When the ICS aerosol canister I used was discontinued "due business reasons", the replacement approved by my insurance plan was a dpi, dry powder inhaler by the same company with the same medication. I was happy to no longer need a spacer and I didn't have to shake it.
But when I got down to 60 doses (half used, 120 doses when unused), something changed. I could slightly feel the powder in my mouth and taste it. I compared the half-used dpi back-to-back with a new one and I'm pretty sure I am not imagining the change. I set the used one aside and switched to the new full one. Again, this time when I got down to 40 doses, I could feel and taste the powder. So again, I switched to a new canister.
I suspect that the dpis were partially plugging but the instructions are "don't clean". The inhaler has an attached lid and stored in a drawer in a room where the humidity is never above 45%. I don't exhale into it, which would add humidity and possibly plug it. I now have 3 partially used dpi and as you know, this stuff is expensive. I want to think I am getting as much as possible from the "medium" dosage I am taking.
I described the situation to the pulmonologist during my 6-month visit. He said no one else had mentioned a problem with the new dpi. I talked to a pharmacist about this and they told me that most of her patients had not switched from the hfa to the dpi yet, but they hadn't heard of any problems. I filled out the FDA complaint form, just in case.
A few months later, I received a reply from the manufacturer acknowledging that they "investigated" my complaint but that there was no action they needed to take. (I had hoped they might want me to send them the used dpis.) So the new year has started with a new deductible, and I'm looking at those 3 partially used dips that still have OK expiration dates and wondering if I should use them.
I understand that readers cannot give medical advice, but have you had anything similar to happen to you as I describe above?
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