Is YOUR asthma inhaler one of thousands in urgent recall? The tell tale signs revealed amid fears ‘lives are at risk’
A SMALL tear could help identify if your asthma inhaler is one of thousands recalled amid fears thousands are "putting sufferers' lives at risk".
Two brands of inhalers have been found to be faulty, delivering the WRONG doses of potentially life-saving medication, experts warned yesterday.
More than 5.4 million Brits suffer asthma, and are now being urged to check if their inhaler is one of those affected.
The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has recalled two Ventolin and Seretide inhalers, both manufactured by Glaxo Wellcome UK Limited.
More than 4,500 blue Ventolin 200mcg inhalers and 1,400 purple Seretide 50/250mcg inhalers are affected, a spokesman told The Sun Online.
Leading charity Asthma UK said a "small mark or tear in the foil strip" of the Accuhaler devices could mean they "doesn't give you all the doses your inhaler is meant to".
This means people with asthma may find their symptoms worsen, or are not relieved by the medication during an attack.
If you're worried your inhaler is affected, it's vital to go to a pharmacy right away.
The pharmacist can check your inhaler and provide a new one, free of charge if yours is found to be among the faulty batches.
How to tell if your inhaler is affected
Three batches of the two inhalers have been recalled.
To check if yours is affected look on the back of the inhaler to see if the lot and expiry date matches any of the below:
1. Seretide Accuhaler Inhaler 50/250MCG –1X60D
- Lot: 5K8W
- Expiry date: 28/04/2019
2. Ventolin Accuhaler Inhaler 200MCG –1X60D
- Lot: 754P
- Expiry date: 11/05/2019
3. Ventolin Accuhaler Inhaler 200MCG –1X60D
- Lot: 786G
- Expiry date: 12/05/2019
Dr Andy Whittamore, GP and clinical lead at Asthma UK, said: "It is extremely worrying that some people with asthma may have faulty inhalers and it could put people’s lives at risk.
"The Ventolin inhalers are reliever inhalers and so are used by people while they are experiencing asthma symptoms such as a cough, breathlessness, wheezing or a tight chest.
"If someone’s inhaler is faulty they may find it doesn’t help which could be frightening and mean they’re more likely to have an asthma attack.
"We’d urge everyone with asthma to check if their inhaler is from the affected batch by checking the number on the bottom of their inhaler.
"If it is affected, they should get medical advice and return the inhaler to their pharmacist for a replacement."
Ventolin inhalers are used to manage asthma symptoms as they occur, while Seretide inhalers are used as a preventative treatment.
MORE ON ASTHMA
The inhalers are also being recalled from hospitals, pharmacies and retailers across the UK.
Other asthma inhalers, including the more commonly used Ventolin Evohaler, are not affected.
Bernadette Sinclair Jenkins, MHRA's regulatory assessment unit manager, said: "It is important people check whether they have an affected inhaler.
"We want patients and their families to be confident treatment will be safe and effective when required."
Each day in the UK three people die from asthma attacks, according to Asthma UK.
An attack happens when a person's airways start to tighten, which can leave them coughing, wheezing and gasping for breath.
Some people with asthma describe having an attack as feeling like someone is holding a pillow over their face.
And the condition often gets worse when there are pollutants in the air, such as smoke.
A LUNG CONDITION THAT CAUSES BREATHING DIFFICULTIES
Asthma affects people of all ages and often starts in childhood, although it can also appear for the first time in adults.
It is caused by inflammation of the breathing tubes that carry air in and out of the lungs.
This inflammation makes the breathing tubes highly sensitive, so they temporarily become narrow.
This may occur randomly, or after exposure to a trigger like dust, pollen, smoke and even exercise.
Symptoms:
The main symptoms include
- wheezing
- breathlessness
- a tight chest
- coughing
Symptoms can sometimes get temporarily worse, this is known as an asthma attack.
Treatment
There is no known cure for asthma but the symptoms can be managed with a number of treatments.
Most asthma treatments are taken using an inhaler, a small device that delivers a spray or powder medicine to your breathing tubes as you breathe in.
The main treatments are:
- avoiding potential triggers
- reliever inhalers – inhalers used when needed to quickly relieve asthma symptoms for a short time
- preventer inhalers – inhalers used every day to reduce the inflammation in the breathing tubes
Source: NHS Choices
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