Alvesco for asthma: use, technique and safety

It is a controller inhaler, not a fast-acting rescue treatment for a sudden asthma attack. Keep the reliever specified in your asthma action plan available and use each inhaler for its prescribed purpose.

Reduced cough, wheezing, chest tightness and night waking can indicate improving asthma control. The preventive effect builds with consistent use, so feeling well is not a reason to stop suddenly.

Possible local effects include a sore throat, hoarse voice, mouth irritation or oral thrush. Systemic steroid effects are less likely with inhaled treatment than with steroid tablets, but the prescriber still aims for the lowest dose that maintains control.

Use Alvesco on the schedule written by your prescriber and follow the device instructions. Coordinating a slow, deep inhalation with actuation helps medicine reach the lungs; a clinician or pharmacist can observe your technique and advise whether a spacer suits the inhaler.

Rinse the mouth and spit after use. If a dose is missed, follow the patient leaflet or pharmacist's advice rather than doubling it. Track symptoms and reliever use so a clinician can judge whether treatment needs adjustment.

Follow your written asthma action plan if symptoms worsen. Seek emergency help for severe breathlessness, blue or grey lips, confusion, exhaustion, inability to speak comfortably, marked chest pulling, or poor response to the prescribed reliever.

Arrange a timely review if wheezing or cough is increasing, sleep is disturbed, normal activity becomes difficult, the reliever is needed more often, or Alvesco seems to trigger immediate wheeze. Do not increase or stop the controller dose without clinical guidance.

Ask for an inhaler-technique check, a written action plan and a clear explanation of which inhaler is the reliever. Discuss triggers, persistent nasal allergy symptoms, side effects and the signs that would justify changing controller treatment.