Wal-Mart To Sell Cheaper Inhaler

All Headline News ^ | December 31, 2008 | David Goodhue

[Diana in Wisconsin]

Miami, FL (AHN) - Wal-Mart announced that it will sell a more environmentally-friendly inhaler starting at $9.

Traditional inhalers for such conditions as asthma, chronic bronchitis and emphysema use chlorofluorocarbons to release medication to ease symptoms. But the Food and Drug Administration ordered those inhalers to be phased out because CFCs are blamed for ozone layer depletion.

Inhalers must now use hydrofluoroalkane to propel the medication. These inhalers are significantly more expensive than CFC inhalers. Many health advocates say the higher prices may prompt some patients to go without essential medication.

Wal-Mart says it has the answer.

"While some HFA inhalers may sell for as much as $60 for certain brands, our $9 ReliOn Ventolin HFA inhaler will ease the financial burden for sufferers of asthma who should not go without these life-saving medications," Sandy Kinsey, Walmart's divisional merchandise manager for pharmacy, said in a statement.

[anymouse]

In thi era of declining wages and less to spend on health care, how much longer are the medical monopolists going to be able to get away with the "everything Asian is poisonous" mantra?

When China stops shipping poison in the products they ship here.

There was a time when "made in Japan" meant that it was crap, because Japan was making crappy knock offs of US products. Then Japan made a concerted effort to build in quality (thanks to an American BTW), then they gained a reputation of building quality products. China will either do the same or always be known for crappy products.

It would be nice if American companies and their workers also valued their not always earned good reputations.

[EEDUDE]

Yeah, what a scam.

CFC’s are very heavy molecules. I always wondered how they got up to the ozone layer?

[ottbmare]

Be careful with your Advair. It contains salmetrol, and there is some evidentiary data suggesting that salmetrol plays a role in coronary events and/or respiratory failure. In other words, there could be some dangers associated with using salmetrol, and your doctor should discuss the risks with you carefully. Do some online research (PubMed.com is helpful) and you may want to back down on the salmetrol.

It’s disappointing, I know—salmetrol made me able to run a couple of miles. But I decided I’d rather be alive and not run.

[ConorMacNessa]

Thanks for the info, ottbmare! I'll talk to my Dr. about it.

Lamh Foistenach Abu!

[wastedyears]

They’ll have a hard time getting me.

[ClayinVA]

just go get a nubilizer. they work better than MDI’s anyway. That is what I did after trying one of the new ones.

[Pharmer]

I am under the care of one of the premier asthma specialist in the US. He is at Penn and he is one super doctor. He has been petitioning the FDA for 2 years to go back to the old albuterol propellant as he thinks that HFA is an irritant to the airway. Unfortunately almost all the inhalers are HFA driven. I am pretty sure Ventolin is as well. I use the Proventil inhaler and also take Symbicort which is a inhaled steroid with a long term beta-2 agonist similar to Advair. That too is HFA propelled. One way around the HFA is to use an auxilary chamber attached to the inhaler. It is kind of a bong type device by it does work. Unfortunately it is not pocket sized.

But If you all think HFA inhalers are expensive you should check out the cost of the immunotherapeutic I am now on. Every 2 weeks I have to have 3 injections of Xolair (omalizumab) which is a IgG blocking monoclonal antibody. I have just started this but I am told it works wonders. Some patients throw their inhalers away altogether. But each injection costs $1500 so for me thats $4500 every 2 weeks!!!! Thank God I have a good prescription plan! I just hope it works. I will know in a month... Severe asthma at the age 53 sucks...

[Pharmer]

Thanks see comment 57

[Diana in Wisconsin]

Best of luck with that. I hope 2009 brings you some relief. :)