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Equivalent medications overseas for asthma/allergies?

While in India a pulmonologist at a good hospital diagnosed me with allergies and asthma (spiro something test before and after a med). I suddenly had developed wheezing and coughing after exposure to some toxic paint plus for a couple of years when I climb stairs I am short of breath. He said to take meds for a month at one dose and for another month at a half dose and to thereafter see another pulmonologist.

He prescribed three meds, one ('Nasonex') that  was already taking based on an ENT's recommendation. I am able to find that one easily in many countries where I travel.

However the other two, when I go into pharmacies in Asia other than India, they always say 'We don't have that'. OK, I just want something equivalent, in the same drug group that does the job. I have the technical details but it would be easier if I could just say 'look up drug class X in the Pharmacy Index and sell me whatever will do the same job' Or 'Sell me instead A, B, or C'. What rose would be a good strategy?

I am in Malaysia, Vietnam, Myanmar, etc.

The drugs are ...

1. 'Xyzal' = levoceterizine dihydrochloride 5mg
+ montelukast 10 mg
Purpose: antihistamine?

2.  'Foricot 100' = inhaler combination of budesonide 100 mcg
+ Formoterol Fumarate 6 mcg

FF is a corticosteroid I think, and B is a long acting beta2-adore ethic agonist

Try explaining those when you don't speak the local language!

The inhaler is the most difficult as there are many to choose from but I have no idea which to buy.

By the way, while taking these meds my symptoms are much better. But both my GP and another health practitioner in India suggested that 'one doesn't  develop asthma overnight ' I trust the specialist better, so in two weeks I will make an appointment with a pulmonologist.
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242587 tn?1355424110
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
The drugs that have been prescribed for you are universally common, very effective drugs.  It is unfortunate that the trade names vary so much around the world, but the generic name should always be the same and almost always available, especially at large pharmacies:  Montelukast (a so called anti-leukotriene drug), Budesonide an inhaled steroid, Formoterol as you state, a long acting beta agonist –bronchodilator drug.  Any qualified/certified pharmacist should be able to associate the preceding drug names with the local commercial name of the drug.

Actually, one can develop an asthma equivalent lung disease called Reactive Airways Dysfunction Syndrome (RADS) in response to the inhalation of a toxic/corrosive substance, for example the toxic paint you were exposed to, treated with the drugs you are taking and sometimes with the oral form of a steroid.

You should be very pleased to have had such a good therapeutic response to these drugs.

Good luck
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
PostScript to asthma enquiry... I am taking the Nasonex (as well as Neilmed saline nasal rinse - although less than religiously) because 3 years ago an ENT in Canada said I had based on his observations, tests (including imaging) and questions...

A. Chronic sinusitis
b undeveloped sinus X 1
C. Not serious nasal polyps

In the 1970s a clinical ecologist determined by back substance test that I had numerous allergies and got me started on immunotherapy by giving myself thigh injections. I do not recall why I stopped. I believe it was a natural health ideology that I should be strong enough without drugs. Sometimes I have ferocious sneezes and for 30 years I gave had a poor sense of snell and am usually mucousy and stuffed up
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