Alternative to Fostair - Palpitations

[Janeh1960]

I was switched to Fostair 100/6, 4 puffs a day (& Montelukast) a year ago after a nasty bout of Covid worsened my Asthma, was on Clenil & ventolin for many years before switching.

The Fostair improved my symptoms hugely, no more cough & crackles but I have had increasing palpitations & arrythmia, causing a trip to A&E a few weeks ago.

I now have a constant irregular heartbeat worsening after taking Fostair, it’s an awful feeling, causes anxiety which probably increases the palpitations.

I would like to switch to another inhaler with a LABA but don’t know if there are any that are less likely to affect my heart.

Has anyone had this problem with arrhythmia and found an alternative to Fostair that worked?

[twinkly29]

It could just be a case of trial and error, well it will be actually because inhalers are good for se and not others. It is definitely a long and frustrating process because each new one takes about 8 weeks for the steroid to become fully effective so the trials need to be that long to make sure the steroid is ok for you. During that time, any immediate side effects of the LABA (which you probably know are very common in the first few weeks) should reduce. Obviously this hasn't with the formoterol in Fostair for you but with each one tested a few weeks would be needed to see if they do diminish.

One option is to see if there are standalone LABA inhalers you could try alongside Clenil (the same steroid as is in Fostair) - but I'm not sure if they still do these!

Or, as you've thought, try a different combi inhaler. Symbicort has formoterol in it so I'd maybe avoid that one.

[Janeh1960 in reply to twinkly29]

Thank you, I’ve put in a request for call back from Asthma nurse, see what she says.

[twinkly29 in reply to Janeh1960]

Good luck! For what it's worth, given your recent issues, I think it's a perfectly reasonable discussion to have! It's not like you've been on it 2 weeks and you're alarmed that you've got a few side effects (because that's going to happen to most people initially). This is much longer term and has gone much further. Hope she's helpful when you speak to her!

[Statch]

Was on fostair for a while caused myself chest pains not quite as bad as yourself. Got moved onto relvar 184/22. 2 years ago haven't looked back, 1 puff in the morning lasts 24 hours

[Lizziep25]

Hi Jane i had exactly the same experience with fostair it helped the asmtha but caused the same heart problems you experienced including an ectopic beat it made me really ill I stopped it after a week but 3 weeks later my heart is still affected slightly with occasional palpitations I too went to A&E but was reassured that my heart was ok however I have to have a cardiac monitor for 24hrs and a treadmill test to make sure my heart is ok. I think fostair should not be prescibed unless your heart is checked beforehand and it should carry a warning that it can cause heart problems. I was on pulmicort and ventolin without problems for many years fostair has made me feel really ill palpitations, dizzy, sickness and reflux its completely upset my body with effects still being felt 3 weeks later , don't believe the rubbish that if you continue with fostair the side effects will wear off they don't you can't afford to damage your heart permanently. Hope this helps. 💝

[Dizzart]

I had the same and on the second one I tried but on both occasions gave up caffeine and had de caff. I’ve settled down now but still have far fewer caffeinated drinks but just incase it’s something else I did have a medication for high blood pressure which did that have the palpitations coincided with a change of other medication as some of the “generic “ ones are not good. Trial and error I’m afraid unless your really worried then ring the doc 👍🏻👍🏻Hope you get better soon 😊