Should I get off the steroids

[Gazza01]

Hi all. Have emphysema and asthma. Been told it's still mild only recently after spirometry. Then had a chat with the gp about inhalers as I was using ventolin several times a day. I had seen that some asthma sufferers were on seritide without it giving them the shakes as some of the other combi inhalers so I mentioned it and the gp put me on it. 25/125. Since then I have read about the pneumonia issue with ICS and so I have made another appt to sort it out. I see spiriva is used for both asthma and copd. Would this be a safer option? i do seem to have a asthma overlap as I had a lot of reversability on the test (320ml) so they may want me on ICS. Any advice appreciated before I see the GP

[stone-UK]

Hi

Spiriva is a non steroid long acting inhaler, Seretide is long acting inhaler with steroid.

Fostair is another long acting with steroid suitably for asthma and copd.

Maybe a appointment with your respitory team who can give more time, will resolve your issues to find a suitable treatment regime.

Not all people are affected by the listed side effects.

[HungryHufflepuff]

The important thing is to find an inhaler that works for you and doesn't cause too many side effects for you. Right now I have Spiriva and seretide. Something was causing me to feel nauseous every evening and get weird palpitations so I assumed it was the seretide as it's a steroid but in fact I think it's the Spiriva. Before these I had Fostair which didn't work at all for me and made me really ill but I know it's great for a lot of people. We are all different and inhalers work differently for us all. I hope you find something that suits you 🤞

[Malkybhoy]

Hello steroids I would only recommend now as a last resort I’m a Athsma sufferer had a bad attack and got steroids to take 8 every morning I ended up taking over 600 and my stomach line burst was sick blood hospital said I took to many yet gp giving me them al the time if you need take steroids try n get back off them again when you feel stronger

[soulsaver in reply to Malkybhoy]

ICS = inhaled (cortico)steroids - not prednisolone.

[Wolffers]

Hi! I have severe emphysema but not asthma. Taking Spiriva daily plus another inhaler called Zenhale twice a day - this one has some steroid in it, but don’t know how much. They both work pretty well and have no real side effects after 4 years of taking them! The only time I take actual steroids is when having an exacerbation. Hope this helps a little...keep well!🙂

[Dolly12]

I also have emphysema and use servitude and spiriva without any problems

[Dolly12 in reply to Dolly12]

That should have said seretide

[Dollysdream]

Hi... I also have asthma and now moderate Emphysema (COPD). I was on Seretide and Clenile Modulite before COPD diagnosis - now on Spiriva Respimat which is now licensed for use in the UK to treat people with asthma aged six years and older and Relvar Ellipta , which is a dry powder inhaler that contains a corticosteroid (fluticasone furoate) and a long- acting beta2 agonist (vilanterol trifenatate).

Both Seretide and Revlar contain corticosteroid.

I found a vast improvement to my asthma and peak flow within a week or two after starting the Spiriva and Revlar. I had previously been on Serevent and Clenil for at least 20 years. However, after this length of treatment the steroid component has affected me, in that my skin is very thin and I bruise easily ( small price, I suppose, if I can breath and live a “ normal “ life.)

Hope this helps. X