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Job code: AIR06/25 July 2025
Why have I been switched from using a blue reliever inhaler for asthma to WockAIR®?
Blue asthma inhalers typically contain short acting medicines (called SABA- short acting beta agonists) that quickly open up the airways to make it easier to breathe.
However, whilst they quickly relieve symptoms, they don’t contain any medicine to reduce the inflammation in the airways caused by asthma. Even patients with mild asthma have inflammation in the airways, and this needs to be treated to help prevent asthma attacks. The inflammation is treated with inhaled steroids – and these are sometimes given as a separate inhaler called a ‘preventer’ or ‘controller’. Often this inhaler will be brown in colour.
In recent years the recommendations for treatment of asthma have changed quite a lot. They now say that people with asthma should not be treated only with a blue reliever inhaler because this is associated with an increased risk of having an asthma attack compared to having treatments that reduce asthma inflammation. They recommend that patients are treated with a combination of an inhaled steroid for the inflammation (sometimes called a ‘preventer’, ‘controller’ or ‘maintenance’ treatment), and a long acting bronchodilator (medicine to open up the airways) with a fast onset of action called formoterol.
This combination, which is contained in your WockAIR® inhaler, has been shown to reduce the risk of having an asthma attack compared to any inhaled treatment regimens that involve blue reliever inhalers or SABAs. This is the case whether you have mild, moderate or severe asthma. With WockAIR® the two medicines are contained in the same inhaler. The formoterol works quickly to relieve symptoms, whilst the steroid component (budesonide) tackles the inflammation in the background. This can simplify treatment as WockAIR® replaces the blue inhaler- now you only need to carry with you and learn how to use one inhaler device.
If you have mild asthma you may be advised just to use WockAIR® when you feel you need some symptom relief. This is called ‘Anti-inflammatory Reliever’ treatment or ‘AIR’. Every time you take it, you’ll be getting medicine to treat your symptoms and your inflammation at the same time.
If you need to take WockAIR® regularly, you may also be advised to take extra puffs if you need – that is you will use it both as your ‘controller’ and your ’reliever’. This is called ‘Maintenance and Reliever Therapy’ or ‘MART’. This means you will always be getting a dose of both medicines with every puff to help manage your asthma effectively.
Always use your WockAIR® inhaler exactly as your health professional/prescriber has instructed as your dosing will be tailored to your asthma severity.
Some people have 2 different inhalers for their asthma - is it correct that I only need one inhaler now?
Usually, patients with asthma are treated with two inhaled medicines- a bronchodilator to open up the airways (sometimes called a reliever’), and a steroid to reduce the inflammation in the airways (sometimes called a ‘controller’ or ‘preventer’ or ‘maintenance’ treatment). Both are needed to effectively manage asthma. The dosing and way you take the medicine will depend on your condition and what your prescriber thinks will work best for you.
WockAIR® contains both types of medicine (a reliever and a controller) in one inhaler which can make things simpler for patients as they only have to carry and learn to use one type of inhaler device.
If you have mild asthma you may be advised just to use WockAIR® when you feel you need some symptom relief. Every time you take it, you’ll be getting medicine to treat your symptoms and your inflammation at the same time, helping to prevent asthma attacks.
If you are taking WockAIR® regularly, you may also be advised to take extra puffs if you need – that is you will use it both as your ‘controller’ and your ’reliever’. This means you will always be getting a dose of both medicines with every puff to help manage your asthma effectively and help prevent attacks.
Always use your WockAIR® inhaler exactly as your health professional/prescriber has instructed as your dosing will be tailored to your asthma severity.
WockAIR® has a steroid in it- do I really need that if my asthma is mild?
Usually patients with asthma are treated with two inhaled medicines- a bronchodilator to open up the airways (sometimes called a reliever’), and a steroid to reduce the inflammation in the airways (sometimes called a ‘controller’ or ‘preventer’ or ‘maintenance’ treatment). Both are needed to effectively manage asthma. The dosing and way you take the medicine will depend on your condition and what your prescriber thinks will work best for you.
The reason the steroid is needed is that asthma is an inflammatory condition, and relievers on their own don’t treat the inflammation. Having uncontrolled inflammation in the airways can mean you are at risk of an asthma attack because the airways are narrowed due to tightened airway muscles and build up of mucus.
Inhaled steroids have an ‘ani-inflammatory’ action in the airways to make them more like normal airways and reduce symptoms. They don’t necessarily work as fast as reliever medicines to open up the airways, but they are a very important part of the treatment of asthma as a whole, for opening up the airways over time and prevention of asthma attacks.
It’s been shown that even people with mild asthma have inflammation in the airways and are at risk of asthma attacks if it is not well controlled. Clinical trials with the combination of medicines in WockAIR® have shown that the risks of asthma attacks are substantially reduced compared to taking reliever inhalers alone in people with mild asthma.
I’ve been told to take WockAIR® as I need it, but it there a maximum dose?
Firstly – always use WockAIR® exactly as your doctor/prescriber has told you as your dosing will be tailored to your asthma severity. Check with your healthcare practitioner if you are not sure.
With asthma there are different ways that WockAIR® can be used depending on your symptoms and severity of your asthma. This table shows the different ways that WockAIR can be used and the usual dosing.
If you take WockAIR® only ‘as needed’ for asthma , or if you take it regularly with a ‘top up’ if needed, you should not normally need more than 8 inhalations per day.
The same limit applies if you take WockAIR® for COPD.
If you regularly need to use 8 or more inhalations a day, make an appointment to see your doctor or nurse as soon as possible. They may need to change your treatment.
In some circumstances your doctor may allow you to take up to 12 inhalations a day for a limited period.
Do NOT use more than 12 inhalations in total in 24 hours.
Seek urgent medical advice if WockAIR® does not relieve your asthma symptoms or if your asthma symptoms worsen despite treatment with WockAIR®.
Can I take WockAIR® if I am pregnant?
If you are pregnant, or planning to get pregnant, talk to your healthcare practitioner before using WockAIR® – do not use WockAIR® unless your doctor tells you to.
If you get pregnant while using WockAIR®, do not stop using WockAIR® but talk to your doctor immediately.
If you are breast-feeding, talk to your healthcare practitioner before using WockAIR®.
Can I drive with WockAIR®?
WockAIR® has no or negligible effect on your ability to drive or to use tools or machines.
Are there any medicines I can’t take with WockAIR®?
Tell your healthcare practitioner if you are using, have recently used or might use any other medicines. In particular, tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are using any of the following medicines:
- Beta-blocker medicines (such as atenolol or propranolol for high blood pressure), including eyedrops (such as timolol for glaucoma)
- Medicines for a fast or uneven heart beat (such as quinidine, disopyramide, procainamide)
- Medicines to treat allergies, also called antihistamines, like terfenadine
- Oxytocin, a medicine to facilitate childbirth
- Procarbazine, a medicine to treat cancer
- Medicines like digoxin, often used to treat heart failure Diuretics, also known as ‘water tablets’ (such as furosemide). These are used to treat high blood pressure
- Steroid medicines that you take by mouth (such as prednisolone). These are used to treat inflammation or prevent organ transplant rejection
- Xanthine medicines (such as theophylline or aminophylline). These are often used to treat asthma
- Other medicines to widen airways, also called bronchodilators (such as salbutamol which is often found in blue reliever inhalers)
- Medicines to treat depression, also called tricyclic anti-depressants (such as amitriptyline) and the anti-depressant nefazodone
Medicines to treat mental disorders, nausea or vomiting, called phenothiazine medicines
Who should NOT use WockAIR®?
You should not use WockAIR® if you are allergic to budesonide, formoterol, or milk proteins.
WockAIR® contains lactose, which is a type of sugar. If you have been told by your doctor that you have an intolerance to some sugars, talk to your doctor before using this medicine. The amount of lactose in WockAIR® does not normally cause problems in people who are lactose intolerant.
What do I do if I forget or miss a dose?
You should not use WockAIR® if you are allergic to budesonide, formoterol, or milk proteins.
WockAIR® contains lactose, which is a type of sugar. If you have been told by your doctor that you have an intolerance to some sugars, talk to your doctor before using this medicine. The amount of lactose in WockAIR® does not normally cause problems in people who are lactose intolerant.
If you forget to take a dose, take it as soon as you remember. However, if it is nearly time for your next dose, skip the missed dose. Do not take a double dose to make up for a forgotten dose.
If you have any questions on the use of WockAIR®, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
What side effects should I be aware of with WockAIR®?
Like all medicines, WockAIR® can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them. For a full list of possible side effects always consult the Patient Information Leaflet that cones with your WockAIR® packaging.
If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor, pharmacist or nurse. This includes any possible side effects not listed in the leaflet.
You can also report side effects directly via the Yellow Card Scheme Website: www.mhra.gov.uk/yellowcard or search for MHRA Yellow Card in the Google Play or Apple App Store. By reporting side effects you can help provide more information on the safety of this medicine.
If either of the following happen to you, stop using WockAIR® and talk to your doctor immediately:
- Swelling of your face, particularly around your mouth (tongue and/or throat and/or difficulty swallowing) or hives together with difficulty breathing (angioedema) and/or sudden feeling of This may mean that you are having an allergic reaction.
- Sudden acute wheezing or shortness of breath immediately after using your If either of these symptoms occur, stop using your WockAIR® straightaway and contact your doctor immediately as you may need to have your treatment changed.
Other possible side effects
Common (may affect up to 1 in 10 people)
- Palpitations (awareness of your heart beating), trembling or If these effects occur, they are usually mild and usually disappear as you continue to use WockAIR
- Thrush (a fungal infection) in the
- Mild sore throat, coughing and a hoarse voice
- Headache
- Pneumonia (infection of the lung) in COPD
Tell your doctor if you have any of the following while taking WockAIR®, they could be symptoms of a lung infection:
- Fever or chills
- Increased mucus production, change in mucus colour
- Increased cough or increased breathing
Uncommon (may affect up to 1 in 100 people)
- Feeling restless, nervous or agitated
- Disturbed sleep
- Feeling dizzy
- Blurred vision
- Nausea (feeling sick)
- Fast heartbeat
- Bruising of the skin
- Muscle cramps
- Aggression
Rare (may affect up to 1 in 1,000 people)
- Rash, itching
- Bronchospasm (tightening of the muscles in the airways which causes wheezing)
- Low levels of potassium in your blood
- Uneven
Very rare (may affect up to 1 in 10,000 people)
- Depression
Is my WockAIR® device environmentally friendly?
The WockAIR® device is a ‘dry powder’ inhaler (DPI). The other type of commonly used inhaler for asthma or COPD is a pressurised metered dose inhaler (pMDI). pMDI inhalers use a propellant (usually hydrofluorocarbons or HFCs) but DPIs don’t need a propellant. HFCs are not ozone-depleting substances but they are still greenhouse gases that have a high global warming potential (GWP).
It has been estimated that pMDIs have a carbon footprint that is about 20-30 times higher than that of DPIs.
According to NHS England inhaler emissions account for approximately 3% of the NHS carbon footprint. The propellant used in metered dose inhalers is responsible for most of these emissions.
The NHS wants to encourage people who need to use inhaled medicines to consider the carbon footprint of their treatment. If you want to know more about this the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has produced a ‘decision aid’ for people who want further information on this topic. You can find it here: https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng80/resources/inhalers-for-asthma-patient- decision-aid-pdf-6727144573
The most important thing is that your asthma is kept as well controlled as possible, using inhalers that suit you well. Talk to your healthcare professional before making any changes to your treatment.
The WockAIR® device is different to my previous inhaler devices – what do I need to know to use it correctly?
Your doctor, nurse or pharmacist should demonstrate how to use the inhaler and should check your use regularly.
You can find a helpful video on this website showing you how to use your WockAIR® inhaler, and also some detailed instructions in the Patient Leaflet that comes in the WockAIR® packaging.
Some key points to remember are
- The inhaler contains 60 doses of powder medicine in a coiled strip of It has a dose counter which shows you how many doses you have remaining counting down from 60 to 0. When you have reached the last 10 doses the numbers will be on a red background.
The inhaler is not refillable – please dispose of the inhaler when it is empty and replace it with a new one. You may also be able to recycle it at your local pharmacy.
- As you use the inhaler the side chamber will gradually fill up with used The foil strips with black bars don’t contain medicine. Do not let more than 2 sections of foil strip build up in the side chamber as they may cause the inhaler to jam. Tear the foil sections away carefully and dispose of them safely.
- After taking your WockAIR® dose, rinse your mouth with water and spit it This may help to prevent you from getting fungal infection in the mouth and becoming hoarse.
How should I store and clean my WockAIR® inhaler?
Do not throw away any medicines via wastewater or household waste. Ask your pharmacist how to throw away medicines you no longer use. These measures will help protect the environment.
For cleaning
- Wipe the outside of the mouthpiece with a clean, dry tissue if necessary
- Do not attempt to take the inhaler apart to clean it or for any other purpose!
- Do not use water or wet wipes to clean the inhaler parts as dampness can affect the dose!
- Never insert a pin or other sharp objects into the mouthpiece, or any other part, as this could damage the inhaler!
Adverse events should be reported. Reporting forms and information can be found at: https://yellowcard.mhra.gov.uk/
Adverse events should also be reported to Wockhardt UK. Please contact us or email us at drug.safety@wockhardt.co.uk
