Your Asthma Plan if taking Single Inhaler Therapy

You have been sent a link to this page because you only take a reliever inhaler (usually blue) for asthma or wheeze.

The reliever medication will:

• act as a bronchodilator - opening up the airways quite quickly to reduce tight chest and wheeze.

  This inhaler usually works for 4-6 hours approx.

How do I best use my inhalers?

You can see instructions on how best to use your inhaler here.

IMPORTANT

If you need to use your blue inhaler regularly - say twice a week or more for relief than you would better be treated by taking an additional ‘Preventor’ Inhaler.

Contact the surgery if this is the case.

What to do if your asthma is moderately worsened

eg, by catching a cold.

You can increase the number of doses :

Use your blue inhaler for relief whenever you feel the need.

If your blue inhaler is not giving the usual relief then contact the surgery, or 111 if out of hours.

What to do if you have an asthma attack

1. Sit up and try to keep calm.

2. Take one dose of your reliever (blue) inhaler every few minutes for relief - upto 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.

3. 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 inhaler please let us know or see the Pharmacist.