Saturday, October 23, 2010

a story for today

Prescription: Beclometasone cfc-free inhaler

Dispenser: Please give me 10 minutes, I'll get everything ready for you. (go and pick up c inhaler)

Mr X: No C inhaler, nonono...i dont want that. I don't want that cfc-free one.

Dispenser: But your doctor give you that.

Pharmacist 1: Yes, it's on your prescription. The normal one has been discontinued. Only cfc-free one is available now.

Mr X: Give me a pen, I'll cross that cfc-free off.

Pharmacist 1: No, I can't let you do that.

Mr X: What's the matter with you, why can't I get if from here? I always can get it from some other pharmacy.

Pharmacist 1: Those pharmacy may have some old inhaler in stock, but we dont.

Mr X: (*&^%$#@....I'm going to sue you. (Very angry)

Pharmacist 2 trying to help.

Mr X: I'm going to bring this to the council court............blah blah blah...

Pharmacist 2: I'm sorry about this sir. Thank you.

7 comments:

旭晨 said...

Hui Xin, i need your advice about inhaler.. i having asthma and looking for a good inhaler.. any recommendation?

huixin said...

sorry for didn't notice this msg earlier. i need to know more about your condition before i can recommend anything for you.ie, how often is your asthma attack. i hope you'll see my reply. if you prefer, i can give you my email address, so you drop me an email.

旭晨 said...

my asthma quite serious, it attacks normally during mid night or early morning.. to the extend of can't breathe in air..
At 1st i using Vantoline.. then change to another type pink colour case.. cant rememner the medical name.. will searh for the name then inform you later.. According to those Dortors (in Singapore), this inhaler is the latest product, i even try to find in Malaysia but cant get it.. Anyway i am looking for the best inhaler in market now.. any recommendation?

huixin said...

Normally, asthma is managed with 2 types of inhaler. A emergency type and a asthma preventer.

Ventolin is the rescue inhaler, active ingredient is salbutamol or we call it the blue inhaler. This should only be use when you have asthma attack cuz they open your airways. You should always carry this inhaler with you, just in case you get any attack.

The preventer is normally a brown inhaler. The active ingredient is beclometasone, which is a steroid that bring down the inflammation in your airway. This inhaler should be use regularly. There are a few brands available, Clenil or Qvar. They are same active ingredient, but using a different technology. Qvar uses a newer technology, but Clenil is cheaper. So, you might want to consider the cost as well.

Look at your condition, I think you might need both ventolin and beclometasone inhaler (preventer).

Inhalation technique is very important as well. When you use those pressurised multi-dose inhaler, you should breath in steadily. Don't breath in too strong, cuz all the active ingredient will bang to the back of your throat and not get down to your airways. I'm not sure if the pharmacies in malaysia do inhalation technique check or not. But if they do, ask them to do a check for you, so you know whether you are getting the right dose or not.


I hope these info will help.

旭晨 said...

here i found the medical name for my inhaler...

Seretide contains 25mg of salmeterol (s the xinafoate) and 50mg of fluticaone.. is Autralia products..

Please advice if this is the stringer or best (in term of effectiveness) inhaler in the market??

Thanks...

huixin said...

Seretide is one of the most commonly use inhaler on the market. It contains a steroid (fluticasone) and a salmeterol to open up your airways. Seretide should be use regularly to bring down the inflammation of the airway (fluticasone that does the job) and keep your airway open (salmeterol).
It's very important to use seretide regularly to prevent asthma attack.

Have you been using Seretide on a daily basis to prevent your asthma attack?

旭晨 said...

yes i do use this regularly.. every morning pump 2 times..
it is pink colour cage and according to Singapore doctor, this is the latest products.. but its really expensive, almost double the price of Vantoline...

this inhaler is very efective and odourless.. no smell which i prefered.. unlike vantoline or another brown colour cage.. really smelly and bitter..