Fostair inhaler instead of seretide

[Homer12]

Hi can anyone tell me if it has made a positive difference when changing from a seretide inhaler to a Fostair inhaler,As I have bronchiectasis and I’m now stopping my seretide to go on Fostair.Thanks

[HampshireLass]

Sorry, it didn't suit me at all. But, we are all different and my lung disease is different to yours.

[CDPO16]

I don't have bronchiectasis but my breathing was worse when I was prescribed seretide but improved when that was stopped and replaced with fostair. I think that we often have to try an inhaler to see if it suits us as we are all different and respond differently to different medications.

[Spacecat1]

Been Fostair since last October no problems so far

[peege]

YES! I thought I was okay on Seretide even though I always had a sore throat, bruised easily, and my skin was so thin it ripped off at the slightest knock. Then suddenly I was changed to Sirdupla which was awful for me. My lovely respiratory nurse changed that to Fostair MART saying it would be perfect for the way I use my inhaler for asthma control. It's been utterly fantastic . I rarely need Ventolin and even my skin has improved loads. P

[Yatzy in reply to peege]

Really interested to read that, peege. I’ve used Seretide 250 for years now, very good asthma control but my skin, especially on forearms, is a mess, purple patches after the slightest knock and tearing so easily. It has gone from bad to worse. On the rare occasion that I forget a dose, my arms rapidly improve, so maybe I’ll see if a change to Fostair MART suits me too. Thanks for sharing, Penny 🌻

[peege in reply to Yatzy]

Its definitely worth a try Yatzy. Honestly the difference is amazing. I used to wear a double layer of tubigrip on my lower arms for activities like gardening and sailing. Before a rose thorn would rip a triangle of skin/flesh nowadays it's just a rose thorn prick without the rip.. I carried packs of Steristrip plaster stitches with me wherever I went to mend myself to avoid some or the scarring. . Fostair MART comes with a booklet explaining how it can be used - the MART bit. Penelope x

[Yatzy in reply to peege]

That sounds a huge step forward. I identify with the gardening comments and have to wear a cotton kagoule sort of thing which thorns tend to slide over, but a bit warm sometimes. I’ve had some nasty tears, even just getting knocked on door handles etc carelessly sometimes.

I’m nervous to change but have decided I would like to try, preferably before winter weather is upon us. Thanks for the reassurance and further info. Penny (Didn’t realise we had the same name!)

[peege in reply to Yatzy]

The best name! I'm always Penelope though 😉

[Yatzy in reply to peege]

My mother wishes I was....and I was while I was at school. But my family name of Penny prevailed! 😊

[Nimrod2 in reply to peege]

I can only agree about the effects of seretide on skin. I am so much better since changing to Fostair. I have now moved to Trimbow so no need to take Spiriva either.

[Egpa1 in reply to Yatzy]

Im the same, went to bri yesterday and the new a consultant said he is going to change me after i have finished the seretide i have. Hope my bruises and skin clear up to, fed up of splitting open and bruises.

[Suzie42]

I was changed from seretide to fostair 2 yes ago and breathing better, ventolin hardly used, but skin bruises and bleeds easily.

[_9carole]

Hi yes I have been on Fostair for years. Very good with me. Tried to change to Trimbow that didn't agree with me. But Fostair great.

[garshe]

Fostair did not agree with me .caused severe problems with my breathing leading to panic attacks. Ended up hospitalised. All went back to normal when I stopped the Fostair and went back to my original inhaler. We are all different so hope you will be ok. xxSheila

[Hidden]

I have bronchiectasis and asthma and was changed to fostair a few years ago. I have no problems and rarely use my ventolin. However I am on the higher dose inhaler which can't be used in the SMART regime, and this high dose of steroids produces all the bruising and thinning of skin problems.

[Glamgran18 in reply to Hidden]

Hi, please explain the SMART regime. I’ve not heard of this?

[Hidden in reply to Glamgran18]

as far as I understand it: if you are using a combined inhaler like fostair etc. and only with the lower dose of steroid you can use it regularly, say twice a day, but also as necessary like you would your ventolin inhaler, up to I think 8 inhalations a day.

However you need to talk to your doctor about this.

[starskyd]

Hi Homer12, I too have bronchiectasis and asthma, and swapped from. Seretide to Fostair with positive results. Im a lot better on this, I take it through a spacer. I've been very pleased with results. Good luck with changing.

[watergazer]

Had a very positive effect on me. Not needed anti biotics since I started fostairnexthaler over 2 years ago but as others have said we are all affected differently . X anita

[santisuk]

Do you have asthma as well as bronchiectasis Homer? If just bronchiectsis only perhaps you should try seeing whether you can do without corciscosteroid and bronchodilator inhalers altogether.

I gave up Symbicort (similar drug content) when I read the British Thoracic Society guidance that there is no clinical evidence to support the need for those with bronchX but without asthma or COPD complications to take nhaled corciscosteroid. Can't remember without looking it up what BTS guidance said about the long term bronchodilator element.

Gave it up with a little bit of trepidation - I thought it had been one of my rocks through the days of several exacerbations a year. But I did not notice its removal from my treatment program. I now only take prophylactic azithromycin 3 times weekly and NAC carbocysteine (mucolytic) for my bronchX and I'm quite happy with that.

[Homer12 in reply to santisuk]

Hi,Yes I have severe asthma also,Had a nightmare few years now with getting chest infections so hopefully now my inhalers are getting changed and I’m going on Azithromycin also I start to see a improvement

[Glamgran18 in reply to Homer12]

How is Azithromycin administered? I have had bad reactions to some antibiotics used to treat bronchiectasis and I’m sure this is one they wanted me to trial before COVID so I t still hasn’t happened. I’ve had a pic line put in a few times to have an antibiotic administered via a balloon inside a large plastic egg but I can’t remember it’s name. I haven’t had it now for about 18 months. I can’t take doxycycline so there aren’t many options available to me.

[Homer12 in reply to Glamgran18]

I haven’t started the Azithromycin yet but I think it’s just in tablet form like other antibiotics,I start them today if my ecg is ok,

[Jackieshep57]

Mine was changed around 3 years ago. No problems.

[Glamgran18]

Hi, When I was diagnosed with bronchiectasis my consultant replaced my Seretide with Fostair 200/6 and also prescribed an additional inhaler, Spiriva Respimat (to be taken in the morning) which is specifically for the bronchiectasis. These inhalers made a huge difference to me and I haven’t had so many chest infections since this change to my meds. It is really important to rinse your mouth out thoroughly after using the Fostair as otherwise you can get oral thrush or other mouth infections. Give it a try and good luck

[watergazer]

I was changed to fostairnexthaler about 2 years ago. I don’t have any flare ups like I used to. No extremely bad coughing bouts that would wear me ragged. My life has been better. I have asthma and mild Bronchiectasis. As others have said it’s worth a try however bear in mind we all react differently x Anita