Fostair

[Carriejen]

Hi, my inhaler has recently been changed to Fostair from Flutiform. This change has been welcomed by me because the fostair gave me a whole new lease of life! This past week has been hellish. I misplaced my inhaler (but had a new one as my old one was almost at the end of the medication) so I started on my new one. I’ve noticed with the new one that I don’t feel the powder in my mouth? Every few doses I can taste it whereas most of the time there’s nothing. I’m not sure if it’s a faulty inhaler and I just wondered if anyone knows if this is normal or if I need to get a new inhaler? I found my old one so I used that tonight and i could taste the powder again. Anyone on fostair or a powdered inhaler had this?

[JDC01]

Hi, I was on seretide accuhaler then swapped onto Fostair; with both of them I can’t always taste the slightly sweet taste after taking them. No idea why but wondered if it depends if you’ve recently eaten? I asked pharmacist and she didn’t even know they had a taste!🤷🏽‍♀️

[Carriejen]

Thank you! I’m just a bit worried because every dose from my first inhaler I could taste. This time around not so much. I’m worried it’s not working and I’m not getting my doses. My health has declined pretty rapidly since last Saturday which I put down to the damp in my house/the viral infection I have/the weather but now I’m wondering 🤷🏻‍♀️ maybe I’ll just keep going and see what’s happening

[elanaoali in reply to Carriejen]

Remember it takes two weeks for a new inhaler to kick in I am on fostair next inhaler. If you have the same it's getting to suck right and putting it to the back of your mouth not your tongue. I found fostair next haler easy to do. I was on seretide 250 ordinary inhaler.

Weather wise it has been damp and cold where I live not a good combination for asthma.

[Carriejen in reply to elanaoali]

I’ve been on the fostair now for 5 weeks and like I said it’s helping so far. I just was not sure if maybe something was blocking my inhaler because there’s a clear difference between my last inhaler and my current inhaler even when I use them on the same day 🤷🏻‍♀️ it’s strange

[Youmeddlingkids in reply to Carriejen]

hi Carriejen - i think you're right to go to chemist and check it. I maybe use the same one (the snail shaped pink one??) and always have the gritty powder taste in my mouth after use so if that's missing suspect the inhaler is faulty if not empty.

[Carriejen in reply to Youmeddlingkids]

Thanks you. That’s the exact inhaler I have and I always have the gritty powder taste. The pharmacist I spoke to said it’s my technique that’s off, however this past week I’ve been randomly getting the gritty powder so it’s as if it’s working occasionally. So I’m going to go to my own pharmacist now that I’m home. Thank you

[rogerbotting11 in reply to Carriejen]

your inhaler has probably become blocked or has run out early, I have this problem regularly.

[Carriejen in reply to rogerbotting11]

Hi thanks for the reply. It was a brand new inhaler so hadn't ran out and wasnt blocked but if I remember correctly the pharmacist replaced it for me anyway

[nanniespy]

I have been on Fostair for four years, I have never had any problem with it at all. I have always been told by consultant and respiratory nurse to use a spacer, and although I wash it, I get prescribed with a new one every twelve months. Also to keep the Fostair in the fridge. It's much easier to use with a spacer and you know that you have the correct dose. The advice is to use it either before you brush your teeth, or like me I always have a drink right after. I have noticed that they do sometimes run out early, so maybe that's what has been happening and you haven't realized. See your doctor or nurse and get advice if you are worried.

[Carriejen in reply to nanniespy]

It’s a brand new inhaler so I’d be very worried if it’s ran out already. Also I don’t think I can use a spacer with mine - it’s a SMARThaler. Maybe I’ll pop into a pharmacy and see what they say 🤷🏻‍♀️

[Paradigm]

I've been taking Fostair since November - for a long while, I tasted it every time. I think now my body has become used to the taste and so I only notice it occasionally. I have a pMDI inhaler with a spacer.

I don't believe you can - or should - use SMARThalers with spacers. The idea behind the SMARThalers is that you need to inhale strongly to get it into your lungs because there is no propellant, whereas the pMDI inhalers are propelled so the spacer slows it down.

Also, you only need to keep Fostair in the fridge if you're keeping it more than 6 months, e.g. storing it in a pharmacy. For home use, provided you use your inhaler within six months (which you should be, considering the accutuations per inhaler) then you can keep it at room temperature.

If you do think it's broken, it's worth taking back to the pharmacist to get it checked though.

[strongmouse]

You could spray it a couple of times into the air to check it is working properly. If not rinse the plastic holder and wash the nozzle in warm water. Small pieces of dust can cause a blockage. I use a spacer with an ordinary fostair inhaler and have found that much better at getting the fostair into my lungs. (Don't know about SMART inhalers). Yes, ask the pharmacist if you think it isn't working properly.

[Respnurse125]

Fostair is a solution inhaler compared to Flutiform is a suspension inhaler so there is a difference in the requirement to shake the inhalers prior to use. Both drugs benefit of these metered dose inhalers being used with a Spacer ideally an Aerochamber plus flow vu. It is still working do not worry, but you get less heavy particles deposited at the back of your throat but has shown to parts of lungs better (I think that is why they have called it SMART )

technically smart types of inhalers are the next stage of development and true SMART inhalers could in the future vary the dose according to symptoms or tell you if you get it wrong with your technique but his is many years away I think!

[Paradigm in reply to Respnurse125]

I thought SMART/MART plans were the ones where you only use the one (combined) inhaler instead of having a preventer and reliever.

[Carriejen in reply to Paradigm]

Yea that’s what I have. I have a reliever as well but I tend not to use that 🤷🏻‍♀️ I didn’t realise you could get an aero chamber with the inhaler I’ve got because it’s a powdered one and I have to inhale the powder as opposed to the inhaler releasing it for me 🤷🏻‍♀️

[DJstag]

SMART = SYMBICORT MAINTAINANCE AND RELIEVER THERAPY.

Haven't had a look on the net yet for smart inhalers yet though.

Regards

Mike

[Respnurse125]

Thanks for the info re SMART no a term I was aware of

[Poobah]

I wish they gave these powder inhalers a stronger flavour. I can rarely taste anything after taking my Fostair so not sure if it's working, I just go by the counter. I also take Eklira Genuair and the taste is unmistakable 😝 so when it doesn't work I know about it. It's clear that something is amiss as so many people post that they have issues with inhalers skipping doses or running out too soon. I would say that my Eklira (60 doses) is usually light by about 10 doses.