OTC inhalers
The FDA is warning users of the only available over-the-counter asthma inhaler to stock up before December 31st, 2011. After that date, the OTC asthma medication will fall prey to the FDA’s initiative to phase out chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs).
Epinephrine CFC inhalers, marketed as Primatene Mist, are being phased out because they use CFCs as a spray propellant to move the medicine out of the inhaler so patients can breathe it into their lungs. Many manufacturers have changed their asthma inhalers to replace CFCs with a propellant called hydrofluoroalkane (HFA).
CFCs deplete the earth’s ozone layer – the layer of the atmosphere that protects us from some of the sun’s harmful ultra¬violet radiation. Exposure to ultraviolet radiation can increase the risk of skin cancers and cataracts. The United States is one of many countries which have signed an international agreement to phase out CFCs and other ozone-depleting substances.
HFA propelled asthma inhalers such as albuterol (marketed as name brand Ventolin or generic albuterol) can be used in the same way as epinephrine CFC inhalers. However, they can only be obtained with a prescription, and will be more expensive than the over-the-counter Primatene Mist.
A Primatene replacement cartridge sells for about $18, while an albuterol inhaler can cost $45 or more. Some manufacturers may have patient assistance programs to lower the cost, or asthmatics can buy Ventolin and other asthma medications from Canada at a considerably lower cost (as low as $17 US for generic albuterol).
“There are many other safe and effec¬tive medications to treat the symptoms of asthma,” says Dr. Badrul Chowdhury, PhD., the director of the FDA’s Division of Pulmonary, Allergy, and Rheumatol¬ogy Products.
Chowdhury stresses that you need to find out if you really have asthma, and not just pick another over-the-counter asthma medication. “If you have breath¬ing problems but have not been diag-nosed by a health care professional it’s important to see one,” Chowdhury advises, “Not all breath¬ing problems are asthma, so you need to get an accurate diagnosis and the proper medicine.”
The FDA has the following advice for consumers who use Primatene mist:
• See a health care professional soon to get another medicine. A doctor, physician assistant, or nurse practitioner can all help you determine the best treatment option for you. Primatene Mist may be harder to find on store shelves even before Dec. 31, 2011. If you don’t have a doctor or other health care professional, you can find one by:
- Asking a family member, friend, or co-worker what doctor they use and would recommend.
- Visiting a federally funded health center, where patients pay to see a doctor based on their income and what they can afford. Visit findahealthcenter.hrsa.gov, or call 888-275- 4772 to learn more.
- Visiting a local clinic, community health center, or minute clinic (sometimes located in a pharmacy).
• Ask your health care professional to show you how to use your new asthma inhaler or other medicine to make sure you are using it correctly and getting the right dose.
• Follow the directions for using and cleaning your new asthma inhaler or other medicine to make sure you get relief of your symptoms.
• If you haven’t used up your Primatene Mist by Dec. 31, 2011, it’s safe to continue using it as long as it hasn’t expired. Check the expiration date, which can be found on the product and its packaging.
It’s that time. With the rise of spring, comes the daily aggravation of seasonal allergies. For those living in eastern North America, with its unseasonably warm and early spring, they may have already been experiencing the red and itchy eyes, runny nose, and sneezing associated with seasonal allergies. However, we on the west coast have only recently seen the sun. With the sunshine and spring flowers come the allergies, and with that, we present the top tips for making allergies easier to bear.
