Asthma inhaler repeat prescription, reviewed by a UK prescriber

What is asthma?

Asthma is a long-term condition affecting the airways — the tubes that carry air in and out of the lungs. In people with asthma, these airways are more sensitive than usual, and certain triggers cause them to narrow, swell and produce extra mucus. The result is the familiar pattern of breathlessness, wheezing, a tight chest and coughing, often worse at night or in the early morning.

Asthma is extremely common — it affects around 5.4 million people in the UK — and for most people it can be well managed with the right inhaler regimen. Triggers vary between individuals but commonly include exercise, cold air, dust mites, pollen, animal hair, smoke and respiratory infections.

How is asthma treated?

Most people with asthma use two types of inhaler: a preventer inhaler, taken every day to reduce inflammation and keep the airways calm, and a reliever inhaler, taken when symptoms flare to open the airways quickly. Some people also use a combination inhaler that delivers both actions in one device, which can simplify the routine and improve adherence.

The specific inhaler your prescriber recommends depends on the severity and pattern of your symptoms, your breathing test results, your inhaler technique, and any other health conditions you have. Which treatment suits you is a clinical decision — it is confirmed by your prescriber inside the consultation, once they have reviewed your health history. We do not list medicine names on this public page: that is a deliberate compliance choice that keeps you safe.

Asthma repeat prescriptions with NewGen

NewGen Pharmacy is a GPhC-registered community pharmacy on Stratford High Street, and our online clinic is run by the same registered team. Our asthma service is designed for adults with an existing confirmed diagnosis whose asthma is well controlled. You complete a brief confidential questionnaire, a UK prescriber checks your answers, and if a repeat prescription is appropriate your inhalers are dispensed and delivered — or available to collect from Stratford.

We do not diagnose asthma online. If you have not yet been diagnosed, or if your symptoms are new or worsening, please see your GP rather than starting a repeat prescription service.

How the online asthma consultation works

The consultation asks about your existing diagnosis, the inhalers you currently use, how well your asthma is controlled, and any recent changes to your symptoms. It also screens for any health changes that might mean your current treatment needs reviewing — for example, a recent course of oral steroids, or new symptoms that suggest your asthma is not as stable as it was.

If the prescriber is satisfied that your current treatment is appropriate and you are safe to continue, your prescription is issued and your pharmacy order is prepared. If they have any concerns — for instance, that your asthma is not well controlled, or that your current inhalers may not be optimal — they will contact you or refer you back to your GP for a face-to-face review.

When to see your GP or call 111 instead

Use this service for stable, well-controlled asthma in adults with an established diagnosis. See your GP if you have not been formally diagnosed, if your asthma has got significantly worse, if you have used your reliever inhaler more than three times a week, if you have woken at night with asthma symptoms, or if you have needed a course of oral steroids in the last three months. In a sudden, severe attack — difficulty speaking, severe breathlessness, or a blue tinge around the lips — call 999.