Inhalers withheld

[Zaraboo]

Hi as anyone had their inhalers withheld this happened to me during the long hot summer i was using more ventoline cos the hot weather is one of my triggers anyway i was nearly out so i handed in a repeat prescription only to be told i cudent have it as they thought i was using to much ventoline

[JennyA]

That's a worry. If you are over-using your reliever (Ventolin), that should raise concerns but surely the thing is to invite you in for a review not take away the Ventolin. I'd be terrified not to have Ventolin with me at all times so I can imagine how worried you must feel.

[EmmaF91 Community Ambassador]

I’d suggest getting an urgent GP appt for tomorrow and getting your script reviewed/refreshed. It’s a pain but that’s how surgeries seem to be running now. Personally never had ventolin withheld (I tend to pick it u at face-to-face appts as well as on repeat) but had my pred withheld cause I had upped from my maintenance dose without seeing a doc in an effort to save them time 🙄. Ended up having to see them just to get more pred (luckily I tend to order a week or so before I run out!) 😒. I understand why the precautions are there but they need to change the system... give you a ‘red flag’ warning the time before it gets withheld so you can see someone at your leisure not as an emergency cause you’ve run out!

[hypercat54]

Hi it's because the current thinking is that if you need to use ventolin more than half a dozen times a week you need to see a doctor because your preventer might need tweaking.

If you are completely out you can buy one at any chemists for the meantime. x

[Bsr92]

I’ve had this from my doctors receptionist before who refused to pass it on to the doctor even though I was booking a appointment at the same time to see the doctor because I was using so much! I usually keep spares one in the car, upstairs, next to bed ect

I’d ring up and make a appointment with your doctor anyway if your using a lot but explain you need some whilst waiting to see whoever! X

[strongmouse in reply to Bsr92]

Hi always carry a spare one in my bag as well as the one next to the bed. They should warn you in advance that you can only have one more and will then need to see doctor. I usually have a printed out slip with my prescription which tells me how many repeat prescriptions I can have before seeing / speaking to GP. (Our surgery does some telephone consultations when the duty doctor phones back).

[LDloveslattecoffe in reply to Bsr92]

Like you I always have spares one by bed and one for going out with stays in cost pocket or handbag

[EmmaF91 Community Ambassador in reply to Bsr92]

I usually have multiple on the go at once (work bag, work draw, coaching bag, handbag, bedroom, parents house etc) so I have easy access to them and don’t have to remember to ‘pack’ it. I also have 1-2 new spares (I get 2 a month on my repeat). The only issue comes when they all run out at once 😅 - it’s only happened once so far but having 4 inhalers run out on you in a week is very awkward 😂

[Minushabens]

I've come across this before on here & seems to me to be a dangerous practice. As others have said, you really don't want to be using Ventolin to excess if there's a preventative regime that will work for you, but denying you a reliever is putting the cart before the horse. I'd definitely try to get an appointment & ask for some guidance for a plan that will reduce your need for it.

[Hidden]

I had known this to happen once as the doctors need to see me urgently about a blood test I had and they was worried about my asthma

[Superzob]

Ventolin is supposed to be used as a reliever, so excessive use suggests that you need a more effective preventer - it most certainly DOESN'T mean that they should effectively stop any treatment! Your experience suggests that the surgery has no proper plan for dealing with this sort of issue - if you are using too much Ventolin, then you should have been referred to the asthma nurse immediately, at the very least. I would have referred this incident to the practice manager, because it is not safe to allow asthma sufferers to go without medication.

[Anniecath]

Yes I have had this happen to me on several occasions. I too was using the ventolin more in the hot weather. Luckily I am not working at the moment, so could lie like a wet blanket during the day. This practice implies that certain medical staff don't seem to understand the true nature of asthma. Just because you are struggling during certain weather conditions dosn't mean that you are being irresponsible in using ventolin. Maybe a letter to the practice manager might help, also depending on the medication you are taking on some you can up the dose of the preventers. This means you will have to see GP or nurse to discuss what your options are. I would point out to them that the ventolin is a RESCUE inhaler and is there for good reason. Good luck !

[arabianprince]

Withholding Ventolin didn't happen to me as I have never got run out of it. If you are taking it more than 4 times a week then your asthma is our of control and you probably need to increase the frequency of your seritide inhaler in summer. That's what I am doing usually in winter till my asthma symptoms subsides again and decreaseing it stepwise as per my asthma conditions.

[arabianprince]

I suggest as well to try Symbicort as it is preventer and reliever in the same time. It reduces the already developed inflammation in addition to its preventive effect.