Steroids??

[AussieSteve]

Been to the doctor and he’s put me on a steroid inhaler for asthma. €140 later (I ain’t kidding!!) I’m wondering…

Will this stuff make me climb like Lance?
Will it make me grow nipples the size of a 9-speed cassette?
Will it make my nuts shrink, and
Will I get banned for doping at the next club spin??

Any advice appreciated, and will be taken with the cynicism it deserves!

[Martin]

is it seritide?

[paddyb]

i take one every day steve but it hasnt made me as fast as lance.
havent noticed any of those side effects! but i think you will fail a drugs test for using it
Just on the €140 though. apply for the drug refund scheme (not means tested so everyone gets it) and it will only be €100 a month

[Sean]

Time to start asking for TUE forms at club spins maybe?
Although I shudder to think what "theraputic" uses some of you will come up with...

[AussieSteve]

is it seritide?
No, it's a dry powder turbo inhaler - Symbicort (budesonide and eformoterol)

[paddyobrien]

don't worry steve, far from banning people, we actively encourage the use of illegal substances

[StephenG]

If you are that worried go onto the IOC website and check the list of banned substances. If it is a bronchial dialater(?) yes you might cllimb a bit better on the day but you WILL pay for it the next.:D

[Fergal]

No, it's a dry powder turbo inhaler
that's all I need to know, hook me up Steve!

[Liam]

Or if you know anyone holidaying in Spain the inhalers are less than half the price there and you don't need a presriction. I've been getting them there for years through friends and family.

[Liam]

Oh and there is only side-effects if you have been using them heavily for many years.

[mudslinger]

hey Steve you should be grand on that inhaler Ive been on the same one for years.If theres any side effects they cant be to bad Im still here:)

[feed]

As far as I know the side effect of long term Steroid use is brittle bones in your latter years. You'll know you're suffering from it when age 80+ you go to turn the key in the front door and break three fingers !!!!!!!

[feed]

Jaysus, must be doing the rounds, I was back to the doctor today for the second time with a chest infection type things that I still haven't shaken after 5 weeks. Second stint on anti biotics and steroid tablets ( €3.95 for the steroid tablets, as soon as she mentioned steroids I was thinking arse, here it comes, the €140 hit !!!!!!! thankfully my route worked out a little cheaper )

[AussieSteve]

€3.95 for the steroid tablets, as soon as she mentioned steroids I was thinking arse, here it comes, the €140 hit !!!!!!! thankfully my route worked out a little cheaper
Damn! I bet my doc must have shares in the drug company!! Tho my inhaler is the turbo variety, with boost dial... and it'd want to be for what it cost!

Have to say my lungs are working heaps better! Hope your gear does the job for ya Dec.

[declan j]

Don't know too much about your turbo charged hit of choice. However I have been treated for asthma myself. Inhalers tend to be more effective at delivering relief. The stuff goes straight to the respiratory tract and does so with a fraction of the dose that oral medication would require.

Hope you feel better Steve,

Declan

[saccades]

Don't know too much about your turbo charged hit of choice. However I have been treated for asthma myself. Inhalers tend to be more effective at delivering relief. The stuff goes straight to the respiratory tract and does so with a fraction of the dose that oral medication would require.

Hope you feel better Steve,

Declan

Cheeky way of extending the patent on old products, combine them together in a funky new way of delivery and charge through the nose.

The Bronchial dilators (like salbutamol - the blue inhalers) give acute relief and are handy for anyone before taking part in sport, or a sufferer having an attack.

Steroid inhalers (Corticosteroids and are not anabolic steroids that are used by/abused atheletes), prevent inflammation by suppressing the immune system in the lungs. These are used as a preventative for chronic asthma.

There is then a 3rd type of Bronchial dilator - basically the lung losening effect lasts a lot longer than stuff like salbutamol, these are used in combination with the steroids for bad asthma as they are not great in an actual attack as they can take longer to work.

The steroid tablets are much much cheaper to make as you can knock out 1 million tablets with old established technology (and is off patent) for the same cost as 50K MDPI's - the QC on them is a pain, as you are working with tiny doses in a relatively complex machine (Most medicines come in a foil strip or glass bottle). Quite stunned that you are being taken for 140 yoyos though.

[feed]

No, it's a dry powder turbo inhaler - Symbicort (budesonide and eformoterol)
Steve, would you believe, was back at the doc yesterday after my third unsuccessful course of anti-biotics and now guess what, they've decided I've got Asthma, I got prescribed ‘Symbicort’ (budesonide/formoterol), however the 120 dose inhaler cost me €85 in McCabes pharmacy, not quite as bad as the €120 you paid, but looks like the drug content is different.

Seems kinda curious the number of people being diagnosed with Asthma these days.

[bazz]

*stands up* I've a confession to make..I'm an asthma sufferer too.

Had it since childhood. Was quite funny when I smoked; cigarette in one hand and inhaler in the other :) (given up the smokes long time)

its very mild asthma and only tends to flare up if I have a cold. I have one of those blue inhalers and sometimes sneak a puff before a spin. Not that it helps, I'm still gasping for air after a few minutes :)

[Martin]

*stands up* I've a confession to make..I'm an asthma sufferer too.

Had it since childhood. Was quite funny when I smoked; cigarette in one hand and inhaler in the other :) (given up the smokes long time)

its very mild asthma and only tends to flare up if I have a cold. I have one of those blue inhalers and sometimes sneak a puff before a spin. Not that it helps, I'm still gasping for air after a few minutes :)

me too, changed my inhaler last ear to 'seritide' and now it almost gone! :-)

[AussieSteve]

Seems kinda curious the number of people being diagnosed with Asthma these days.

Yeah Dec, never really had asthma that needed real treatment before having the flu last year. Now, I'm relying on the Symbicort. Tried going off it, or down to one dose a day, but quickly found out I'm better off taking it the prescribed twice a day.

Looks like I'll have to shop around for mine tho!!

[paddyb]

The prices are set Steve so they will be the same price everywhere unless you know someone going to spain where they cost a fraction of the price!

Get the Drug payment card (http://www.citizensinformation.ie/categories/health/entitlement-to-health-services/drugs-payment-scheme) and you might save yourself a few quid