| Medicine | Strength | Quantity | Price | Stock |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fostair | 100/6 mcg | 1 inhaler | £44.99 |  |
| Fostair | 200/6 mcg | 1 inhaler | £48.99 | |
| Fostair NEXThaler | 100/6 mcg | 1 inhaler | £44.99 | |
| Fostair NEXThaler | 200/6 mcg | 1 inhaler | £48.99 | |
Fostair is an inhaler commonly used in COPD. It is a type of inhaler known as a combination inhaler because it contains two different active ingredients: formoterol and beclometasone.
Fostair contains two different active ingredients: formoterol and beclometasone. Formoterol helps to relax the airways, allowing them to widen and making it easier to breathe. Beclometasone is a type of corticosteroid. It helps to prevent your symptoms by reducing inflammation in the airways. This inflammation can contribute to breathing problems and mucous production, so beclometasone can help to prevent these symptoms.
The two ingredients in Fostair work to different time frames. The formoterol would start to work in 1-2 minutes and the effects would last for approximately 12 hours. The beclometasone works differently and helps to prevent your symptoms. It can take about 1-3 weeks before you notice any effect from the beclometasone and it can be about 3 months before the beclometasone has its full effect.
Fostair is used for the treatment of asthma and COPD. Fostair is used to reduce symptoms of breathlessness, but in asthma, it may also be prescribed to help treat asthma symptoms when they occur. Always take Fostair as prescribed by your doctor.
Fostair is prescribed to reduce the symptoms associated with asthma and COPD. Typically Fostair would be prescribed if your current medications do not sufficiently control your symptoms.
Fostair inhalers contain two active ingredients: formoterol fumarate dihydrate, which helps to relax the airways and beclometasone dipropionate, which helps to reduce inflammation.
The Fostair inhaler also contains the following inactive ingredients ethanol anhydrous, hydrochloric acid and the CFC-free propellant - norflurane (HFA -134a). The CFC-free propellant is considered to be better for the environment than CFC propellants. Please note that Fostair NEXThaler may contain different inactive ingredients.
There are different types of Fostair inhaler: Fostair and Fostair NEXThaler. Fostair looks very similar to a standard Ventolin inhaler, whereas Fostair NEXThaler has a more rounded shape. Each type of inhaler requires a different technique, so if you have difficulty using one inhaler properly, you should speak to your doctor who may be able to switch you over to the other type of inhaler or issue you a spacer. A spacer only connects to the Fostair inhaler, not the NEXThaler, but it allows you to inhale more slowly with normal breathing over a longer period of time.
This type of inhaler can be used with a spacer. This allows you to breathe more normally as you inhale the medication. Spacers may be recommended if you have difficulty with the breath control required to use your inhaler.
You should always take Fostair as prescribed by your doctor. For COPD, the normal dose is 2 puffs twice a day. For asthma, the dose can vary from 1-8 puffs a day depending upon your condition and how it is best controlled. Do not take more puffs than you are prescribed. If you are unsure how many puffs to take, you should speak to the prescribing doctor or pharmacy for clarification.
Only take Fostair if prescribed by your doctor. It is important to follow the instructions of the prescribing doctor about when to use Fostair. These instructions can vary depending upon whether you have asthma or COPD and how your symptoms are best controlled. If you are unsure, you should speak to your doctor or pharmacist for clarification.
In asthma, Fostair is typically prescribed for daily use, to prevent asthma symptoms. However, Fostair can be prescribed to relieve asthma symptoms too. Only use your inhaler in this way if directed to do so by your doctor.
Some Fostair inhalers can be used with a spacer. This does not include Fostair NEXThalers as they are not compatible with spacers. Spacers can help to make sure that you get the full dose of the medication if you have difficulty using the proper inhaler technique. Once connected, the spacer allows you to use your inhaler with normal breathing, instead of requiring a single deep breath.
If Fostair is prescribed to you for daily use, you may be prescribed this alongside a reliever inhaler, such as Ventolin. However, your doctor may recommend that you use your Fostair inhaler in place of your reliever inhaler. Check with the doctor if this is unclear. Always use your inhalers as prescribed.
Common side effects of Fostair inhalers include:
Common side effects of Fostair NEXThaler include:
There are several less common side effects of Fostair inhalers and NEXThalers including:
This is not a full list of side effects, so please see the patient information leaflet for more information.
Trembling is a common side effect of Fostair NEXThaler, affecting up to 10% of people. It is less common when using other Fostair inhalers, affecting less than 1% of people.
A sore throat is a common side effect of standard Fostair inhalers, affecting up to 1 in 10 people who use the inhaler. It is less common in those who use the Fostair NEXThaler, affecting up to 1 in 100 people. Alongside a sore throat, you may also develop a hoarse voice and a cough. If you find you are coughing up sputum, and if you experience any other symptoms such as a fever, chills, or increased difficulty breathing, you should speak to your doctor as this may be a sign of a lung infection (pneumonia), which needs to be treated.
Headaches are a side effect of Fostair inhalers. This is an uncommon side effect of Fostair NEXThalers, affecting up to 1% of people who use the inhaler, but it is more common, affecting up to 10% of people who use standard Fostair inhalers. Speak to your doctor if you are concerned about your side effects.
Weight gain can occur with long-term use of high-dose inhaled corticosteroids, such as the beclometasone found in Fostair inhalers. However, this does not occur frequently enough through the use of Fostair to be listed as one of its side effects. If you are concerned about weight gain on Fostair, you should speak to your doctor for advice.
An increase in blood pressure has been observed in medications that are similar to those contained in Fostair inhalers, however, this is not connected directly to Fostair at this time. However, it is important that you let your doctor know if you have pre-existing high blood pressure or if you think that Fostair has increased your blood pressure. Fostair can also cause changes to your heart rhythm, including increasing or decreasing your heart rate. If you have any concerns about side effects, you should speak to your doctor for advice.
A cough is an uncommon side effect of Fostair inhalers, affecting up to 1% of people using the inhaler. The cough may be a dry cough or a productive cough. If your cough comes with other symptoms such as a fever or chills, increased difficulty breathing or mucous production, you may have a lung infection (pneumonia) and you should speak to your doctor for advice.
In rare cases, Fostair can make your asthma symptoms worse. This happens in less than 1% of people who use Fostair. If you notice any signs of your asthma worsening, it is important that you let the doctor know, as another medication will likely be more suitable for you.
Fostair inhalers are associated with an increased incidence of oral thrush (thrush infections of the mouth and throat). This is more common in standard Fostair inhalers, occurring in up to 10% of people, but it is less common with the Fostair NEXThaler affecting up to 1% of people.
You should not use Fostair if you are allergic to any of the ingredients, including formoterol and beclometasone.
You may need to be monitored while using Fostair if you have a heart problem such as an irregular heart rhythm, severe heart disease, heart failure, an aneurysm or other heart conditions. Fostair also needs to be used with caution in thyrotoxicosis, diabetes, phaeochromocytoma (tumour of the adrenal gland) and untreated hypokalaemia (low potassium). For this reason, it is important that you let your doctor know about any other health conditions you have, to make sure that Fostair is safe and suitable for you.
Fostair can interact with various substances, so it is important to let your doctor know if you take any medications, supplements, over the counter treatments, alternative medicines or recreational drugs. Some of the medications with known interactions with Fostair include:
There is little research exploring Fostair and pregnancy and the risks are unknown. For this reason, Fostair is not recommended for use in pregnancy. It should only be used if the benefit outweighs the risk. If you are pregnant or trying to conceive while taking Fostair, you should discuss this with your doctor.
There are many alternatives to Fostair inhalers. This includes other combination inhalers, triple therapy inhalers and also separate reliever and preventer (steroid) inhalers. If you want to change from your Fostair inhaler, you should discuss this with your doctor. They will be able to address your concerns and help you find a suitable alternative.
Fostair is not equivalent to Seretide. Fostair contains a corticosteroid called beclometasone and formoterol, which is a type of medication known as a LABA (long-acting beta-agonist). Seretide also contains a corticosteroid (fluticasone) and a LABA (salmeterol), however, these drugs are not considered to be equivalent as the ingredients and strength of the medication are different.
Fostair is not equivalent to Symbicort. Both inhalers do contain formoterol as one of the active ingredients, but the corticosteroids in each inhaler are different. Fostair contains beclometasone and Symbicort contains budesonide.
Fostair 100/6 contains 100mg of beclometasone, a corticosteroid and 6mg of formoterol. The formoterol helps to relieve your symptoms and relax your airways, but the steroid is preventative, helping you to avoid the inflammation that leads to your symptoms. Fostair 100/6 contains a lower dose of the steroid than Fostair 200/6. Therefore, Fostair 100/6 will be given to patients if their symptoms are well-controlled with a lower dose steroid, or if the doctor wants to start them on a lower-dose steroid to assess suitability. Fostair 100/6 may be tried before a higher dose, as lower doses typically produce milder side effects. Generally, the doctor will try to find you the lowest, but effective dose of a medication.
Fostair 200/6 contains double the amount of corticosteroid than Fostair 100/6. The amount of formoterol in each inhaler is the same. Fostair 200/6 would be given to someone whose symptoms are not adequately controlled by Fostair 100/6 or another inhaler with a similar dose of corticosteroids.
Both Fostair and Seretide are combination inhalers. The ingredients contained in Fostair are formoterol and beclometasone. Seretide contains fluticasone and salmeterol. Fluticasone and beclometasone are both inhaled corticosteroids that help to reduce inflammation in the lungs. Both salmeterol and formoterol are a type of drug known as a LABA (long-acting beta-agonist). These medications help to relax and widen your airways and these effects should last for approximately 12 hours. Due to the similarity of the ingredients, Fostair and Seretide are very similar medications and they have been found to have very similar levels of effectiveness. The key reason someone may be moved from Seretide to Fostair is cost-related. Fostair is typically less expensive than Seretide. However, it is important that if you want to make the switch, you discuss this with your doctor.
Both Fostair and Symbicort contain formoterol and a corticosteroid, but the corticosteroids are different in each inhaler. Fostair NEXThaler and Symbicort are both dry powder inhalers, which means they must be inhaled with a quick deep breath. However, Fostair is also available as a metered-dose inhaler that is inhaled with a slow deep breath, which may be easier for some people. Fostair can also be used with a spacer, which allows you to breathe more normally when using your inhaler.
Fostair was launched in the UK in 2008, with Fostair NEXThaler being released in 2014.
Fostair should be kept in the fridge before use. This is because it helps to preserve the medications, ensuring they will still be effective. Once you have started using your Fostair inhaler, you should continue to ensure that it is stored at a temperature below 25 °C. You should be conscious of not leaving it in the sun, or inside a hot car, or you risk damaging the medications inside.
Fostair is available to purchase from Dr Felix. Simply complete our online consultation form to get started. This will be reviewed by our doctors and dispensed by our pharmacy if it is found to be suitable for you. All our medications are dispatched in plain packaging direct to your door.
Fostair is made by Chiesi Respiratory. They also produce Trimbow, Clenil and Atimos inhalers.
Fostair contains two active ingredients, one of which is a corticosteroid called beclometasone. Corticosteroids are not the same as anabolic steroids, which are sometimes misused by bodybuilders and athletes to build bigger muscles. Corticosteroids help to reduce inflammation, whereas anabolic steroids mimic testosterone, so are prescribed for men with low testosterone levels or reduced muscle mass.
It is recommended that patients with COPD or asthma who use Fostair or other similar inhalers should consider shielding during the COVID-19 pandemic.
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