Fostair doesn't last all day

[stuffed84]

Hi all

I had what was probably covid back in March but the breathlessness never went away so was put on inhalers.

Have recently been changed to Fostair 100/6 2 puffs twice a day.....was previously on clenil.

The Fostair has been fab, I have actually felt back to normal for a good 7-8 hours of the day but it seems to start to wear off mid afternoon.

I am due to have this reviewed in a couple of weeks and wonder what they are likely to do.

It is almost like I need an extra dose at lunchtime.....can this be prescribed?

Or would the 200/6 be more likely to last the day?

Or are they more likely to swap me to something else.

[builter]

Hi.

I was on fostair but I found the same thing .now I'm on Trimbo and feel alone better for 24 hrs

[stuffed84 in reply to builter]

Interesting, will look that one up

[Spacecat1 in reply to builter]

Yes Fostair good to start off then breathing off have taken e extra puff and it helps. Heard a lot about Trimbow how often do you take it

[stuffed84 in reply to Spacecat1]

Looking on BNF it looks like Trimbow is for COPD can't see asthma management mentioned

[peege]

If you check with your pharmacist s/he'll tell you that fostair is a MART inhaler. It can be taken as a rescue like ventolin. Its Sunday tomorrow so look up the details about it and also the leaflet. Fostair is usually given out with its own booklet, I'll look out mine for you and come back and add the details when I find them. Personally speaking, I'd have no qualms about having one puff after lunch to keep me going until the next full evening dose. As for a prediction of your future treatment, I couldn't hazard a guess I'm afraid. P

[stuffed84 in reply to peege]

I can't try things too much yet as my review is two days before inhaler should run out so need it to last but I think that would seem to be the logical way of doing it, hopefully they will agree and time my prescriptions to allow that.

From what I could see the MART dosing was 1 puff twice a day with rescue puffs in-between so wasn't sure if it would matter that I would still need the two morning and night with extra mid day?

[Hidden in reply to stuffed84]

One of the things I have learnt over the years is never to get to the stage where I am about to run out of inhalers. So I always order a new one when I start the last one I have. That way you never get to the point of having to ration yourself....the anxiety could make the breathing problems worse!

[stuffed84 in reply to Hidden]

Yeah, would love to but my surgery won't let me, usually it's about a week before I run out that I am allowed but because they are trialling this one I have to have review before I can get more and they scheduled it really close to when it runs out.....

[Hidden in reply to stuffed84]

Not good management...bad luck.

[Patk1 in reply to stuffed84]

Im prescribed mornand night + in between whn needed

[knitter]

I was on Clenil.....then I was given Fostair, but like you the effect didn’t last all day.....by about 4pm I was really struggling .

Now on Qvar .

[stuffed84 in reply to knitter]

Is that the same dose Qvar? Is it better? Do you now need your blue inhaler also as the reliever isn't included?

[2greys]

The 200/6 has double the corticosteroid content than the 100/6. You should be using a short acting Bronchial dilator in between, usually Ventolin is given for this. Extra puffs of Fostair when needed is usually for Asthma, not COPD. For me, over use of either inhaler invokes paying a price. Extra corticsteroids = increased bruising and thinner skin. The long acting Bronchial dilator (Fostair) and/or short acting Bronchial dilator = excruciating leg cramps in the night.

If you are constantly short of breath every day I would suspect COPD but only a Spirometry test can tell the difference definitively. It is also possible to have both Asthma and COPD. You really need a referral to see a Respiratory Consultant by your GP...........alas difficult because of Covid-19.

Ventolin does not work at all to reduce breathlessness for me, I use Bricanyl for this instead. I also use Fostair the 200/6 variant, because I also have Eosinophilia (inflammation of the lungs).

[stuffed84 in reply to 2greys]

Well I am currently suspected asthma not given me a diagnosis as due to being brought on by covid they are not 100% what they are dealing with....... Could be "long covid"........

I cannot entertain the possibility of covid giving me COPD..... That is too much for my little brain to handle lol

[2greys in reply to stuffed84]

You may well have Long Covid in which case nobody can really help, even the doctors, it is still too new, in which case, for now, then yes you are 'stuffed'.

I went through Long Covid myself for around 3 months, more shortness of breath and with what was even worse for me, fatigue.

Hopefully it will fade with time, which is still an unknown presently. Perhaps once the infection rate goes down you might get to see a respiratory consultant and a CT scan can be ordered which will certainly help towards a proper diagnosis. I really hope that you do not have a lung disease, it is a terrible condition that permanently changes your life.

If you smoke then you should certainly quit. Do not stop any exercise as you can de-condition very quickly and end up with even worse breathing when you try to exert yourself.

[stuffed84 in reply to 2greys]

I have been as active as possible but can do so much more now with the Fostair..... didn't realize quite how much I was struggling as had kind of gotten used to it

[2greys in reply to stuffed84]

I agree to a certain extent, about getting used to it. I have got used to getting out of breath, but get really hacked off with it stopping me from doing things now, that is with using my 3 different inhalers to the max. The saying of "The good old days" has a lot of real meaning to it.

[andy121]

I'm on Fostair 100/6 2 puffs twice a day then can have up to 4 extra puffs as needed which is the mart regime works wonders for me.

[starskyd]

Hi stuffed84. I was told I could increase my fostair to 2 puffs in afternoon if feeling really bad. May be worth checking. This was by a respiratory nurse. Good luck hope you feel a bit better soon. Keep safe

[watergazer]

I'm on fostairnexthaler 100/6 2 puffs twice a day which works for me with asthma and mild bronchiectasis. I have been told I can increase it to more puffs during the day if required though I prefer my blue inhaler for that . It seems like you need to get a diagnosis for your breathing problems and for that you need to do tests and maybe have a CT scan . Take care x

[teresa297]

I wish I felt like I was getting something from my inhalers my breathing has never seemed any better I just thought they were to stop it getting worse

[Some12U]

Hello ,

I’m sorry to hear you’re still suffering with your chest since suspected Covid 19 in the Spring. I also had the same more recently, and I was breathless for a few weeks afterwards. I was given a 5 day course of steroids in October, and that seemed to clear it up. I was already taking Seretide 250/25 inhaler two puffs twice a day - which is the highest dose - however I now use my reliever more than I used to. I don’t know what treatment you’ll be recommended but it may not be a course of steroids it you’re able to speak normally. Possibly a higher dose of the Fostair inhaler to decrease inflammation in your airways. The fact that relief isn’t lasting day long would seem to indicate that’s needed. Good luck, and I hope you’ll get it sorted out. It can take a long time to recover fully, that’s what I’ve heard from people. 🤞🙏

[SJCJ]

Hi there. Fostair actually has a MART licence which means Maintenance & Reliever Therapy. This means that you can have extra puffs during the day - sooooo if you are using 2 puffs twice a day, you have 4 puffs left to play with. This is a maximum of 8 puffs in 24hrs. Do yourself a favour & use a spacer device such as an aerochamber with it. Studies from a year ago showed that patients who had a perfect inhaler technique squirting the inhaler straight into their mouths had less than 10% lung deposition - whereas using a spacer = up to 50% lung deposition. Hope this helps.

[stuffed84 in reply to SJCJ]

I have been using a spacer so will continue

[nanasharp8]

Yes this can be done ,on my last review back in january ,my does was put up to 2 puffs 4 times a day . I think this is the maximum dose ...so what I do is take the 4 when I need it then drop back to normal 2 x 2 dose when I'm ok . Hope this helps reassure you xx

[stuffed84]

I suspect it will be a case of GP doing the best he can until Covid is calmed down....