New drugs, new side effects - yippeee

[Barbie999]

Hi all

If you want to bore yourself to tears read my previous post to get a background in the recent events.

If not, can someone just verify these side effects from my new drugs are normal.

Been put on fostair and spiriva respimat. These are the two new inhalers I’ve started.

I’m experiencing severe tremors, heart palpitations and weird chest cramping. Obviously I’m au fait with the lovely salbutamol tremors, but having never had these two lovely inhalers before, would appreciate some reassurance.

Cheers!

Have a great day

X

[Hidden]

I have been on fostair 100/6 for a long time and I had no problems with it at all

[EmmaF91 Community Ambassador]

Hi

Yes both fostair and spiriva can cause palpitations and tremors. If it’s severe or you’re worried, go to your GP and see if you can try swapping one for something else. If it’s not too severe usually the worst of it calms down after a few weeks.

Hope that helps and good luck

[Barbie999]

Thank you xxx

[Oldandgray]

I’ve just come off Forstair 200 due to severe muscle cramps and spasms including to my ribs. Very uncomfortable. A shame really as it worked well otherwise!

[Dionysius1662]

My experience with fostair 100/6 is not good, I have stopped this now, made me feel really ill.

Shaking, terrible head pains, nausea. Awful.

Will never use it again.

I am on spiriva and no problems with this atall.

[HungryHufflepuff]

I also had a very bad experience with Fostair. So many awful side effects and it actually made my breathing a lot worse. Now I have Spiriva Respimat and Seretide (and Ventolin) which have fewer side effects and do actually work somewhat for me. I use them with a spacer which also helps to minimise the side effects.

[MacColl in reply to HungryHufflepuff]

That's interesting - I have those three, and wonder if you'll tell me why using the spacer for inhalers gives fewer side effects?

(I didn't think the Spiriva could be used with a spacer for a start - would get a better dose if used in a spacer!).

Because I can only use one squirt of Seretide 50 each day (bad side effects with steroids) I also have Uniphyllin which I've been gradually increasing over two months as the initial side effects were awful. Slowly makes the side effects almost pass in a week, and then I increase it a bit.

Been on Spiriva for 9 days now.

[HungryHufflepuff in reply to MacColl]

Using a spacer won't stop all the side effects (alas!) but does help reduce the risk of things like oral thrush or the effect on your voice, it keeps the residue in the spacer and not in your mouth or throat. You can use the Spiriva Respimat with the aero chamber plus spacer. I too was told you can't use it with a spacer but I was losing so much of the dose, and getting such a ridiculously deep voice, I tried it anyway and it does fit.

[MacColl in reply to HungryHufflepuff]

Thanks for the rapid reply.

I actually just tried fitting the Spiriva Resp. in the Aerochamber (mine is a plus too) and yes, of course you're right. I hadn't even considered it until I read your post last night.

Can't say I've had much in the way of mouth/throat issues with what I'm currently using, but am getting small nose bleeds with Spiriva (got worse with Braltus though, with sores, plus dry mouth), and a cough, plus gastric issues (in U.colitis remission and being very careful indeed). Getting headaches too, but was getting those now and then with Uniphyllin.

I got the Aerochamber Plus after reading about the possibilities of getting anywhere up to 50% more of the actual drug by using spacers, and find the mask easier to breathe in and out if I don't manage to hold my breath long enough.

I use it for the Ventolin, and often use only one squirt of it seeing I'm getting the better dosage, so will try that with the Spiriva in a short while.

Jury still out with Spiriva as it's early days - the gastric pain and distension only started after 4 months with Braltus, but so far Spiriva seems quite good.

I tried the full dose two squirts of Spiriva for the first time yesterday, and the second one made my head feel as though it would burst ..as if there'd been a sudden high blood pressure rush, and it was quite alarming, so was only planning on using one today, and trying two again tomorrow.

[HungryHufflepuff in reply to MacColl]

I must admit I’ve stopped taking Spiriva for a few weeks, I’d been getting really bad reflux, Hiccups and nausea every evening. In fact at first I stopped the Seretide because I thought it must be the culprit because of the steroid component. But nothing changed so I started that and stopped Spiriva 🤔

When I first started taking Spiriva it made my head feel weird so after that I breathed it in very slowly. The mist from the inhaler stays in the aero chamber so you can breathe it in over the course of 4 breaths. I found that helped a bit. Wishing you all the best.

[MacColl in reply to HungryHufflepuff]

Thanks for that! I'll try breathing it more slowly tomorrow. Tried the half dose with the spacer earlier, and it was fine.

Had another small nose bleed this afternoon, and an unpleasant headache (co-codamol and a sleep fixed that). As long as it doesn't upset the gastric issues again, I'll persevere. Not tolerating steroids is making it difficult for me, and my excellent resp. nurse.

[MacColl in reply to HungryHufflepuff]

Thanks again - tried using the Spiriva as you suggested today, and no 'exploding head'

[DanceQueen]

I took Fostair for a week and had awful side effects...face flushing and the trembles so if anything i think it may be that they tried several after that i'm now on Spiolto that seems ok but i don't know if thats working as i still feel awful....i put a post on this morning to see if any one can help.......i hope you get sorted soon ....but my advice back to the doctor....