Kibkom North Cyprus Forum

Our elderly neighbours are in URGENT need of an Asthma Inhaler freely available in all chemists on the South, but not sold in the North. Although borders are now open, they are only open to citizens and not residents.

The have spoken with various Dr's and pharmacy's here, and been given alternate medications, but nothing has worked. In the end, the Dr said it's probably because the body is use to one specific steroid to control the asthma, and the replacement is not effective.

I'm hoping through this appeal on the forum, someone can, when visiting the south pick this up for them from any pharmacy,

Please feel free to give me a call,
0533 840 30 72

Try ringing Ozay the Taxi man (son of Ibo) on 0533 865 6305 - if he's got a taxi run to the South, he might be prepared to do it for you.

He may need to take a prescription!

Do you know what the medication is? Someone this side may be able to help if they have some spares. Unfortunately just checked my spares from the UK and they have expired. (Seretide 125)

Just popped next door, its called beclazone....other names include becotide, basically anything made up of beclomethasone if that's any help.

Is it the brown preventative inhaler. I used to have that but changed years ago to seratide, a purple colored one, which I think you can get here, just an idea if all else fails.

Am sure it is Mrsgee, as I used to have the brown becotide too, but now the purple seratide 125.

He has tried seratide but didn't work, I believe it's the beclazone steriod he needs.

AFC perhaps you should amend topic header to include Becotide/Beclazone?
I have double checked and unfortunately don't have any, thinking that expired might have done at a push.
What about contacting Ministry of Health to ask for permission to go across to pick up for medical needs, or if there is some other way that a pharmacy in the south can deliver to the "border" and it can be picked up if you can't find someone to bring it over?

He tried with the pharmacy but no luck unfortunately. We were hoping someone on the forum when going accross could pick it up for him. We would of course pay for the medication.

Did you try ringing Ozay the Taxi man (son of Ibo) on 0533 865 6305?

I believe our neighbour did to no avail, I'll try personally tomorrow now I guess. Prob too late

Ozy is on Facebook and you can message him via Messenger.

When a holiday maker who could not cross the border forgot to take the bulk of her insulin out the fridge before flying, she contacted her embassy in the south for the insulin which had pork extracts in it as they could not source it over here. I was quite impressed as obviously being diabetic without medication was rather a worry.
They arranged to meet her at the border, therefore maybe this is another option.

Not sure if it is the same as you want but I use Beclometasone brown inhaler which I get here from my pharmacy in Lapta.

Thank-you for all the help so far,
@Heaven Will wait till neighbours wake up to ask, but I have a feeling it maybe as the steroid seems similar, to save time can you let me know where the chemist is please,

@snd1966 & Alphamike, we are looking at both the minstry as well as the counsulate, really atm just hoping a Londn Cyp reading may come to the rescue...

@ Keithcaley & Maisiemoo will be in touch with Oxay once e know if the medication is the same as the one Heaven is purchasing from Lapta,

I was changed 6 months ago from Seretide (purple) to fostair (pink)…… just googled ingredients. My dose was reduced from twice a day (Seretide) to once a day (fostair) which reduces the amount of steroid taken

What Fostair is and what it is used for. Fostair is a pressurised inhalation solution containing two active substances which are inhaled through your mouth and delivered directly into your lungs. The two active substances are beclometasone dipropionate and formoterol fumarate dihydrate.

I hope this helps

Hi Cally, thank you for coming back to me I'll pass this on to our neighbour.

My daughter in UK was taken off Seretide and put on Fostair, the reason being it is cheaper. Not so good, she had to go back on to Seretide, the purple one, which I use and have done for a number of years, it really is all down to the dosage to be honest... if it is not working then you need a bigger dose. I suffer from brittle asthma.... so am a bit of an expert on the subject, but obviously you have to follow what your doctor, or asthma nurse tells you.

That was unfortunate mrsgee for your daughter. On my last review my asthma nurse explained about fostair, the reduced dose appealed because of the steroid reduction. I've been fortunate then as no downside.