Becotide Inhaler doses

Colemania

Hi all,

I have been using Becotide 100mcg for the last 6 months or so but I was just wondering if there would be any implications in me using Becotide 50mcg? I know it is half the dosage but is it as simple as I take twice as much puffs with this one or should I not use it all? A friend of my mothers brought back some from Spain so I was just wondering.

Gatling

Check with your gp first and foremost

Colemania

Gatling wrote: »

Check with your gp first and foremost

I will when I speak with him next but just asking to see if anyone else has had experiences with this or has an answer before I speak to the GP

locum-motion

If you had opted to get your medicines from your local pharmacist, then they would have:

a. made sure you got the right dose in the first place

and

b. been able to answer your question.

However, it's forbidden to ask for or give medical/pharmaceutical advice on Boards.

princess-lala

locum-motion wrote: »

If you had opted to get your medicines from your local pharmacist, then they would have:

OP is simply asking a question if they should use it and would it be the same. Also is it worth using.

I'm sure that the op knows how and why they're using this medication!

Colemania

princess-lala wrote: »

OP is simply asking a question if they should use it and would it be the same. Also is it worth using.

I'm sure that the op knows how and why they're using this medication!

Exactly! Thank you! I do go to my pharmacist to get my inhalers but someone got me the 50 mcg ones from Spain so I just asked what I thought was a simple question...... If i can't use them, I can't use them.

Gatling

myself personally I wouldn't touch it two reasons one there's no way to verify if it's a genuine product and not some rip off,

2 is the important part for me it's widely believed that people who regularly use inhalers like us don't actually get a full dosage when using various inhalers , from talking to respitory Specialists it's thought we loose up to 30% if not more of metered doses though the mouth alone alot of it gets stuck on your tongue and pallet before it enters your respiratory system .

The theory would mean a lower dosage would mean you could loose more from the doseage.
As I posted earlier I'd talk to your gp and or chemist first

Colemania

Gatling wrote: »

myself personally I wouldn't touch it two reasons one there's no way to verify if it's a genuine product and not some rip off,

2 is the important part for me it's widely believed that people who regularly use inhalers like us don't actually get a full dosage when using various inhalers , from talking to respitory Specialists it's thought we loose up to 30% if not more of metered doses though the mouth alone alot of it gets stuck on your tongue and pallet before it enters your respiratory system .

The theory would mean a lower dosage would mean you could loose more from the doseage.
As I posted earlier I'd talk to your gp and or chemist first

Good point, was just thinking that last night. I actually had to take a methacholine challenge yesterday and was told that by using a volumatic spacer device (which the nurse gave me) you take in 75% more of the gas.

Found the test interesting too by the way. Didn't react to any of the provactions but it was cool to see how my levels went up and down with the increase of intensity.

Markcheese

Colemania wrote: »

Good point, was just thinking that last night. I actually had to take a methacholine challenge yesterday and was told that by using a volumatic spacer device (which the nurse gave me) you take in 75% more of the gas.

Found the test interesting too by the way. Didn't react to any of the provactions but it was cool to see how my levels went up

and down with the increase of intensity.

A what challenge ???

Colemania

Markcheese wrote: »

A what challenge ???

I must be the only special one to have this done then..... :P

Have you ever done the breathing test at the hospital? Spirometry I think it's called. Well basically it's that plus you have to inhale different gases/solutions at different levels of intensity. Basically they are supposed to make your airways contract and if a certain level of intensity triggers a coughing fit or ashtma type symptoms, they will then know how to diagnose you.

I didn't react to any but they could tell from the pattern that there was an asthma type symptom there. I don't actually get asthma attacks during the day, never have. It's night asthma that I have. Waking up with a coughing fit which can be quite scary the first few times!

Qualitymark

@Colemania, are you saying you got Becotide 100 off prescription?

If you need a mild steroid inhaler like that, maybe you should go to the doctor rather than prescribing it for yourself?

I've been on that kind of stuff since the oul' gods' days, and when I went to the Eye and Ear about something else, they told me that I had the beginnings of cataracts typical of steroid use. I was a bit surprised, as I didn't think the level I'd used inhalers at could cause this, but they said oh, yeah.

So off to the doc with you before you take Becotide. It's also important to get a few tests to make sure that it's asthma you have and not anything more sinister.

Gatling

When you think about it 70% loss from 50mg .

The spacers are a great help ,the first time i used one 18 months ago i got slightly light headed from ventolin just for a spit second in front of my gp who reckoned i had my biggest dose of inhaler in 20 + years ,

Colemania

Qualitymark wrote: »

@Colemania, are you saying you got Becotide 100 off prescription?

If you need a mild steroid inhaler like that, maybe you should go to the doctor rather than prescribing it for yourself?

I've been on that kind of stuff since the oul' gods' days, and when I went to the Eye and Ear about something else, they told me that I had the beginnings of cataracts typical of steroid use. I was a bit surprised, as I didn't think the level I'd used inhalers at could cause this, but they said oh, yeah.

So off to the doc with you before you take Becotide. It's also important to get a few tests to make sure that it's asthma you have and not anything more sinister.

yes i was prescribed by a doctor and consultant for becotide 100

locum-motion

princess-lala wrote: »

OP is simply asking a question if they should use it and would it be the same. Also is it worth using.

I'm sure that the op knows how and why they're using this medication!

Colemania wrote: »

Exactly! Thank you! I do go to my pharmacist to get my inhalers but someone got me the 50 mcg ones from Spain so I just asked what I thought was a simple question...... If i can't use them, I can't use them.

There are several issues here.

1. It is forbidden to ask for or to offer advice of this nature on this forum.

2. This is for a couple of reasons, such as you do not know the bona fides of the person offering advice. The advice they offer you might be crap.

3. Another reason is that a person offering the advice might not have sufficient information about you to offer appropriate advice, and so the advice they offer might be crap.

4. In this country, the law is set up in such a way that you have to obtain supplies of prescription-only medicines only from an appropriately qualified person (a pharmacist) after - and only after - it has been prescribed by another appropriately qualified person (a doctor). These laws are there FOR YOUR PROTECTION. You (Colemania) have opted to by-pass the system, and have obtained medicines from a friend of your mother, and God only knows who she got them from. She is unqualified to supply these meds (as evidenced by the fact that she has given you the wrong thing), and in fact has broken the law by bringing them into the country and giving them to you. Your mum's mate is also unqualified to offer advice on the correct use of the product (as evidenced by the fact that you're here asking about it)

5. I am qualified to supply and advise upon these products. However, this is my job. I am paid to provide this advice. You're looking for if for free. Sorry, but you won't get it from me.

Hopefully, you can now see why I answered in the way I did. Get your medicines from your local pharmacist, and then you can ask them these questions. Yes, it might cost a bit more*, but you can ask for and get appropriate advice with it.


(*and by the way, if we could buy the medicines cheaply enough to supply them to you at the same prices you can get them for in Spain, we would. But we can't, so please don't start accusing Irish pharmacies of ripping people off - that subject has been done to death on Boards)

princess-lala

locum-motion wrote: »

Hopefully, you can now see why I answered in the way I did. Get your medicines from your local pharmacist, and then you can ask them these questions. Yes, it might cost a bit more*, but you can ask for and get appropriate advice with it.


(*and by the way, if we could buy the medicines cheaply enough to supply them to you at the same prices you can get them for in Spain, we would. But we can't, so please don't start accusing Irish pharmacies of ripping people off - that subject has been done to death on Boards)

Nobody said anything about price!

locum-motion

princess-lala wrote: »

Nobody said anything about price!

That's why I said "By the way...".

Pretzill

Qualitymark wrote: »

@Colemania, are you saying you got Becotide 100 off prescription?

If you need a mild steroid inhaler like that, maybe you should go to the doctor rather than prescribing it for yourself?

I've been on that kind of stuff since the oul' gods' days, and when I went to the Eye and Ear about something else, they told me that I had the beginnings of cataracts typical of steroid use. I was a bit surprised, as I didn't think the level I'd used inhalers at could cause this, but they said oh, yeah.

So off to the doc with you before you take Becotide. It's also important to get a few tests to make sure that it's asthma you have and not anything more sinister.

That's a little scary re: the eyes - I'm another more years than I care to remember prescribee of inhalers - was on becotide 250 for many years but improved greatly on seretide still on the 250 - but lately my eyes have been giving me gip must book an appointment with the opticians!

OP I agree with what others have said re: taking the 50 when you've been prescribed the 100 - it may seem like simple maths to just double the dosage but if that was the case everyone would be on 50 with a higher dose intake.

Re the spacer I also used one for years but it became an awkward thing to have to carry around if out when the dose was due - also the seretide you don't have to push down just shake breathe out and then suck it in - so it seems to deliver dosage well - now the palpitations/fast heartbeat are annoying side effect but I haven't had to use my reliever in years since taking this.

Gatling

Pretzill wrote: »

Re the spacer I also used one for years but it became an awkward thing to have to carry around if out when the dose was due - also the seretide you don't have to push down just shake breathe out and then suck it in - so it seems to deliver dosage well - now the palpitations/fast heartbeat are annoying side effect but I haven't had to use my reliever in years since taking this.

You would think in 2014 we would have something that wasn't was so bulky and awkward to carry if you were out and about .

I like the seritide too works pretty well for me I hate the awful color and shape of the diskus ( if you have the same )

It's a bit barbie doll compact for me

dango

I was given one of these recently. Much more convenient than the bulky ones in the past.

Colemania

locum-motion wrote: »

There are several issues here.

1. It is forbidden to ask for or to offer advice of this nature on this forum.

2. This is for a couple of reasons, such as you do not know the bona fides of the person offering advice. The advice they offer you might be crap.

3. Another reason is that a person offering the advice might not have sufficient information about you to offer appropriate advice, and so the advice they offer might be crap.

4. In this country, the law is set up in such a way that you have to obtain supplies of prescription-only medicines only from an appropriately qualified person (a pharmacist) after - and only after - it has been prescribed by another appropriately qualified person (a doctor). These laws are there FOR YOUR PROTECTION. You (Colemania) have opted to by-pass the system, and have obtained medicines from a friend of your mother, and God only knows who she got them from. She is unqualified to supply these meds (as evidenced by the fact that she has given you the wrong thing), and in fact has broken the law by bringing them into the country and giving them to you. Your mum's mate is also unqualified to offer advice on the correct use of the product (as evidenced by the fact that you're here asking about it)

5. I am qualified to supply and advise upon these products. However, this is my job. I am paid to provide this advice. You're looking for if for free. Sorry, but you won't get it from me.

Hopefully, you can now see why I answered in the way I did. Get your medicines from your local pharmacist, and then you can ask them these questions. Yes, it might cost a bit more*, but you can ask for and get appropriate advice with it.


(*and by the way, if we could buy the medicines cheaply enough to supply them to you at the same prices you can get them for in Spain, we would. But we can't, so please don't start accusing Irish pharmacies of ripping people off - that subject has been done to death on Boards)

Well that escalated quickly......

What if i said they were bought from a licensed chemist which I have the bag and receipt from?

Gatling

dango wrote: »

I was given one of these recently. Much more convenient than the bulky ones in the past.

I like alot must ask about one before chest infection starts .

Pretzill

Gatling wrote: »

I like alot must ask about one before chest infection starts .

Yeah things seem to have moved on size wise - but not our exceptional ability to be able to predict the next bout - October starts the chesty season for me - my lungs hate the cold weather!

locum-motion

Colemania wrote: »

Well that escalated quickly......

What if i said they were bought from a licensed chemist which I have the bag and receipt from?

It is still the wrong thing...

No matter what way you shake it, you chose to try to save a few bob by getting your friend to pick it up in Spain and import it for you (illegal unless she has an import license) and give it to you (illegal unless she is an Irish-registered pharmacist working in an Irish-registered pharmacy), and she failed in that task because you are now left with the wrong product and no one to advise you on it.

You should have got it from your local pharmacy. It is your poor choice that has left you in this position.

locum-motion

dango wrote: »

I was given one of these recently. Much more convenient than the bulky ones in the past.

Available from any pharmacy in Ireland.
Although they might have to order it in for you.
Usually takes about 1/2 a day.

Gatling

locum-motion wrote: »

Available from any pharmacy in Ireland.
Although they might have to order it in for you.
Usually takes about 1/2 a day.

Just seen them online for €35 not bad actually

sam34

Ok let's wrap this up before it gets too heated.

Op- best bet is ask your pharmacist.