This Week's Hot Topic: Environmentally Friendly Propellants for Inhalers

Fred Little Health Professional Doctor and Asthma Expert Dr. Fred Little is a practicing allergist and pulmonologist who also... Send Message Subscribe: Fred Little

Wednesday, October 03, 2007
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An Overview In accordance with an international agreement to reduce ozone-depleting propellants, manufacturers of many inhalers have changed the propellants in inhalers from chlorofluorocarbons (CFC) to hydrofluoroalkane (HFA). In addition, many asthma medications now have the most natural prope...

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New Inhaler types
Lou
Friday, October 05, 2007 at 12:35 PM

Question:

For those of us that close down on the LOWER lungs instead of the UPPER lungs first. Is this new type really just as effective, I would find that hard to logic

new inhalers
Sylvia
Friday, October 05, 2007 at 07:53 PM

Seems to work as well, but the taste is awful! Am I the only one who thinks this?
LOL

Environmentally Friendly Propellants
John
Monday, October 08, 2007 at 10:54 PM

Don't like the taste or the price. Complete ripoff.

John

Untitled Comment
yoop
Wednesday, October 10, 2007 at 07:37 PM

There is a NEW PETITION and National Campaign to Save CFC Medical Inhalers. Please sign it to let your voice be heard! The petition is located at the following link along with additional information.

http://tinyurl.com/yphmp4

Changing Inhalers Response
jbhoneydo
Friday, November 16, 2007 at 02:57 PM
Are people aware of the fact that HFA inhalers do NOTHING to aid the environment? Are they aware that using one can kill them because they actually can cause the opposite affect? Are they aware that the Food and Drug Administration, The EPA and the Representatives from these drug companies are working together in this even though they already know that the HFA product is not up to par and does not harm the ozone? Are they aware that by eliminating CFC asthma medication, that the drug companies are going to make much more money, billions more, by marketing HFA? Are they aware that they will be inhaling ethanol? Are they aware that their new HFA inhaler's are going to double and triple in cost and this is why the drug companies are so anxious to get this done? Are they aware that the meetings between the three groups mentioned are more concerned about selling this horrible product to the public that the publics general inability to use the product? People need to get educated about this and not listen to every blog or post promoting HFA medication or any other medication for that fact. Those are the ones' to be skeptical of most. Do you think for one minute that just because of the International Treaty on banning CFC's MUST include CFC inhalers? No, it DOES NOT! ! ! But it is because you have billion dollar drug companies who scrambled to come up with a replacement of CFC inhalers and they have failed at it in every way! But what do they have to lose by all of this? NOTHING! This is their golden ticket to see their profits soar, all thanks to the FDA and EPA. Ask yourself just one question: Why would any of them give us a replacement product that does harm to us and does not work? Like I said, use common sense and take off your blinders. Do your research. Saving the CFC Inhalers equals saving people's lives. How incredible that of all the CFC products currently on the market and ozone depleting products, they are taking the one CFC product off the market that doesn't harm the ozone! Why? It's all about the almighty dollar people. You know it and I know it. Again, do your research before an HFA product either kills or shortens your lifespan. Read the links withing the link below. It will blow your mind. It will educate you on who many people are REALLY having adverse reactions to HFA inhalers and how health is declining over time with the use of these HFA inhalers. Asthmatics know how to use the HFA's and know they taste, feel, etc., different because our life depends on it. Most people who have swithched from Warrick CFC to an HFA has doubled their monthly dose because the HFA are terrible at doing what they are supposed to do. The "Senate Help Committee" can hold a hearing and get the CFC medical inhalers into production today if they wanted to. The Treaty does not stop them from doing that. But will they? Of course not. Why? Because they answer to the drug companies big pockets only, not you and me. Again, this is a gold mine for the drug companies. They and politicians don't want any of us to know that CFC inhalers DO NOT harm to ozone and that they can be put back into production permanently with the stroke of a pen. If you cannot click on the link, I urge you to copy and paste it and find out for yourself. http://tinyurl.com/yphmp4

re: Changing Inhalers Response
tamara
Thursday, April 23, 2009 at 12:49 PM

To whom it may concern:

I am 51 year old female with Multiple Sclerosis. When I catch a cold, I suffer with asthma. In October I got my presecription renewed and received at the old CFC inhaler of albuterol.

My cat Lucy also has asthma which I did not know is common in cats. In January I renewed her prescription for albuterol. I give her albuterol as a rescue inhaler and Flovent twice daily, an inhaled steroid.

In January Lucy's symptoms worsened. I have had to rush her to the emergency vet several times to be placed in oxygen for 24 hours. Her albuterol, her rescue inhaler was not working anymore. I was beside myself. Being confined due to my MS, my pets are the world to me.

I had no idea what was wrong. The vet exrayed her lungs and discovered they were severely inflammed now. I investigated her medication and discovered that HER inhaler is different.

Yesterday I brought her home from the vet semi stable and used MY inhaler on her, the old CFC one. It worked immediately.

I only have 197 sprays left in my old CFC inhaler. I will need to use it twice daily for Lucy for two weeks to open her airways so the steroids can take effect. The new inhaler does not open her airways.

I contacted the Lung Association. They told me the reason people were having problems with the new inhalers was due to psychosomatic dependancy. I explained to them that Lucy was not a person but a cat. She does not know the difference between a CFC inhaler and a HFA inhaler. The environmentally friendly ones do not work for her.

What will I do if I need one? They told me to try a nebulizer which is a small suitcase to carry around with me if the new ones do not work and if that doesn't work call 911. Whereas before I did not have to go into respiratory arrest because my CFC albuterol opened my airways. But now they have been banned.

The Lung Association suggested this for Lucy. I told them that possibly, just possibly, this propellant mixed with the albuterol is what helps some people and obviously animals. And some people have an adverse reaction to the ethanol which is in the new inhalers. They gave me no answer.

I asked the vet about putting her on a nebulizer but the vet told me that nebulizers do not work for animals with her condition.

What do I do when my old inhaler runs out for Lucy which will be in about 2 months?

I called Canada, India and Mexico searching for the old CFC inhalers. They won't ship them to me because it's illegal now.

People are suffering as well as animals.

Sincerely.
Tamara

New HFA inhalers
sherry k
Thursday, February 05, 2009 at 04:08 PM

I have had asthma mostly all my life I used to take Isaprel and that was taken away I used to take tedral and that was taken away I use rescue inhalers and as far as I am concerned the new HFA inhalers do not work. I am not alone on this. There are many that say they do but as far as I am concerened they do not.Why are these medications taken away from us. Most need them to take a full breath. I just dont understand.