Hi all,I was diagnosed with COPD 4 months ago and prescribed Fostair NEXThaler 100 micrograms at 4 puffs per day as a preventative. For the first month I felt much better and barely used my "blue" reliever inhaler. But for the last few months I've noticed that although my inhaler dose counter reads that it has nearly 30 doses (7 days worth) left, it's actually empty so I start feeling breathless and tired. I'm using it exactly as instructed. For the first 3 weeks I can feel gritty powder in my mouth and for the last week there's nothing. Last month I opened the capsule when it said 30 doses and it was empty, this month it was on 28 left when I felt rough, and again, it's empty. Is anyone else experiencing this? I can't find anything else on line.
Fostair short on doses?: Hi all,I was... - Lung Conditions C...
Fostair short on doses?
I've had similar problems with these inhalers and took two back to the pharmacist who replaced them. However, she did say they should be wiped every week. The manufacturer has said folk are not cleaning them.
Thanks for the reply. I use them as demonstrated by my COPD nurse and clean it as directed by the manufacturers directions. It's not a puffer, it's a dry powder so it just says to keep dry and wipe the exterior with a dry cloth after use, which I do. It's not that it's blocked, when I pried it open there was literally no powder left inside it anywhere despite it reading as though there was 7 days worth of doses left. I know that the compressed puffer ones need washing out as they get gunged up, but I don't have the puffer type dispensers any more.
That's awful! A complaint needs to be put in to the manufacturer, to alert them to the fact that their counters aren't working properly.
Has anyone checked your technique using the Fostair Nexthaler? It might be an idea to see if there's a video on YouTube showing you how to use it. I know it made a difference to me when a Respiratory Nurse showed us how to use our different devices at a Breathe Easy meeting (a long time ago, before Covid struck).
Thank you for the reply. Yes, my COPD nurse showed me how to use it, tbh it's pretty straightforward anyway. You flip open the top half which preloads the dry powder beneath the mouth piece, you put it between your lips and purse them then breathe in hard & fast. Then hold for at least 5 seconds and repeat.I normally feel powdery debris on the back of my tongue which gets washed as away as you have to gargle and wash your mouth out to prevent soreness. I then wipe the outside of the mouthpiece and close the cap over. There's no reason that every month I'm a week short on doses that I can explain. I do not have this issue with my blue salbutamol dry powder inhaler, they last me until the counter expires and I can see powder moving when I turn it upside down. The red fostair one just seems to be short on doses. I have written a note to my doctor in the gp / nhs app and have contacted the makers of fostair too. I've realised I'm being undermedicated but others may not realise that that's why their chest is feeling worse for days at a time. It's scary because someone could have a flare up and just be sucking in air while thinking they're rescuing themselves.
Hi, I use Fostair it’s an MDI pressurised type 100/6 the counters are accurate and I’ve never had any problems with them, I don’t like the dry powder inhalers so I always ask for the pressurised type, you could ask about changing.
Thank you for the reply. I am going to ask my gp if it's available here in a puffer type dispenser instead. They switched to the dry powder ones as they're more environmentally friendly, which I applaud, but not at the cost of me being undermedicated.
I would check the problem out with your pharmacist ….are they available today ?
The ALUK helpline is open again on Monday too .
Does the manufacturer of Fostair have a contact number .
Thanks for the reply. I've notified my gp of the issue and the UK supplier / maker of fostair. It worries me that others may not notice that it's empty and just assume their lungs are rough for other reasons. At first I thought it was a dip due to weather but because I keep a diary of how I'm feeling I notice that this was occurring every 4th week which is what lead me to opening the dispenser these last 2 months and discovering that they're empty of powder with between 28 or 30 doses still promised. I was just curious if others with the same device had noticed or were experiencing it too. After starting a new one last night I already feel much less breathless. I'll be interested to see what the manufacturer response is.
There was a similar post about this on the Asthmauk forum recently. The member returned a faulty inhaler to his Boots chemist who told him they'd replace it this time but it wasn't the pharmacist's responsibility but the manufacturer's. We all thought that had to be wrong so he researched it and it's right, not the pharmacist's responsibility to replace medication when it's faulty.
There was a similar post about this on the Asthmauk forum recently. The member returned a faulty inhaler to his Boots chemist who told him they'd replace it this time but it wasn't the pharmacist's responsibility but the manufacturer's. We all thought that had to be wrong so he researched it and it's right, not the pharmacist's responsibility to replace medication when it's faulty. So yes, all in all it's all wrong request the MDI version (spray type).
Thank you for the reply. I've contacted the manufacturer and messaged my gp. I'll ask for sprays if possible. I'll also speak to my pharmacist, I don't expect them to make it right, I'd just like them to be aware that there is an issue as more users may become unwell if the problem isn't known.
I’ve just been put on Fostair too and the MART plan after an exacerbation. Google Fostair MART plan. They told me I can go up up to 8 puffs a day, though under normal circumstances it would be 1 puff twice a day. You need to go back to your Drs if it’s not working for you. I’ve yet to see how it works for me as I only started it yesterday.
Thank you for your reply. I will Google that. Fostair itself works for me for several weeks, it's just when it prematurely runs out of actual medicine that I struggle. My breathing has been the best it's been for about a year since I was prescribed a steroid inhaler. I am in no way dissing fostairs efficacy, just the efficiency of its dry powder dispenser.
I’m not on the dry air one so maybe get it changed to the other type. 🙂
Hiya, yes I always notice the difference at around 20+ puffs and change to a new inhaler.
Thank you for the reply. I'm glad it's not just me that's felt the difference. My COPD nurse admitted that it's been mentioned before by other users. I had a reply from the manufacturer telling me it's my technique of using them, but the nurse confirmed that there's nothing wrong with how I'm taking it. She's advised that I do change to a new one early to avoid triggering a flare up when I'm under medicated.
Fostair 100/6 
Fostair Inhaler
Fostair
Fostair 
Fostair inhaler for asthma 
