Fostair prescribed for a few weeks ?

[Hannahpanda27]

Hello all I have pretty well managed asthma very rarely take a reliever but we are getting work done in our house at the minute and the dust as well as a cold has kicked my asthma off , been trying to manage but thought I could do with some steroids to help me along . After a call to the walk in centre (my doctors couldn't see me ) the nurse prescribed me Fostair to use just while I am bad then said to go back onto my clenil in a few weeks time has anyone else ever used fostair just for a few weeks ? Thanks

[Bevvy]

Seems strange to me. I have read on here that can take up to 3 months for new inhaler to work. So don’t understand. Suggest you ring asthma nurses here and talk to them.

[peege]

Hello, in answer to your question, no. However I do use it all the time and find it excellent. I've hardly used ventolin since starting on it 3 years ago. Changed my life, mine's a MART dosage meaning I can raise or lower doses as I need and use as a preventer as well. I have a booklet on it from the respiratory nurse. Perhaps ask the pharmacist for one. Do read the leaflet thoroughly, as I understand it some inhalers take a couple of weeks to take effect - I'm sure someone more knowledgeable will correct me if I'm wrong!

I wanted to reply to say do please wear a mask 😷 while the work is going on in your house and ventilate well, protect children's airways if you have them.. My asthma took a huge downturn 10 years ago when I had work done in my Victorian home, there must have been a lot of fungal spores released from the damp brick wall (I later discovered my strongest allergies are mould and aspergillus). The thoughtful builder kindly thought he'd save all the old bricks and cleaned them all off indoors, internal doors open, all windows closed , the dust permeated everywhere. If only I knew then what I know now I'd have at least kept a pristine sleeping area.

One tip is to pin up plastic sheeting over all doorways to prevent dust spreading.

Good luck, asthma UK have an excellent helpline for advice. Peege

[Chip_y2kuk]

Do you use clenil/qvar as a preventer by any chance?

[Hannahpanda27 in reply to Chip_y2kuk]

Yes I use clenil and its been great to be honest c

[Chip_y2kuk in reply to Hannahpanda27]

Clenil is beclomethasone

And fostair is ultra fine particle beclomethasone and formoterol (a long acting airway opener)

So in all honestly if your already on clenil and struggling with the dust it actually makes perfect sense as there shouldn't be much if any "shock to the system".... you may find you struggle a little when you stop taking the fostair as you can get a sort of bronchospasm a short while after stopping

[CanadianBrit30]

Hi Hannah,

In case it's helpful I just wanted to add that it took me a little while to get used to Fostair. When I first started taking it I got really shaky all the time and usually had to take it easy for an hour or so afterwards as I felt wobbly with a raised heart rate and a bit unsteady. However, after a few weeks it was much better. If you're only on it for a few weeks, don't be too worried if you get the shakiness, as long as you can power through it. Eventually it calms down as you get used to it. Good luck!

[Loopylou99]

Hi, sorry to hear about your flare up. I’m having an extension soon and am loving the tips to keep dust to a minimum. A few years ago I was in the same position as you, usually well controlled asthma on clenil. I had a flare up and doc put me on fostair “for a few weeks then back to clenil”. I then spoke to the asthma nurse who said that I’d need to be well controlled on fostair for 3 months before she’d consider stepping down again. I was rushing to get back to clenil but my asthma had other ideas!

My honest opinion is that if you’re fine on fostair then you may as well stick with it for a while, it’s a good inhaler, no need to rush back to clenil. As others said the MART regime is brilliant for me, 2 puffs morning and night and I now use it instead of my salbutamol too, up to 8 puffs a day.

[PeakyBlinder50]

It maybe your asthma in general not the house. You may have to stick with Fostair. I've never heard of anyone having Fostair as a temporary fix in this way. I started on Clenil and my asthma changed so I was moved to Fostair. After a chest infection it changed again and I now take Fostair and Qvar. Mine was late onset and coincided with my age and menopause. Lung function decreases during Menopause.

[Hannahpanda27 in reply to PeakyBlinder50]

I had a cold as well I only wanted some steroids and it was a phone appointment because of course no one could see me as I have a cough 🙃