Do we have a right to choose inhaler?

[Jinty57]

When I was first diagnosed (COPD+Asthama) I was given seretide, I found it to be great, very quickly I was running upstairs again unfortunately I told the GP how happy I was with it and he said "well lets keep that for later then" and changed me to Indactorol. Well 7 years have passed and I have gone right through moderate and now top end of severe - FEV 48%. I am now in a different area and as I have struggled all this year really, I have had one hospital admission and I am taking way more prednisolone than I am happy about. I wonder if now would be a good time to try seretide again. I am currently taking Eklira, symbicort and salbutamol, I am trying to exercise but am so short of breath have to have a sit down and get puff back after getting dressed! Finally I get to the point, on my last visit to asthma nurse she showed me a list of the inhalers available in this area and seretide was not on the list, do I have the right to say I want to try it regardless if it is on the list? I am going to ask anyway, but if someone knows something to add to my argument I'd be really grateful. I don't feel my asthma is under control anymore but don't know if I am expecting too much, perhaps things are not going to go back to how they were before the hospital visit any thoughts?

[corriena]

Simply yes, you can ask. Most gp's will listen to patient's requests as we are the ones that know what is going on with are own health. Good luck i hope your gp is the listening kind.

[Badbessie]

Yes you have the right. However I am just wondering after Seven years if the affect of seretide will be the same for you now as it was then. Yes try seretide again but keep an open mind to other medications that could help.

[hypercat54]

Hi I have a bit of the same problem myself as I too have copd and asthma. I was told by the respiratory nurse that they only treat the main problem ie copd and not the asthma as most of the symptoms overlap anyway. I must admit I was a bit shocked by that as I do get the odd asthma attack which are very scary.

I do agree with the others that you can certainly ask. Don't know if you can insist. Why not ring up BLF and ask the nurse, or go on the asthma site and get the number of the asthma nurse.

Good luck. x

[Clamdigger]

I have been there before with Dr's wanted a lesser amount they were giving me .. Another Dr told me he thought it was a bit over board the amount.... I sit there and settle into the chair and debate.... And I don't leave until I get what I want...

[Jinty57]

I will have a go next appointment, I appreciate I probably won't be sprinting upstairs again but you never know unless you try I guess

[Jinty57]

I answered my own question - quick victory dance :). I thought the answer has to be there somewhere and I found it. If anyone else out there wants to try a new medication or like me an old one, NICE says we can - if we meet the criteria. The criteria is quite broad but if current medication is not managing our condition then increased number exacerbations is the only outcome with the ensuing costs. Not sure I should be quite as happy as I am at finding this :/ but at least now we know.

The NICE guideline on COPD recommends that the choice of drug treatment should take into account the person's symptomatic response and preference, and the drug's potential to reduce exacerbations, side effects and costs.

I found it at the bottom of - nice.org.uk/advice/esnm49/c...

[Hidden]

Hi Jinty. You might not know this but seretide and symbicort are the same type of inhaler, as each comprises an inhaled steroid plus a long-acting bronchodilator. You can't take both at the same time, and I believe symbicort is generally thought to be superior to seretide.

Have you ever tried spiriva (inhaler) or montelukast (a tablet)? These are both add-on therapies for people whose asthma isn't under control (but spiriva is used for copd too.) Before you see your GP maybe you could discuss your medications with someone on the BLF helpline.

[Alfiebax2]

Hi I don't know whether this is true or not but I saw somewhere that the govt are trying to phase Seretide out , as it is supposed to be linked to pneumonia , I was on it for many years but with my last repeat prescription has been changed to Aloflute which I'm assured is the new name for Seretide .I don't feel any different so maybe it is .As I said don't take what I'm saying as gospel it's just something I read ..

Love Babs ❤️

[Jinty57]

Thanks for the suggestions everyone, it's really helping get things clear in my mind before I speak to BLF nurse. Started reading up on different inhalers yesterday - that's mind boggling :), but I feel more informed. I suppose It doesn't help that I don't know if I have taken Symbicort correctly, there is no taste or residue and there always seems to be powder in the inhaler when indicator is showing empty.

[mikeadams51]

Our GP and many others are trying to reduce the medication bill and I have been stopped being prescribed seretide and replaced with Serdupla. This is a cheaper version of seretide. I guess the patent ran out. It is the same and I have had no issues

[donut43]

By all means ask your GP He knows best

Dan

[stamford1234]

I might be wrong, and would be grateful for some input. Is lone term use of Seretide linked to osteoporosis