Warning to asthma sufferers.

[ellsie]

Last week I had 2 appointments at hospital,one for more allergy tests,which told me nothing I didn't know. And also one at the respiratory clinic as my asthma was playing up a little.Never move to Leicester if you have asthma as it is notorious for worsening symptoms. The doc wanted to change my inhaler and prescribed symbicort turbohaler. I started it yesterday and all afternoon I had a few odd symtoms like a few hives and a sore throat and very itchy eyes and I wondered what I could have eaten or been in contact with as I suffer from lots of allergies. In the evening I took my inhaler again and decided to check the instructions to make sure I was using it correctly. Imagine my amazement as I read "contains lactose monohydrate and milk proteins":rant:
Today I have had a lousy headache and felt dog rough all day. Why on earth put milk in an inhaler! I have contacted the consultant to ask why he gave it to me and he apologised and said he didn't know it was in there! Well,he sure knows now and I will check all medicines in future as my reaction could have been much worse. So beware! What happened to the milk free medicine petition?

[matt]

bearing in mind that only at best twenty of us seem to really be active on the site a petition is probably not going to happen. i was thinking that maybe an email from lan or steve to the health minister or someone similar might be better? it would carry the weight of being from the website without needing to get actual numbers of sufferers.

it's going to be a problem from all the manufacturers so they could also email each one we can identify. so i would suggest that first we work out a list of manufacturers. then smile sweetly at lan. another target could be the bma to get them to inform their members ie all doctors.

so lan you up for it? official spokeperson of the site?

[ellsie]

Good idea! Also could draw attention to this with your doc or consultant as I have as they have a direct influence on drug companies as they all are the customers of drug companies and always discuss these things amongst their peer group. Look how much these companies pay out to promote their drugs to our doctors so worth a try. Kill or cure!:drunk: I shall have a milk free glass of wine later to cheer me up! Cheers! Enjoy your weekend.

[Copper]

I am a bit late with this comment - I have dormant asthma and have to carry an inhaler with me at all times, so the nurse says in case I ever need it. The first thing I did was to check the ingredients and mine is ok.

I do get very annoyed that they use lactose in so many medications. The lactose is used in tablets to keep everything together ie to keep the tablet shape. I expect that lactose is the cheap option as everything comes down to money in the end :(

[Steve]

bearing in mind that only at best twenty of us seem to really be active on the site a petition is probably not going to happen. i was thinking that maybe an email from lan or steve to the health minister or someone similar might be better? it would carry the weight of being from the website without needing to get actual numbers of sufferers.

it's going to be a problem from all the manufacturers so they could also email each one we can identify. so i would suggest that first we work out a list of manufacturers. then smile sweetly at lan. another target could be the bma to get them to inform their members ie all doctors.

so lan you up for it? official spokeperson of the site?
I doubt that e-mailing these people would do any good even. I don't think they would take too much notice as this is a privatly owned site. If it was a company or an officially registed organistion then it may be different.

A better approach may be for us to get in touch with someone such as AllergyUK and see if they would be interested in contacting these people.

[matt]

good idea, anyone know the site or know anyone in the organisation? or have any in at all?

let them know the problem and see if they're interested enough to get involved.

[Steve]

The website for Allergy UK is www.allergyuk.org (http://www.allergyuk.org)

I've never had any contact with anyone there myself, i don't know if anyone else on the site has though?

[ellsie]

I have contacted allergyuk who were sympathetic but not constrctively helpful. I have also called the national asthma campaign who were much more help. I will be writing to the company to report this directly and also I can see my GP or nurse and fill in a yellow card as I am reporting the side effect of a medicine. This will go to the commitee for safety in medicines who are independent of the drug companies I have been told. Wish me luck!