Asthmatics warned urgently about a shortage of inhalers in the UK

Asthmatics have been informed of the urgency of the shortage of inhalers in the UK.

In the UK, 5.4 million people are currently undergoing treatment for asthma: 1.1 million children (1 in 11) and 4.3 million adults (1 in 12) ).

The prevalence of asthma is thought to have plateaued since the late 1990s.

However, the UK still has some of the highest rates in Europe and an average of 3 people die of asthma each day.

Worryingly, users of Bricanyl Turbohaler have been informed that stocks are low and the charity Asthma UK says it could run out a few weeks before stocks are strengthened.

Asthma UK urges users of Bricanyl Turbohaler to check their drug stocks.

Once this is done, the people involved should make an appointment with a GP to get an alternative recommendation before theirs is exhausted.

British asthma also tells patients to continue taking their preventive inhaler and "try not to worry".

Dr. Andy Whittamore, general practitioner of Asthma UK, wrote: "If you use a bricanyl Turbohaler as an inhaler to relieve your asthma, you should know that stocks are very low in the UK.

"It does not affect all Turbohalers – only Bricanyl.

"Manufacturers have confirmed to us that it would probably be a few weeks (from November 2018) without supplies – but that they were working to get the production line up and running as quickly as possible."