Your Asthma Plan if taking 2 inhalers for your asthma
You have been sent a link to this page because you take two types of inhaler to control your asthma.
These are two separate preventer and reliever inhalers.
These may be dry powder inhalers, or aerosol inhalers.
A ‘preventor’ inhaler (usually brown or maroon) will:
- reduce inflammation in your airways
- prevent asthma symptoms such as breathlessness and a tight chest
- It is used regularly, not as needed - and works to prevent you from getting wheezy.
- It is usually used twice a day
- You should rinse your mouth after use.
A ‘reliever’ inhaler (usually blue) contains:
- a bronchodilator medicine to open up the airways.
- It works within seconds and lasts upto 6 hours approx
- It is used to give quick relief from asthma symptoms
How do I use my inhalers?
You can see instructions on how best to use your inhaler here.
What to do if your asthma is moderately worsened
eg, by catching a cold or by suffering an allergy reaction to something you are sensitive to.
You can increase the number of doses of preventor inhaler in this case, to 4x/day from 2x/day.
Use your Blue inhaler as often as you need.
If, despite using your preventor inhaler you are still needing to regularly use your reliever inhaler then contact us, we can adjust your medication.
What to do if you have an asthma attack
- Sit up and try to keep calm.
- Take one dose of your blue reliever inhaler every few minutes for relief - up to 10 doses.
- If you feel worse at any point OR you do not feel better after six puffs call 999 for an ambulance.
- If the ambulance has not arrived after 10 minutes and your symptoms are not improving, repeat step 2.
- If your symptoms are not better after repeating step 2, and the ambulance has still not arrived, contact 999 again immediately.
If you are unsure about how best to utilise your inhalers please let us know or see the Pharmacist.