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
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.
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