Ozone-Depleting Inhalers Being Phased Out (Ozone means nothing when you're dead)

Washington Post ^ | 5/30/2008 | Steven Reinberg

[tobyhill]

FRIDAY, May 30 (HealthDay News) -- Asthma inhalers that contain the drug albuterol to relax the airways also contain chemicals that harm the ozone layer. And these inhalers won't be available after this year, so U.S. health officials are urging patients to switch to alternative inhalers now.

Chlorofluorocarbons, or CFCs, are widely used to propel inhaled drugs into the lungs. However, products containing CFCs are being phased out, because the chemicals damage the Earth's protective ozone layer. CFC inhalers are being replaced by inhalers powered by HFAs, or hydrofluoroalkanes, which are ozone-friendly.

The change to HFA-powered inhalers has been in the works for several years, but the FDA issued an advisory on Friday, urging patients still using CFC inhalers to switch now. Inhalers containing CFCs will not be available after Dec. 31.

[kingattax]

ping

[Dawggie]

But the damn things do not work!! Nothing like finding out your inhaler needs to be cleaned because the ozone friendly inhaler clogged.

[Mygirlsmom]

I have very mild asthma. These new inhalers are junk. I can’t imagine the panic of someone in a full-blown asthma attack reaching for one of these “rescue” inhalers only to find that it won’t.

[LaineyDee]

Bunk and more bunk...

[tobyhill]

I still use an inhaler on the rare occasion that I get an allergy induced asthma attack and I'm instantly better after using it. I guarantee this new “ozone-protecting” piece of crap is going to get someone killed.

[AngieGal]

I tried one of the new ones, ProAir. It is MUCH more expensive than my old albuterol and doesn’t seem to work as well at all.

I’ve now found something else that works though. If anyone is in the same boat, you might want to try Combivent.

[tobyhill]

I don’t want a change from something that works for me. This ozone protection crap doesn’t work.

[eclecticEel]

It’s obviously time to stock up on enough inhalers to last me for years to come.

[AngieGal]

The drug I suggested is a combination of albuterol and another, stronger drug. It works for me. If you can't get your old one, you might want to at least try it.

I agree that this whole change is ridiculous. The amount of supposed ozone damage from these little units is negligible at best. Why put people in danger over this?

[camerakid400]

I use albuterol every night.

If I don’t take it, I don’t wake up.

[kitkat]

Thank you for the info about Combivent. My son has severe asthma, a heart problem, extreme allergies, etc. I will give him this information.

[ottbmare]

I have been using the new inhalers for the past year. The quality of my life and the degree of activity I’m able to enjoy has been much reduced. I used to be able to run for two miles! Now I can barely jog half a block.

It’s the same medication, albuterol, but it’s driven out by a different propellant. Just doesn’t go as deeply into the lungs. VERY frustrating.

The only alternative is to get a nebulizer machine and some liquid albuterol and saline solution. This is what your doctor would do for you if you came into his office with a bronchospasm. The trouble is, of course, that you can’t take the nebulizer with you if you’re going on a hike or a camping trip, and it’s awkward to drag around even if you’re just going to the office. But when push comes to shove, it does work. No propellants, just drug + saline + air.

And take your inhaled steroids so you don’t need much in the way of bronchodilators.

[mojo114]

This is more crap from the left. I can’t take it anymore. What are people that have asthma suppose to do? Albuteral is the drug in the inhalers that helps asthma, isn’t it?!!

[brushcop]

Liberalism and environmentalism is deadly. Must be defeated.

[tobyhill]

I’m griping about it now but in December I’ll be forced to change something that has worked for me for years now. I’ll give your suggestion a try because I trust you and not some crack smoking politician that jumped on the ozone bandwagon.

[Mygirlsmom]

Combivent is albuterol plus another medication. I've used it in the past and found it to be helpful, but my combivent inhaler used the CFC's as well, so I wonder if the "new" formulation would be any better.

Albuterol worked just fine when the dispensing mechanism (CFC's) actually propelled the medication. These new ones just kind of "spurt" and you need to really inhale to get the medication in where it needs to be. But guess what--when you need it is when you CAN'T inhale.

[tobyhill]

Stock up on them.

[sono]

Oh ... and the new inhalers are thought to triple the cost to the patient.

[Mygirlsmom]

I use mine so rarely that it lasts for quite a long time, but we already can’t get the CFC kind here in WI. Any idea where/how I could find a few to stock up on?