[amchugh]

As a diabetic I can sympathize with asthmatics who are going to be forced to go through a gatekeeper for their medication. Of course doctors are arrogant on this subject, even though they know almost all chronic diseases are by definition self-managed. While I agree with the doctors to some extent that those with the time and financial means should probably visit their doctors often just to check in, that result should be achieved with education and good patient management, not by outlawing self treatment.

Unfortunately, I think medicine policy people focus overly much on an 80/20 rule, and forget all the edge cases who have reactions to medications, or just need a slightly different treatment approach.

I've got a buddy with asthma, and I'm always on his case to have a backup inhaler handy in case he runs out or breaks his primary.

[retMD]

Asthma should be a self-managed disease, and a patient who understands and manages their disease is a joy. But Primatine is just plain dangerous and not good management. If you go to a doctor for asthma and that doctor doesn’t teach you to manage it yourself, get another doctor.

Most doctors will renew prescriptions for albuterol over the phone - they won’t make you come in every time you need a new one. Of course, if you’re going through too many (needing albuterol more than two or three times a week) then you need to add a long term control inhaler.