Salbutamol Inhaler

[Picasso10]

One of the inhalers I use for my COPD is Salbutamol.The last 3 that I have used sometimes does not give the spray when I suck in.Does anyone else have this problem? I now take the top off and press the canister to make sure it is working.Sometimes I have to this a few times before it gives out the full spray.I clean it every week as per the instructions.

[stone-UK]

Hi

For a more efficient way of taking Salbutamol,try using a spacer, requires less co-ordination.

Spacer available through your GP.

[Picasso10 in reply to stone-UK]

Thanks for the speedy reply.I don't have a spacer.I'll ask at my doctor's for one.

[knitter]

Do you give the salbutamol inhaler a good shake , up and down before you use it?

Has your respiratory nurse or doctor monitored your inhaler technique at all?

As stone says a spacer is a good idea, I have two different types .

[Picasso10 in reply to knitter]

Thanks for the speedy reply.I always give the inhaler a good shake before I use it.I have never been shown how to use the inhaler at my doctor's,I just read the instructions that came with the inhaler,just got a prescription for it.I don't even know if they will have a spacer to give me.Do you know where I could buy one ?

[stone-UK in reply to Picasso10]

Hi

If you have to buy, which will be very surprising.

Try

chemistdirect.co.uk/aerocha...

[Picasso10 in reply to stone-UK]

Thanks for the information.

[knitter]

Hi Picasso, I get my spacers on prescription. But my prescriptions are free because of my age.....otherwise it's £8.60 .

One of my spacers is reasonably small so it will fit in my handbag, the other one is much bigger.

I think you can find inhaler technique on You tube. When I was first given my inhalers years and years ago I was not shown how to use them properly, since then the nurse has checked my technique, but even recently my friend was just handed hers with no instructions. She coughed straight away when the mist hit her throat, and her son had to show her in the end.

[Picasso10 in reply to knitter]

Thanks for the helpful reply.I will get one and look on you tube how to use it.

[corriena]

Have you talked to your pharmacists. If you have tried everything else, they may have had other complaints it may be a dodgy batch. But no iv had no problems like you describe. If you are not depressing the canister correctly this may cause the spray not to come out correctly maybe a haileraid would help you can get them from your pharmaci for a couple of bounds they come in two sizes and fit all inhalers.

Ps if you ask at your gp surgery they will make an appontment with a nurse( Asthma) to go through your inhaler tecneek. A spacer is a wonderfull thing it is easier to use and helps deliver more of the drug to your lungs and not the back of your throat.

[Picasso10 in reply to corriena]

My inhaler is supposed to work by breathing in without pressing the canister which is covered by a screw on top.

[corriena in reply to Picasso10]

So do you have an inhaler or a dry powder device

[starskyd]

Hi picasso10, try using a spacer.. Ive been advised this..Had my doubts but does help, just insert inhaler 1 end press and breathe normally other end, less effort and waste of inhalers..More goes through system. This can be prescribed by a GP.

[Picasso10 in reply to starskyd]

Thanks for the advice.As I said I'll try to get one.

[warwickstag]

All inhalers are less effective since they were forced to be CFC free in order to save the planet from global warming. However as regards salbutamol, the Rolls Royce in terms of efficacy is the original marketed under the Ventolin name. However very few of us are allowed to have these due to cost restrictions imposed on the NHS. A range of generic inhalers offer the nominally same drug in the form of Salamol, my own is made by IVAX, but these are much less efficient and need frequent washing in warm water to unclog the jets, and are probably not the cheap alternative they seem.

[Picasso10 in reply to warwickstag]

Thanks for the reply.I will wash it more often.

[corriena in reply to warwickstag]

Ventolin is not the moast expensive blue (rescue) inhaler it is actually one of the cheapest

[ennabell in reply to warwickstag]

I get my prescription at Superdrug and they always give me Ventolin inhalers even though salbutamol is on prescription. It is much more effective. Try them.

[Joany]

I suggest that you try salbutamol EASYHALER - much easier to use. Just depress the top once, place between lips - then take a breath in. I can't use the standard salbutamol because I can't co-ordinate the pressing down and breathing in. EASYHALER was suggested to me by my Asthma Nurse.

[Picasso10 in reply to Joany]

Thanks for the reply.I will look into this.As I said in one of my posts above,my inhaler gives a spray automatically when I breathe in.I don't need to press the canister.

[starskyd in reply to Joany]

I take fostair also and spiriva. Fostsir easy just one little breath. Spiriva quite hard....coordination again and doesnt work in spacer.

[nmcilveen2016 in reply to Joany]

this is the inhaler i currently take a blue easyhaler along with a relvar ellipta as my preventer inhaler. The easyhaler is so small and portable i also love the little protective cover you can get with it as i reguarly go swimming and the cover protects it from moisture

[Ern007]

I guess you are using the smaller Salbutamol Inhaler rather than the Ventolin. If it is that one it seems you are not getting a dose, but that's because the propellant in a CFC free inhaler is different.

As stone-UK says "using a spacer is best" - you get the full dose, the problem is, you can't carry in the pocket if you are out. I use Atrovent as a reliever when I am outdoors as well as the CFC free inhaler - for me it works better...

Ventolin has a stronger action - your doctor will probably swap you over and the ingrediant is the same, but Ventolin is larger and clumsy.

[Picasso10]

The inhaler I have is Salamol Easi-Breathe CFC-Free.100 micrograms Pressurised Inhalation Suspension Salbutamol Sulfate 200 metered doses.I also have a Seebri-Breezhaler to be used once a day.Thanks for all the replies and advice.Its gave me food for thought.Hope everyone has a good Christmas.