Can anyone advise me.
I had my annual asthma review last week and, having been on Symbicort for 15 years they want to try stepping me down to a milder Inhaler, Clenil Modulate.
I'm really nervous about changing as I have been ok with the Symbicort and I am due to start the new one today.
I just need some encouragement really as I am not good with change and a I hate taking these medications at the best of times.
Thanks
Keep a very close eye on yourself whilst changing and go back immediately if you feel at all unwell.
I would be very loathe to change from Symbicort after so many years.
I did try Clenil several years ago and it didn't work for me.
I guess cost is the real reason!
My son has been on clenil for years and I would class it as a better medication, (I know a pharmacist and a drug rep!) is there a reason you are changing? I have been on symbicort and have never got along with it! Sadly my asthma review in January was cancelled due to staff sickness and I’m still on the waiting list for an appt!!!
Good luck with the change
They say they think I should try a milder medication as my asthma appears to be under control. I guess I am so used to the Symbicort, which is a powderand not familiar with the pressured inhalers so I feel scared of the change.
I'm glad to hear your son has done well with it for years. Thank you for your reply.
My asthma nurse suggested this too. I think it is normal to try to step down treatment if everything is going well but I think cost is a major factor too. As I understand it they are putting you on a steroid inhaler only - clenil does does contain the formoterol which is like a long acting ventollin. I would suggest you make sure you keep a ventollin inhaler (the blue one) with you at all times and if you need to use it more than a few times a week, go back to symbicort. I had to do this. Hope that helps and good luck
I'm on Clenil and it's proven really effective for me. I started doing more exercise and was diagnosed with exercise induced asthma, the Clenil has made a huge difference. i'm not anywhere near as out of breath and i've almost stopped coughing entirely. I would expect your doctor to monitor you after a month to see how you're getting on though.
They do try to downgrade most asthmatics once they’ve been stable for 6-12 months I think... for some it works, for others it doesn’t. They do this to make sure everyone’s on the ‘correct’ amount of meds (ie not over treating) as 1) it’s better for the patient to only take what they need and 2) it’s cheaper for the NHS to supply lower level inhalers if they are enough to control the patient. Of course if they aren’t enough it becomes more expensive (with a&e/frequent GP visits).
If you start to feel your asthmas deteriorating or that your needing you vent more go back to your GP immediately and switch back, but otherwise try the clenil, hope it works and try to take it as a good sign that they thing you’re stable enough to downgrade
Good luck and hope it works
My treatment was in complete reverse to yours. I was on Clenil Modulite for many years without any side effects but then they put me on Symbicort 400 and I had terrible adverse effects from this and became so breathless that I had to go back to Clenil Modulite. As is mentioned several times on here we are all different and what works for one may not for another.
As all seem to say, we are all different. I tried to reduce my Symbicort last autumn to see if I could manage with less. This was after discussion with the asthma nurse. Though it didn’t so badly daily, my coughing came back again. And this time I discovered for the first time ever I could stop it with the use of ventolin! I am so used to coughing it had never previously occurred to me. Anyway, after 10 days I went back to my usual dose. Now, if I feel good with no niggles or overnight coughs etc, and my peakflow seems good I take one less puff of my Symbicort. It normally lasts up to three days. Still, it is reduced use of it.
Personally I have wowed never to go back on Clenil. I just could not take it without coughing being triggered, even though I took it with a spacer. So if they want to reduce that much (never suggested so far) then it would have to be something else.
If it works, why change it?
Is it because symbicort is more expensive?
If you dont want to change, tell your GP. If they are insistent, they need to make sure they give you a number of positive (for you) benefits.
All the best.
My Consultant says why change something that works
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