Obama Administration to Ban Asthma Inhalers Over Environmental Concerns

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[Sub-Driver]

Obama Administration to Ban Asthma Inhalers Over Environmental Concerns 3:00 PM, Sep 23, 2011 • By MARK HEMINGWAY Single Page Print Larger Text Smaller Text Alerts

Remember how Obama recently waived new ozone regulations at the EPA because they were too costly? Well, it seems that the Obama administration is would rather make people with Asthma cough up money than let them make a surely inconsequential contribution to depleting the ozone layer:

Asthma patients who rely on over-the-counter inhalers will need to switch to prescription-only alternatives as part of the federal government's latest attempt to protect the Earth's atmosphere.

The Food and Drug Administration said Thursday patients who use the epinephrine inhalers to treat mild asthma will need to switch by Dec. 31 to other types that do not contain chlorofluorocarbons, an aerosol substance once found in a variety of spray products.

The action is part of an agreement signed by the U.S. and other nations to stop using substances that deplete the ozone layer, a region in the atmosphere that helps block harmful ultraviolet rays from the Sun.

But the switch to a greener inhaler will cost consumers more. Epinephrine inhalers are available via online retailers for around $20, whereas the alternatives, which contain the drug albuterol, range from $30 to $60.

The Atlantic's Megan McArdle, an asthma sufferer, noted a while back that when consumers are forced to deal with environmentally friendly products they're are almost always worse:

[Carry_Okie]

Somebody's smoking something...

... but I didn't inhale!

[sometime lurker]

I am not saying I support the PC switch on environmental grounds. I am saying that Primatene is a poor asthma drug that should have been off the market a long time ago.

[algernonpj]

I am not saying I support the PC switch on environmental grounds. I am saying that Primatene is a poor asthma drug that should have been off the market a long time ago.

I must not have made myself clear. The switch was on political grounds (both PC and crony capitalism) under the false flag of saving the ozone hole.

And I'm saying while Primatene mist has it limitations, but has worked well for many with asthma.

As you probably know, not all meds work for, or are appropriate for everybody. Remember in the ER you would have seen only those for whom it was not appropriate or did not work.

[Morpheus2009]

...Seriously, there should be some research on how much worth replacing the kind of asthma inhalers you are thinking of is worth it.

[rmlew]

You’ll take the Albuterol out of my cold dead hands. (Sadly not much of an exaggeration. One can die of an asthma attack, although none of mine have been anywhere that bad.)

[sheik yerbouty]

It’s going to take vigilance and a lot of work..

[Impy]

I make occasional use of Primatine Mist. I have neither the need nor money for a prescription. This is a conspiracy. I’m pretty sure this was decided in 2008 though, before Obama.

G-damn elected bureaucrats shouldn’t get to make this call.