At my last asthma review, i asked that my inhalers stayed as the propellant inhalers. Unfortunately the other day I mislaid my inhaler and had to get an emergency prescription.
This resulted in me being given an CFC free inhaler. I am struggling, i don't know if it is because I am not used to it, but it doesn't seem to be providing the dose properly.
Do other people have any thoughts on them
They have stopped ventolin because of the gas in it and replaced it with salamol which I and everyone I've spoken to thinks it's rubbish and takes a while to work. Found out the other day that ventolin does a powdered version, but to me if you're gasping for breath the gas helps it get to where it is needed. I'm all for saving the planet but not at the cost of somebody who relies on it to breath. The mind boggles I swear 🤬 😩
When you see these cities around the world that have so much pollution they create everyday that they can’t see the sun and we are to believe the propellant in Ventolin is going to be more harmful? I know little things add up and every bit helps but i don’t think a medically necessary inhaler should be discontinued when you see the pollution in some of these cities.
Hi Mellywelly. I was advised by respiratory nurse to use a spacer device . The blue ones top right in the picture can be prescribed but can be bought over the counter at chemists if wanted urgently. They and the technique described above for their use have made salbutamol a lot more effective for me. Also the warning that if the spacer whistles that is to show you are breathing in too hard or too fast. I hope this may help you. It certainly helped me.
My respiratory consultant told me that the propellant inhalers, ventolin go further into your lungs are are more effective, he has written to my GP insisting that me and my husband have them. I now am on Trimbow and don't need Ventolin anymore, but my husband does. I think if you cannot get on with the CFC inhaler you must go back to gp.
The ingredients in Ventolin and Salamol are the same Salbutamol sulphate but the propellant is different, so it’s the different propellants thats making the difference.
Hello, yes this happens.
I use the newer Salamol and it works for me.
Have you asked your pharmacist to show you the appropriate technique to use it effectively? Or you might find it on YouTube?
I find the mouth piece on my mine needs a weekly wash to keep the delivery hole free. Remove the canister, wash and dry the delivery mouth piece.
Hope this helps?
Go well
Pauline
I had to insist going back onto Ventolin as it just didn't work even with a spacer x
I had the same problem about 12 months ago.They changed my inhalers without any consultation 'to save the planet'.
I was generally not pleased with the respiratory team I had and they kept saying 'but the content is the same'.
After a couple of admissions for flare ups I finally convinced them that the propellant was less effective and they reluctantly changed back to (brand name) Ventolin.
The improvement was dramatic.
Don't let anyone bully you.
There are so many variations... with people and conditions...
I can't get on with the dry powder inhalers, they make me gag and almost nothing get to my lungs.
For reference, the NICE guidlines state that although CFC free inhalers should be prescribed (to save the planet 🙄) the doctor MUST take the patient's preferences into consideration so you can demand a propellant inhaler - that's what I did. Stick to your guns and good luck.
Yes I read that NICE report too.
A worry for me that even Salbutamol has been taken off my repeat list this month .
Now I am using small puffs of my nebuliser instead , and still waiting to hear about a rescue pack .
Will see what happens Monday
They argue that Salbutamol is a rescue inhaler and if you're using it regularly rather than just when you're feeling poorly, then you're not on the correct preventative inhaler. It's such a difficult one.. my preventative inhaler worked fine until I became ill but my lungs didn't recover to the same stage as before so it's not so good now. It's very frustrating, isn't it? All that we ask is to live our lives to our best ability, lung wise.
I do hope that Monday gives you the answers that you're looking for.
Take care xx
Hi Weckle. Give your GP a call and explain what has happened and that this inhaler simply isn’t working for you and can they issue your normal one.
I've wondered if using a spacer would improve the delivery of Salamol. Spacers are supposed to get more into your lungs than just putting the inhaler to your mouth. That said, I did ask the doc to put me back on Ventolin before the respiratory nurse persuaded me to try a spacer.
I always used a spacer with ventolin for this reason. I won't know how salamol works for me until either nexts summer or if I catch a virus. I was given my first one in September. It's the first year they had one suitable for a spacer. I tried a puff, just to see if it was ok for me, but won't know until bad enough to use on top of MART as a 'nebuliser.'
Yes I find them rubbish and am fed up with being told that Salamol and Ventalin have the same ingredients and therefore give the same results when thousands of us know that Ventalin is much better. I have severe COPD and don't want to be trapped in my home. I feel confident when I am outdoors with a Ventalin puffer in my pocket. I just do not understand why Asthma and Lung UK are not on the side of those of us that really need it.
Like lungs I too feel that ALUK aren’t really backing patients up here. I’ve read so many accounts of asthmatics asking to be put back on Ventolin and point blank refused. We know the arguments in favour of Salamol and DPIs, but it’s a fact that they often don’t suit people with other than “mild” asthma. I think ALUK should be campaigning on this, on our behalf. Could a moderator or admin please comment?@Claire_ALUK ? Carol_ALUK ? Those are the only two names I recall so apologies if they’re incorrect
Claire_ALUK or Carol_ALUK
I’ve never had ventolin as I only had an inhaler for the first time this year. However I was put on salamol pump then changed to the breath actuated version (by the GP surgery) which was abysmal and never worked. I was told it’s CFC free and therefore better. So I pointed out that my original prescription for the pump action was also CFC free, and easier to use. They reluctantly changed me back.
This is what I currently have. So if anyone is told that to be CFC free you need breath actuated, it’s not true.
The docters tried to change me to the eco one it was terrible went straight back to ventolin
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