Inhaler ventolin prescription

[Thommo90]

Am I being unreasonable? Recently renewed my ventolin prescription as my previous 2 have expired. I don’t need to use them most days but carry them with me as a precaution. However they have prescribed me with one (requested 2). I would feel better - especially abroad if I had another as I instantly get anxious if without one. However I’ve been told no I only get one by doctor. Is that fair? Or am I taking the Mick?

[-Butterfly-]

I only get prescribed one at a time too, but make sure I order another shortly after so I have more than one. Sometimes they fail or you misplace them etc. So need more than one. I try to keep one 'in stock ' at home so if one expires or runs out I can replace straight away, then I reorder from the GP. Could you ring your GP and ask for another prescription?

[Echoblue]

I always have 2. One is a huge risk for an asthmatic in my view as it is really hard to see when they are running low, yes they get lighter but without any counter on it you have no idea how many more doses are left and it concerns me that would be the one time you need extra doses! I keep one by my bed and carry one in my bag. I like to have one in my bedroom as should I wake up in the night struggling, wandering around the house trying to search for my bag whilst disorientated is not the safest idea!

Worth trying to explain to your GP why you need more than 1 but giving a reason behind it? Maybe suggest it is a safety issue as that is a hard one to argue? Another thing you could do is give it a couple of weeks or so and order another so you stagger them?

Good luck with your mission.

[Thommo90 in reply to Echoblue]

I did today. He said that unless it’s a child that needs them in different places than no. However I spoke to asthma UK and they felt that I should be able to have 2. Just wanted reassurance that it was a fair request. Will follow up with an email. Thanks all

[Tre]

I’m very lucky at my practice they always prescribe 2 & never question my monthly repeat during the Summer. I hope they provide you with another one ASAP x

[Hidden]

Any EU countries that I have visited will readily sell you ventolin inhaler at pharmacy if you ask

[Thommo90 in reply to Hidden]

I am abroad next week so might take a look. Thanks

[Wrighty2018]

I think that the surgery are wrong as you should have an emergency pack or emergency inhaler

[msbling]

I told my dr I lost mine and got another one, worth a try

[Thomas45]

During the 45 years of having asthma I've never been prescribed more than one a month / 4 weeks.

You should not be using the salbutomol inhaler more than a couple of times a week. If you are using it more it shows your asthma is not controlled properly.

I have 2 preventer inhalers every 4 weeks as they're strong and each has only 60 doses which is enough for 15 days.

My last salbutomol inhaler lasted 3 months so I could have 2 available at a time, or even 3 at a time, but having 2 or 3 at any one time is a waste of NHS resources. If you're getting through 2 a month your asthma is out of control.

[Thommo90 in reply to Thomas45]

Hi, I don’t use my rescue inhaler that frequently. Pre-exercise, when I’m ill and the occasional moments when I am tight and wheezy. This is the first request for salbutamol I’ve made since being diagnosed 18 months ago and it’s due to my inhalers expiring, but they are both now close to empty. I take my preventer medication religiously. I travel a lot and I am out socially a lot which leaves it at risk of going missing, I find it reassuring that I have one available at home/in a hotel if it was to happen.

[Thomas45 in reply to Thommo90]

The solution is in your own hands. Ask for one this month and another in 3months, making sure you replace the first one before it expires.

If you Google 'how empty is my inhaler?' there's a picture showing how inhalers Will sink or float in a bowl of water depending on how fill they are.

In 45years of using them I have never known an inhaler to fail.

[Thommo90 in reply to Thomas45]

Thanks great to hear on the failing. I get a bit anxious as an asthma newbie. Thank you for the tip on checking on how empty an inhaler is. I didn’t realise how little I had in mine until I compared it to be my new one. Definitely can tell the difference between the two with a couple of shakes.

[Thommo90]

I tried speaking to the GP :-(. Do they actually fail? as the worries me more than losing one.

[green881]

You don't need a prescription for Ventolin. Just go to Boots and pick them up.

bbc.com/news/health-18936197

Absolutely you should have several, one in the car, one by your bed, other places etc It's standard.

[Thommo90 in reply to green881]

Fabulous stuff. I do wonder if this was reversed due to the enquiry a few years back.. I shall find out. Thank you

[Ghoulette]

The CCG (clinical commissioning group) is the organisation that is responsible for determining what services are available in an area, and also they send GPs regular updates on prescribing protocol for what should and shouldn't be prescribed. In my area, the guidance for GPs with regard to ventolin/salbutamol is that if a patient's asthma is well controlled, then they should only have 1 ventolin per year. Obviously this is subject to change on a patient by patient basis. Myself, I have 1 ventolin on prescription every month. Some months I leave it with the pharmacist (so they can take the label off and redispense it to another patient). My asthma is currently not under control.

So, it could be similar in your area that patient's are only allowed to have 1 on any single prescription.

[Thommo90 in reply to Ghoulette]

Good info! Thank you

[Hegs79]

So annoying. I was refused both a preventer and ventolin as my asthma review was over due. Yes it was very over due but had they looked at my records I was only ordering a ventolin approx 2 a year so obviously there was no massive issue. Next appointment 5 weeks away. You can buy ventolin online. Since has the review but will still only allow one at a time.

[MacColl]

My nurse gave me three initially - one to keep upstairs in case I need it through the night, one with me downstairs, and a spare in case I lose the one I take with me if I go out etc.

I order one each time I start using a new one, but when I asked the nurse for 2 recently, she gave me the prescription right away. I can't tolerate steroids much due to bad side effects, so I do use Ventolin a little more frequently.

I did buy two from an online pharmacy for £16.99 four months ago when I worried about running out or losing one.

[Mezitonka]

Only one inhaler