Susphrine: The asthma wonder drug of old

Thirty minutes later I felt like bouncing around the room. The adrenaline was taking its systemic effect. Despite that, I felt like a million bucks.

Susphrine is no longer used in ERs anymore. In fact, it's not even produced anymore, nor is it listed in the Physician's Desk Reference (PDR). Epi is still used on occasion, but it is basically reserved as a last ditch option for stubborn asthma.

Recently, I stopped our big pharmacist as he lumbered down the hall. I said, "Hey, Mike, do you remember an old medicine called Susphrine. When I was a kid, that stuff saved my life more than once."

"Oh, yeah," he said after he racked his brain, "I remember it. We used to use it quite a bit in fact until about 10 to 15 years ago when they took it off the market. Asthmatics loved it." He was the only person I quizzed who remembered the drug.

It's amazing that asthma medicines have improved so much even since I was a kid. Most asthmatics who use their preventative medications compliantly don't even need to make visits to the ER anymore. But, those who do will NOT get a shot of the asthma wonder drug of old, but they'll get new asthma wonder drugs that are proven faster and safer.