Posted on 12/29/2007 10:02:50 AM PST by grundle
This is the problem with the politicians, and especially those who are so worried about the environment: They forget what and who is important -- people. The reason I say this is because of what has happened with prescription inhalers used for asthma treatment.
I recently needed to refill my inhaler and was told by the local pharmacist that the inhaler was now different because it contained ingredients that harmed the ozone layer. However, these ingredients were the most effective for helping calm down an asthma attack.
I was also informed by the pharmacy that since the medication was altered, it was not covered by my prescription coverage because it is now considered a new medication.
To make a long story short, I had a minor asthma attack and this new, altered inhaler did almost nothing to help. I then went to the emergency room and needed to receive a couple of breathing treatments to settle down my breathing. I then informed the ER doctor what inhaler I used and he actually began to laugh, saying, "It's crazy that the medication would be altered like this. Don't they know how many millions of people rely on inhalers for asthma relief?"
I was diagnosed as asthmatic when I was about 7 or 8 years old and have needed to use inhalers every day since. I ask you this: What happens to the elderly who rely on inhalers also and who are on fixed incomes? Will they receive the same rude awakening when they are advised that these asthmatic medications are now not covered by insurance because they supposedly harm the ozone layer?
(Excerpt) Read more at post-gazette.com ...
Doesn’t the albuterol expire? Then what? I think all of us asthmatics need to go to our Congresscritters’ doors and give them an earfull!
My 2 year old has asthma.
Ask your child's doctor as soon as possible and your pharmacist as well.
When I need an inhaler I don't have time to ask questions then,,,,, I need it right then, not in a few days or weeks!
I can vouch that the “new & improved” inhalors aren’t worth a damn. Whoever required this change should have to use them for the rest of their life, and let’s just see how they like it! The new propellant doesn’t do the job, and, in fact, is defective from the “git-go”. Don’t tell me the guy is nuts, as I have to tell you unless you use them too, he is spot on. You should promptly apologize for your snide comment. We don’t need that kind of crap on FR.
This a poor man's method of helping people with asthma. It is not nearly as effective, but if you were say, out in the woods, with no other access to meds, it is reasonable to try first.
I knew this was going to happen when I heard that congress outlawed the propellant from inhalers. My patients are not happy with the "new" hfa inhalers. For a person with a severe attack, they are not nearly as effective. The idiot politicians are directly to blame if someone dies because of this.
Interesting that a medical doctor (not a homeopath or naturpath) was aware of the caffeine molecule---MD's are not known for nutrition-based remedies.
If you have a checkup, you'll find many doctors record whether a patient (not necessarily an asthama patient) uses caffeine.
Course there are several downsides to caffeine but medications too have their downsides.
Just read where caffeine ingestion is also being looked at as a cancer deterrent.
Advair has been the best asthma medicine I have ever used. Use it twice a day, morning and night. Anybody with asthma, check it out, seriously. And it’s a powder inhaler, so they can’t claim it’s bad for the environment.
It was recommended as an alternative for a person who does not like taking medication.........not based on cost.
If I were in your position I would mail order a case from Mexico or Canada.
Advair doesn’t help in the case of an attack - consistent use is supposed to minimize the occurrences, but asthmatics still need rescue inhalers at their disposal.
This is true. But for some reason, my asthma was never helped that much by rescue inhalers, and Advair really does the trick. I’m probably an odd case.
Wife just told me I'm no going to Mexico for drugs. Hell, I used to. ;)
I use them too, so (according to your fractured syntax) he is not spot on.
The comment stands -- the author issued a whiny rant. We don't need that kind of crap on FR.
The formulation DID change.
If only the propellant changed, then the mole weight would be the same.
It's not -- check the PDR.
If the medication had not changed, the formulary for the insurance companies would retain it as a compatible Rx.
It's not -- and they don't.
Get some facts to back up you statements, and provide them.
R-134A replaced R-12 for all refrigerant uses with similar requirements but is toxic when used in inhalers.
But the EPA overruled their own de-minimus waiver and made the manufacturers switch to less effective gases.
The labels for each package state that each inhalation provides 90 mcg of albuterol from the mouthpiece.
So -- should I believe you, or my lying eyes?
Go to the link and you’ll see it is more a letter to the editor sort of thing.
I have the same one from Warrick someplace, and one from ProAir©HFA. I know they are different, and my Doc is chasing it back through his med center contacts. He agrees, it is different.
“I recently needed to refill my inhaler and was told by the local pharmacist that the inhaler was now different because it contained ingredients that harmed the ozone layer. However, these ingredients were the most effective for helping calm down an asthma attack.”
The propellent is one of the ingredients; the gentleman who wrote the letter never uses the word medicine.
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