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Left inhaler in UK

Kristen48 profile image
18 Replies

Hi everyone

Somehow I have left my Spiriva (Tiotropium Bromide) inhaler in the UK when coming on holiday to the US. It's very expensive to go to a doctor here and with medication on top is likely to cost nearly £200. I have medical insurance but the excess is £100. I am here for another eight days and have my other two inhalers with me and feel fine. Does anyone know how important it is for me to get a replacement or whether it will be okay to wait until I return to the UK. I would really appreciate some advice.

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Kristen48 profile image
Kristen48
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18 Replies
Kristen48 profile image
Kristen48

Meant to say, I have COPD

Louisiana profile image
Louisiana

I think an inhaler in the States costs around £60, so if you can get one, do!!

Kristen48 profile image
Kristen48 in reply to Louisiana

Trouble is I will need a doctor's prescription

Louisiana profile image
Louisiana in reply to Louisiana

Sorry, I meant $60 not pounds. If you keep worrying about it you will ruin your holiday, but its up to you.

Kristen48 profile image
Kristen48 in reply to Louisiana

It's getting the prescription that will cost a lot of money as I assume I will need to see a doctor?

Louisiana profile image
Louisiana in reply to Kristen48

Ring the British Embassy and ask them - they will give you the right information.

Toci profile image
Toci

You will feel shorter of breath without it but to what degree I don't know. Can you call the BLF? I have a bad reaction to most inhalers and now manage without (stage 4 COPD). I would try without and see how you go. I don't think it is an emergency but I am not you.

Toci profile image
Toci in reply to Toci

If you do need it, can you arrange for your GP to fax a prescription to a pharmacy? Would they accept one from him?

Louisiana profile image
Louisiana in reply to Toci

NO!

Kristen48 profile image
Kristen48 in reply to Toci

Thanks I've tried ringing BLF but line busy. I've left a message and hope they reply soon.

stilltruckin profile image
stilltruckin

Maybe of some relevance drugs.com/answers/how-long-...

And:

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articl...

Quote:

'. . . Trough FEV1 increased after 1 week of daily administration [of tiotropium] and remained consistently greater than that for placebo through the treatment period. Two to three weeks after cessation of therapy, the FEV1 response for all doses gradually returned to baseline; however, it never fell below baseline, so there was no evidence of rebound deterioration. . . .'

O2Trees profile image
O2Trees

That's a very useful link that ST has put on above.

Medical advice would no doubt be to get a new inhaler.

Ive been on Spiriva in the past and had to stop after a couple of months due to side effects. Stopping it made no difference to me whatsoever and i didn't have any kind of replacement. But everyone's different and it might depend on how much it helped you when you first started taking it; whether there is an asthma component to your copd - there are many different things to take into consideration.

One thing that does occur to me is that you might be fine or just a bit more breathless without your Spiriva, but if you caught an infection, and people often do after flying, you would probably want all the meds you normally take there with you (as well as a rescue pack etc which i hope you've got).

Louisiana's point about worrying spoiling your holiday is a good one.

Kristen48 profile image
Kristen48

Thank you all so much for your advice and support. I've at last got through to BLF and spoke to a respiratory nurse. She advised me to get a replacement which I plan to do. Thanks again and enjoy your day :)

O2Trees profile image
O2Trees in reply to Kristen48

Phew! enjoy the rest of your holiday :)

Kristen48 profile image
Kristen48

Leaving my Spiriva at home been a salutary lesson. It sort me 99 dollars to get a prescription and 375 dollars to replace them. Nearly 500 dollars in total!!!!! The lesson from this is pack your meds carefully if you are going away.

in reply to Kristen48

Oh my god! Can't you claim on travel insurance? That's terrible! I'm glad you've got it though.

Kristen48 profile image
Kristen48 in reply to

Yes I plan to claim on my insurance. I'm glad I've got it to. Thanks for your support

Maximonkey profile image
Maximonkey

Hi, I have left my inhalers at home when going on holiday in Europe. The chemist can issue any meds I need by looking at my prescription list. I don't know about USA but it is surely worth asking the pharmacist. Contacting the British Embassy seems like a good idea if the pharmacy cannot help. Good luck Maximonkey

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