Luforbec inhaler

Luforbec is a combination asthma inhaler that contains beclometasone (a corticosteroid) and formoterol (a long-acting bronchodilator). It reduces airway inflammation and relaxes muscles to improve breathing and is used to manage asthma and COPD.

Depending on how severe your asthma is, you may be offered either:

• an anti-inflammatory reliever (AIR) inhaler to use when you get symptoms
• a maintenance and reliever therapy (MART) inhaler that is used daily to help prevent symptoms

Luforbec is approved for both AIR and MART and is an extrafine formula. This means it is designed to reach the small, peripheral airways, meaning it can help you to manage your symptoms both fast and effectively.

Luforbec contains beclometasone and formoterol which work to improve breathing by reducing airway inflammation and relaxing bronchial muscles:

Beclometasone is a steroid that lowers inflammation in the air passages, making them less sensitive and preventing swelling, irritation, and inflammation. It works over time on the cells in the lungs to stop the release of chemicals that cause asthma symptoms, such as wheezing.

Formoterol is a long-acting beta2-agonist (LABA) and bronchodilator that works by relaxing the smooth muscle in the airways and opening them up to make it easier to breathe.

How long does Luforbec last?

The effects of Luforbec last for around 12 hours for symptom relief.

How long does the Luforbec inhaler take to work?

The two ingredients in Luforbec will start working at different times. Formetorol is a fast-acting symptom reliever that starts working in 2 to 3 minutes. Beclometason is a long-term preventative anti-inflammatory medication that builds up over 3 to 7 days, with full benefits being seen after a few weeks.

How effective is Luforbec?

A study found that people using a Luforbec inhaler for 12 weeks saw a decrease in how often they needed to use their relief inhaler by an average of 1.4 puffs a day It was also found that people had better day-to-day symptom control with people's risk of an attack becoming 36% lower when compared to a control group using two separate inhalers.

Luforbec is for inhalation use and should be inhaled via your mouth into your lungs. If you are using Luforbec for the first time, you should first test that the inhaler is working properly. To do this, you should:

• remove the cap from the mouthpiece
• hold the inhaler upright with the mouthpiece at the bottom
• If you are using the inhaler for the first time, direct the mouthpiece away from you and firmly depress the canister 3 times to release a puff. If you have not used the inhaler for 14 days or more, firmly depress the canister to release one puff.
• check the dose indicator, it should read 120

Before using Luforbec, you should check the dose indicator. If it shows 0, there are no doses left, and you should dispose of your inhaler and get a new one.

Important: For more specific guidance on how to use your Luforbec inhaler, please read the patient information leaflet included with your medication. You should always follow your doctor’s guidance on using your inhaler during your own personal treatment.

To use a Luforbec pressurised metered-dose inhaler:

1. Remove the protective mouthpiece cap and check that the mouthpiece is clean
2. Breathe out slowly and deeply to empty your lungs
3. Hold the canister vertically with its body upwards and put your lips around it, making sure not to bite it
4. Start breathing in slowly through your mouth. Once you have started to breathe in, press down on the top of the inhaler to release one puff
5. Continue to breathe in slowly until your lungs are full
6. Remove the inhaler from your mouth and hold your breath for 10 seconds or as long as you comfortably can
7. Breathe out slowly, not into the inhaler
8. If another dose is needed, wait 30 seconds and repeat steps 3 to 9 when using it as a reliever
9. When finished, replace the mouthpiece and rinse your mouth out with water

Luforbec is usually taken as 1 or 2 puffs twice daily in the morning and evening. It can also be used when needed for sudden symptoms. You should not take more than 8 puffs in 24 hours if you are using it as your main inhaler and 4 puffs if you are using it with a separate reliever inhaler. Your doctor will direct you on how and when to use Luforbec.

Please seek emergency medical attention if your reliever therapy is required more than every 4 hours or if you are experiencing the following symptoms:

• finding it difficult to talk or walk
• finding it difficult to breathe
• wheezing a lot or experiencing a tight chest
• coughing a lot
• have a peak expiratory flow (PEF) of less than 60% of your best reading

All medications, including Luforbec, may have side effects for some people. Common side effects of Luforbec include:

• fungal infections (of the mouth and throat)
• headache
• hoarseness
• sore throat
• pneumonia in COPD patients

Uncommon side effects of Luforbec include:

• unusual fast heartbeat and disorders of heart rhythm
• some changes in the electrocardiogram
• asthma attack
• trembling
• restlessness
• dizziness
• palpitations
• flu symptoms
• fungal infections of the vagina
• inflammation of the sinuses
• cough and productive cough
• nausea
• abnormal or impaired sense of taste
• burning of the lips
• dry mouth
• swallowing difficulties
• indigestion
• upset stomach
• diarrhoea
• pain in the muscles and muscle cramps
• reddening of the face
• excessive sweating
• increased blood flow to some tissue in the body
• rhinitis
• inflammation of the ear
• throat irritation
• changes in the blood

If you have Chronic Obstructive pulmonary disease, you may also experience a reduction of the amount of cortisol in the body or an irregular heartbeat.

Rare side effects of Luforbec include:

• tightness in the chest
• sensation of a missed heartbeat
• increase or decrease in blood pressure
• inflammation of the kidney
• swelling of the skin and mucous membrane persisting for several days

Very rare side effects of Luforbec include:

• worsening of asthma
• shortness of breath
• a fall in the number of blood platelets
• swelling of the hands and feet

Stop using Luforbec immediately if you experience a worsening shortness of breath and wheezing immediately after using Luforbec (paradoxical bronchospasm). In this instance,use your quick-acting reliever inhaler straight away.

How long do Luforbec inhaler side effects last

Usually, the side effects of Luforbec, such as headaches, often improve within a few days to a couple of weeks as the body adjusts. Other side effects, such as throat irritation, can last longer.

What to do if you get Luforbec inhaler side effects

If you experience side effects of Luforbec that are persistent and are affecting your day-to-day life, you should speak with your doctor. Many side effects that affect your mouth, such as an oral fungal infection, dry mouth, or a sore throat, can be prevented by using a spacer.

Luforbec may not be a suitable treatment for everyone. There are certain medications or medical conditions that may interact with Luforbec and make it less effective or unsafe to use.

You should speak to your doctor before taking Luforbec if you:

• are pregnant or are thinking of becoming pregnant
• have any heart problems, such as angina (heart pain), a recent heart attack, heart failure, narrowing of the arteries around your heart, valvular heart disease, or any other known abnormalities of your heart
• have narrowing of the arteries, high blood pressure, or you know you have an aneurysm
• have disorders of your heart rhythm, such as increased or irregular heart rate, a fast pulse, or palpitations
• have an overactive thyroid gland
• have low blood levels of potassium
• have any disease of your liver or kidneys
• have diabetes
• have a tumour of the adrenal gland
• are due to have an anaesthetic, it may be necessary to stop taking Luforbec at least 12 hours before the anaesthesia
• are being, or have ever been treated for tuberculosis, or if you have a known viral or fungal infection of your chest
• must avoid alcohol for any reason

Luforbec and pregnancy

You should not use Luforbec if you are pregnant, think that you might be pregnant, or are planning to become pregnant, or you are breastfeeding, unless you are advised to do so by your doctor.

Medications you should speak to your doctor before using Luforbec if you are currently taking:

• beta blockers such as atenolol, propranolol, sotalol, timolol (sometimes used to treat glaucoma)
• medicines for treating abnormal heart rhythms, such as quinidine, disopyramide, or procainamide
• medications used to treat allergic reactions (antihistamines)
• medicines for treating symptoms of depression or mental disorders, such as monoaminoxidase inhibitors (phenelzine and isocarboxazid), tricyclic antidepressants (amitriptyline and imipramine)
• medicines for treating Parkinson’s disease, such as Levodopa
• medicines containing oxytocin
• monoamnoxidase inhibitors or similar drugs used to treat mental disorders, including furazolidone and procarbazine
• medicines for treating heart disease, such as digoxin
• other medicines used to treat asthma (theophylline, aminophylline, or steroids) and diuretics, such as water tablets

Luforbec is a prescription-only medication that can be purchased online from trusted, regulated providers like Asda Online Doctor. It is also available on the NHS.

Can I buy Luforbec online?

Yes, you can buy Luforbec online with Asda Online Doctor. You will first need to complete a short online health assessment for one of our doctors to review. You can then place your order.

If approved, your order will be dispatched and sent to your home address in discreet packaging, or you can collect it from your local Asda Pharmacy 4 hours after a doctor’s approval

If your order is not approved, one of our doctors will contact you via your account with alternative treatment options

Getting your Luforbec inhaler with us is quick and convenient with easy repeat prescriptions, all manageable through your mobile, tablet, or computer.

Can I buy Luforbec over the counter?

No, you cannot buy Luforbec over the counter as it is a prescription-only medication.

Can I get Luforbec on the NHS?

Yes, you can get Luforbec on the NHS, but you will first need to make an appointment with your doctor for a prescription.

If Luforbec is not working for you, or you want to try an alternative option to treat your asthma you should speak to your GP.

Asda Online Doctor offers alternative treatments, including:

Luforbec vs Fostair

Fostair is a branded version of Luforbec, this means they both contain the same active ingredients and work in the same way, they just have a different name, price and packaging.

Both inhalers generally look the same, with the main difference being that the Fostair inhaler body is completely pink and the Luforbec inhaler is pink and white.

Fostair works like Luforbec to relax the muscles in the airways and reduce inflammation. Both medications have a similar effectiveness, beclometasone dipropionate and formoterol fumarate dihydrate has been reported to reduce asthma attacks in adults by 66%. They share the common side effects:

• fungal infections in the mouth or throat
• headaches
• sore throat
• hoarseness

Luforbec vs Ventolin

Ventolin is a reliever inhaler that contains 100 mcg of salbutamol, a short-acting beta-2 agonist. It should be used when you are having symptoms of an asthma attack as it works by relaxing your airways, making it easier to breathe. It is not recommended to use Ventolin alone and will now need a preventer inhaler as well.

Ventolin is taken in the same way as Luforbec, and you usually take 1 to 2 puffs each time you use it and you should not take more than 4 puffs a day. Your doctor will tell you how many puffs you need to take.

It starts to work in 5 minutes and lasts for 4 to 6 hours. Common side effects of Ventolin are headaches and feeling shaky.

The MHRA advises that patients with asthma should consider using combination inhalers instead of blue reliever inhalers like Ventolin, in this case Luforbec may be a suitable alternative. If you are currently using the blue reliever inhaler Ventolin, any changes to your treatment plan must first be discussed with your GP.

Is Luforbec a strong inhaler?

Yes, Luforbec is considered a strong inhaler. It comes in 100/6 mcg and 200/6 strengths.

Is Luforbec a steroid inhaler?

Yes, Luforbec contains beclometasone, which is a high-strength steroid.

Can Luforbec cause weight gain?

No, there is no significant evidence that Luforbec will cause noticeable weight gain.

What to do if Luforbec makes me cough?

If Luforbec makes you cough, you should contact your doctor immediately, as you may need to look at an alternative treatment.

Is Luforbec a "preventer" or a "reliever" inhaler?

Luforbec acts as both a preventor and a reliever inhaler.