Inhalers which one first

[Gazza01]

Hi all. Like many people I have more than one inhaler to take. But my question is does it make a difference which one is taken first. I have read people saying that take one to open up the airways and then take the other. I have seen people say that they take one puff of ventolin every morning and that opens the airways for another medicine. On the other hand others have said that is totally wrong as the ventolin will cover whatever part in the lungs and stop the other mess from working as well as they could.

I am currently on fostair and have just been given spiriva. I would like to know if there's a correct sequence to follow and even if a gap in time should be left between the two. I shall of course be experimenting myself with this over the coming weeks but have any of you been told by consultants etc if there is a better way.

[2greys]

I take my Spiriva at 6am, then Fostair at 7:30am just before going to work, Bricanyl at 1:30pm then Fostair again at 7:30pm. That regime works very well for me.

[stone-UK]

Hi

All inhalers are designed for specific purpose and do not need the assistance of any other inhaler to make them work or be more effective.

Choose a method that suits your lifestyle, take at the same time each day.

Taking a reliever first is personal choice. Some do some don’t.

[Hidden in reply to stone-UK]

I disagree, Stone. Efficacy of steroid inhalers is tied to surface coverage - by taking salbutamol (or similar) shortly prior, you allow access to areas of lung surface that might otherwise be left unreached and therefore not reduce inflammation to the same degree. You don’t HAVE to take a bronchodilator first, but it improves the efficacy of all other inhaled treatments if you do, and is referenced by a number of organisations as being the recommended order including the NHS and Asthma UK. It’s different if you haven’t been prescribed a short-acting dilator and you only use a combined long-acting and steroid, there you have no choice, but where you have been prescribed salbutamol or similar, that should always be taken first.

[CDPO16]

I was told by my respiratory nurse and at pulmonary rehab to take ventolin 15 minutes before my fostair. My GP and former consultant are/were aware of this and have never contradicted it so I have maintained that regime

[Hidden]

Generally open the airways before taking the inhaled steroids.

But I just use my spiriva first which is a 24 hr bronc dilater, then the inhaled steroid and the additional bronc dilater 12 hour before steroid inhaler at night to help through the night..

Some people have combination inhaler with both meds in the one inhaler but all my meds are separate so that is why I use in order, open airways then the steroid inhaler about 15 mins later.

[Darceydoo]

Ventolin 1st with a gap of 5 mins then preventer one gap 5 mins then Braltus 😊

[fenty]

I take clenil first thing morning last thing at night,i use braltus in between and ventolin in between those two I’m not sure if it would make any difference if i tried it any other way round,I wouldn’t think so as I’d still be using them it’s just the way it was explained to me at respiratory clinic.

[yorkie70]

Hi Gazza thought this may help you and other members. The two gentlemen who put it together have been my mentors for a number of years.

emphysema.net/inhaler_seque...

Breath easy exercise often.

Dave.

My motto. Yes I have COPD but COPD does not have me.

Have a good weekend.

[MoyB]

I take Relvar and Incruse. My consultant told me NOT to take Ventolin first. xx Moy

[ralu79]

I took Spiriva for 8 years, I can say that it really works..... it opens up the airways, but Ventolin for me is zero. I have emphysema and oxygen treatment, and now I have Spiolto Respimat, a combination of Spiriva and Onbrez

( Onbrez was useless and made me choke) and I feel well. But Spiriva should be the first for you, my opinion. Make sure you rinse your throat with water after all these inhalers, every time, to avoid other problems....

[Bryju124 in reply to ralu79]

Agree get thrush if you let it get hold

[Bryju124]

I take my Salbutamol when I get up go to the bathroom do my ablutions then back to bedroom to get dressed approx twenty mins then I take my seretide, straight after take my spiriva

I dont need to take my seretide for twelve hours