I was diagnosed with Significant Heart Failure, Paroxysmal Atrial Fibrillation, Mitral Valve Regurgitation, Ischaemic Heart Disease, Dilated left atrial in 2017. I was prescribed preventative medication; Apixaban, Bisoprolol, Isosorbide Mononitrate, Simvastatin. In February this year I was put on Amlodipine Fumerate to help with chest pain. It seems to have helped. I also take other medication two of which are Levothyroxine and Hydroxychloroquine as I have several Autoimmune conditions.
I have recently started with a troublesome cough. It feels like congestion in my lungs. The GP has prescribed Fostair Nexthaler 100/6 mcg inhaler. Two puffs mornings and evenings. After taking the inhaler I come over all shaking and trembling. I was wondering if this is normal? Has anyone had Asthma develop with a heart condition.? Thank you for any help with this.
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hearty1
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You are dealing with a lot there hearty1. I don't have asthma nor taking Fostair Nexthaler which contains 2 meds beclometasone dipropionate anhydrous/formoterol fumarate dihydrate. I do take beclometasone and formoterol separately not as a combi inhaler. I do not get the shakes and trembling from these medicines, Perhaps your dose is too high, check back with your doctor about the side affects and dose.
I wonder though have you actually been diagnosed with Asthma as heart conditions can make you breathless which would warrant an inhaler as perscribed for people with breathing probs and coughs caused by the narrowing of airways.
Perhaps someone else will come along and be able to advise more from their own experience.
Thank you for your reply. Yes I have a lot going on but doing my best to cope with everything. So you don't get the shakes or trembling with your inhaler. The dose I take is a lower dose but I will check with the Doctor. The GP was here the other day and he said it was late onset Asthma which I am surprised about.Thank you for your help with this. Very much appreciated.
No I don't get the shakes but my formeterol dose I only take once daily and the beclometasone currently I am only taking 2 puffs once daily, I increase it when my lungs or airways are complaining a bit to 2 puffs twice daily, docs do prefer patients taking the full dose, however when you get side affects adjustments to dose can be a way around it. Discuss with your doctor.
Thank you for replying. That's good you don't get the shakes with your inhaler. I wonder why Docs prefer Patients to take the full dose. Yes looks like I'll need to have the dose adjusted.Thank you again.
That’s a lot to deal with hearty1! I take Fostair 200/6 . It does make me shake for an hour or so most mornings when I first take it. It’s not as bad as when I first got prescribed it but it does still happen.
I hope you have a good medical team looking after you!
Thank you. I don't have a medical team. I only have a GP who can refer me back to the Consultant if he thinks I'm falling to bits more. The preventative medication is supposed to be keeping me going. I'm doing my best.
I had Fostair for six months and among the side effects was serious shaking. But you have a lot going on and a lot of other medications which could cause this effect. Not all inhalers suit everyone so maybe you could talk with your doctor about the effect it's having and if there's anything better suited to you. Wishing you all the best.
Yes I suppose other inhalers will be different. I've to phone the GP next week to let him know how I'm getting on with it.Yes now I need to take a lot of meds.
Hi hearty 1. Ive recently been diagnosed bronchiectasis but have had asthma for 60 yrs as well as numerous allergies. Dr 3 yrs ago said i had copd this was before diagnosis of bronchiectasis he gave me Fostair to replace my usual inhalers.... 2 puffs and i was in tachycardia.. Tried several others but still have same reaction. So maybe its exacerbating the atrial fibrulation. I went back to my usual Salbuterol and ventolin butiuse the disc versions as im allergic to the propellant in sprays. So check that out.. Hope u get result. Margarita. X
That was terrible that you used Fostair and went into Trachycardia. Good you have another inhaler now. It does seem strange that the GP has prescribed the Fostair Nexthaler when I take heart medication to keep my heart calm.I hope you're keeping safe and well. With best wishes.
Hello Hearty. In my experience two things can cause the cough. One could be the blood pressure tablet you will have been prescribed. When mine was changed there was a significant improvement. It's actually listed as a side effect on one type. The other is that your lungs will be backing up with fluid with heart failure. That could be the constant congestion feeling. However you should be prescribed a diuretic (water tablet) for that to clear it. Mine is Bumetanide 1mg. Another type is furosemide, zero to busting for a wee in 3 seconds flat. When I don't take Bumetanide, I know it. It feels like I'm filling up, almost frothing. I'm 66 now, I have asthma, bronchiectasis, COPD, chronic allergies, congestive heart failure, coronary artery disease, angina, Addison's Disease etc. My immune system is shot. However in the past two years I have survived pneumonia, sepsis, and covid-19. Always check the side effects of the drugs they give you. The doctors are not gods and they get it wrong - a lot in my experience. Make sure that they listen to what you are telling them. Fostair contains formeterol. It's like salbutamol which is renowned for giving you the shakes. It ruined my average at darts back in the day. I kept missing the board. Unfortunately it bumps your heart rate up which you don't need, but with our sort of problems one drug can also work against your best interests in other areas, for example, I need salbutamol for asthma, yet I need bisoprolol to lower my heart rate. Now that I am on a water tablet, the number of chest infections I used to get has dropped dramatically. I should have been on them for about the past 5 years. I don't think heart disease or heart failure gives you asthma but it can develop in later life. Unfortunately I've had it from about day one. Talk it over with your heart failure nurse, and if you don't have one you should have. And make sure the doctors listen to you. I've had to learn to be assertive and knocked off the cap at their superior knowledge. They hate Dr Google. Good luck and keep on rockin in the free world, whilst it's still free.
Thank you for replying. So it could be the meds that's causing the cough. Will have to check side effects. When the gp prescribed the Fostair Nexthaler last week he said don't read the side effects! Anyway I didn't need to read about them I started shaking and trembling not long after using it for the first time. I haven't been offered water tablets but I don't want to have to stay in the loo!
Ok heart failure can cause the lungs to have fluid in them. More to this than I thought. I feel that could be the problem and not Asthma.
Yes the Fostair Nexthaler seems to make heart rate faster and I'm on meds to calm it down!
Sorry you have a lot of health problems. I find that trying to think positive is the best way.
Thank you for replying. Sorry you have lots of health problems. I have found with advancing years more problems seem to arrive!Will be phoning gp to see what he thinks.
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