Fostair/Braltus

[Edam]

I cant take Fostair during the day and lately my O2 levels have been falling.

The doctor has suggested I take Braltus as well as the Fostair .

Is this a good idea?

[CDPO16]

Hello and welcome. You haven't said why you can't use Fostair during the day. I use Fostair and Braltus inhalers and find both helpful. Your GP wouldn't prescribe the Braltus if he didn't think it would help you.

[Edam in reply to CDPO16]

I cant use Fostair or other steriod inhalers during the day as I get weak legs after about an hour of inhaling them. I can only use them just before I go to bed.This is a old problem which I have posted on here before.During the day I use a Oxis (formoterol) inhaler and the Fostair at night but this isnt working

[CDPO16 in reply to Edam]

I couldn't find any other posts from you, hence my reply. I think that the only way to find out if Braltus helps you is to try it.

[Edam in reply to CDPO16]

The problems I have with Fostair , and other inhalers,has been ongoing for years.I tried my Fostair Nexthaller 200/6 this morning and there is a massive improvment in my breathing. I still had weak legs but the benefit out weighed the side effects.

I will be trying to work out the best times to take the Fostair to avoid the side effects before I get prescribed the Braltus

[CDPO16 in reply to Edam]

I'm glad that you felt the Fostair helped this morning. It is often the case I think that the benefits outweigh the side effects. At least you are aware of the problems it causes you and can take care. I find that the Braltus helps me in addition to the Fostair and it is the first Tiotropium inhaler I have had that hasn't had any adverse effect for me. I take it in a morning about an hour after the Fostair.

It often seems to be trial and error with inhalers as we can all react differently to them. I hope that you go on alright.

[Edam in reply to CDPO16]

I have been using 200/6 Fostair Nexthaler as I have only used it at night but I have asked to be prescribed 100/6 as im starting to use it twice a day

[Troilus]

I took Fostair and Braltus. I found the combination worked well for me. The only problem, for me, was that when I needed it most ( low peak flow, etc) I found it difficult to inhale - I just didn’t seem to have the power to “suck” it out of the device.I changed to Spivira Respimat, which is the same thing, but in a different device.

I would definitely give it a go. Hope it works well for you too.

[jackdup in reply to Troilus]

Do you find the Spiriva is as effective? Are you still taking the Fostair in combination with the Spiriva?,

[Troilus in reply to jackdup]

Yes I think the Spivira Respimat is just as effective and it has the added benefit of being easier to take. I still take that and the Fostair. I used to take the Fostair first, wait a while and then take the Spivira.At the moment, I’m trying it the other way. Spivira first followed by Fostair, maybe 45 minutes later.

My theory is, that the Spivira will open up the airways and the Fostair can get further into the respiratory tract. I can’t say it has made much difference to peak flows (yet- early days), but it does seem to give me a deeper inhalation when taking the Fostair.

(It was never explained to me which way round to take them or how long to leave in between.)

[jackdup in reply to Troilus]

I have heard that before from a respiratory technician, but am not sure which order is best either. It seems to me they recommended taking the one with the steroid first but can’t remember fir sure. I suspect taking the Fostair with the steroid first may open up the airways better than Spiriva but that is simply an uneducated guess. I guess taking the Spiriva first would allow the steroid to get deeper into your lungs but taking the Fostair first may open the airways more than the Spiriva.

[garshe]

I had problems with Fostair, didnt agree with me. We are all different so doesnt apply to everyone Sheila 👍💕

[poppyshola]

Is the Fostair a purple pump spray ? I find that any of the gas pump sprays make me cough and out of breath after taking them !

I can only use the powder inhalers

The Braitus is a powder inhaler and much easier to draw in

[poppyshola]

Sorry I mean Pink not purple

[Lupino]

Hello Edam, I was offered Braltus last year in March as ventolin was not helping. It does help ease congestion and over a period of a few months I noticed an improvement. What has helped me as well as learning to breathe better, using ultra breathe, and even blowing up a balloon once a day ( not together!). Good luck with Braltus. x 🤗