Cheaper not necessarily better!

[rosewood88]

I have been taking Spirava and Seretide for years and had been jogging along quite well. Then my sister said she had tried Fostair and it had really helped her. So I changed to Fostair much to my chagrin. Really bad time over four month trial and went back to Spirava and Seretide but the damage had been done and I spent the next 18 months roughly every 8 weeks on doxycyline and steroids until I ended up in hospital where they gave me a penicillin based antibiotic that has finally cleared my infections. Now my healthcare assistant wants me to change to Trimbow. I have checked this out and it contains the same drugs as Fostair so no way am I taking this. Has anyone else had this problem?

[mikeadams51]

So sorry to hear of your woes. My consultant told me it’s not worth changing as I have been on seretide and spiriva so long without infections

[HungryHufflepuff]

I was really ill with Fostair too and ended up on steroids. Before that, I was on Clenil which also apparently contains the same drug as Fostair and also made me ill. Currently I have Spiriva and seretide. These are ok but not great, and having heard how Trimbow has really helped some people I was keen to try it too. However, I had not realised it contains the same drug as Fostair. Whatever that drug is, it does not seem to suit me at all.

[O2Trees]

Im wondering why a healthcare assistant is telling you to change rosewood. This is a decision that should be made a GP, consultant or specialist respiratory nurse level. Sounds like blanket instructions have been given to the assistant to recommend Trimbow to everyone which obviously doesnt take into account the differences that exist between all of us and our conditions.

[Claudine]

Just a comment from my perpective - I was taking the same two drugs for years for Bronchiectasis until I had an infection which detected pseudomonas. At this stage, the consultant decided I should change my meds because the steroid would just feed the pseudomonas. Now on Duaklir only and no problems. Yes, it's trial and error quite often.

[peege]

I'm sorry to hear this, terrible for you.

I have found that Fostair has changed my life. After nearly 3 years on it my skin integrity has improved enormously. Since changing from Seretide I no longer get skin ripped when it's knocked, the blood blisters I used to get on my throat and rarely need Ventolin any more.

I love that Fostair is licenced to take less or more of as needs change. When first prescribed it I was given a glossy little booklet and had to sign a form to say I understood how to use it.

Glad you're sorted now. We're all so different. P