What steroid inhalers are now available

[Bondy2]

Hi all

My dad used to have a steroid inhaler that was stopped due to him "not using it much" in his words in 2008. Since then he has never had this inhaler and I believe is now no longer available in the UK. He has recently had a bad cough but no infection and now has started to suffer breathlessness. Can anyone tell me if there is a replacement available please?

Thanks

[moogle]

He needs to get an appointment at doctors to get it checked out and get inhalers.

Oh, and STEROID inhalers are supposed to be used regularly. So, no idea why he wasn't using it years ago. Reliever inhalers are used when required.

[O2Trees]

This is correct - steroid inhalers are to be used regularly, they are known as preventer inhalers and usually come in a combination of the steroid and a long lasting bronchodilator (LABA). There is a new one known as triple therapy - I don't remember which drugs are included in it, but generically it's a steroid (LABA), and a long acting anti-muscarinic (LAMA).

Maybe your dad wasn't using his inhaler much as he wasn't needing it. If so, and if he wasn't particularly breathless, then maybe he didn't need it. And all to the good if he has managed ok for 8 or 9 years without it. Get him to go to his GP and talk about his current symptoms and get a medication review. There's no point in giving specific inhaler names as the GP will discuss that. Wishing him luck

[soulsaver]

What was the inhaler called?

AFAIK all the steroid inhalers from 10 years ago are still available, whilst the steroid element will be the same, the propellant may have changed.

None to my knowledge are available without prescription, so he'll have to see his GP to get it.

[Bondy2]

Hi all

Thanks for your responses. So my dad has been back to gp and they have put him on Fostair. Now he only went on it on Monday and not sure how quick it should start to work. I've read upto 3 months but I think his breathing is getting worse. We're due to fly to the usa in 4 weeks and I'm worried he's not going to be able to cope. Can anyone advise here please. I'm scared with how quick it's all going it's something more :-(! The last gp he saw said if it didn't clear she would send him for an xray but he saw a different gp on Monday and she never mentioned it and neither did my dad!!