler doesn't suit you but generally one or two will be ok or you can adapt like Susie. There is usually a way round this x

[ck101]

I was off Advair / Seretide 500 for a few weeks, went back on it and had intense burning across my back & lungs.

I've now started Alvesco and Onbrez.

[knitter]

Yes there are some inhalers that make my symptoms worse.

[toerag]

I have terrible kidney ache whele taking prednisolone steroids... the GP said it not a normal side effect though....but read somewhere that high doses of Ventolin can cause muscle cramps, so beware as the cramps can occur anywhere, and are both a nuisance and a pain ( pun intended )

[soulsaver]

Yep lots of people on here have had problems - I struggled for months with high doses of seretide .. and the incompetent idiots I was with kept increasing the dose, instead of recognising it was the inhaler causing the prob.

Changed to symbicort, still had problems, then tried formoterol/ Spiriva/Seebri all+ ventolin and clenil for steroid if required...

Good luck, you'll find something that suits.

[Thomasjr]

The worst thing I have used was asmanx I used it for two years until I opened a used one and it was full of power. I opened two more that was full the dispenser wasn't working. It explained why I was in the hospital twice.

Spiriva and advair are my best but I can't say they do much.