Swapping inhalers soon after asthma flare up

[Bu997]

Hello,

I had a fairly bad asthma flare up yesterday and am still very rough. I have been prescribed Pred and the specialist has recommended changing my inhaler from Seretide which does not seem to be working to Symbicort 200/6. Is it safe to start on the new one when still unwell?

Thank you in advance

[twinkly29]

Good practice is to do it once a flare has been treated or has otherwise settled. As I'm sure you know, it takes a while for a new inhaler to kick in (approximately 8 weeks) during which time the body has to kind of cope without its current known steroid but on little (but gradually increasing) new steroid. This often makes people feel less controlled anyway so doing it on top of already being unsettled from a specific attack probably isn't ideal.

Personally I would wait til you are recovered from this, especially as you've only just started your pred - but by all means check with your GP or with the Asthma UK nurses for official advice!

[Bu997 in reply to twinkly29]

Thanks Twinkly,That’s what I thought too.

My GP did advise to change it today but I am still very weak and short of breath and agree that it seems more logical to wait until the end of the week.

I am going to speak to the pharmacy practitioner at my GP tomorrow who is fab and will ask him about the MART regime and his opinion on when to start.

[twinkly29 in reply to Bu997]

It might be even waiting a couple of days til the pred has kicked in will be enough. I guess if they're trying you on mart then of course each extra puff will give you some extra bronchodilator which will help symptoms - it's just picking the right time to go for it with the change in inhaled steroid! Good to get a proper plan for mart anyway so a useful discussion to have. Good luck!

[Bu997]

Thank you Twinkly😀