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Q. I'm surprised you haven’t mentioned an important issue facing asthmatics. The FDA has decided that generic albuterol inhalers should be taken off the market. The result is that these stalwarts of asthma relief will no longer be available.
Instead, the generic inhalers are being replaced by the exact same medicine with a different delivery system. That means it will cost substantially more. How could a generic magically turn into a more expensive brand name drug?
A. The FDA has determined that asthma inhalers may no longer contain CFCs (chlorofluorocarbons). These propellant gases damage ozone and the U.S. agreed years ago to eliminate them from spray cans, air conditioning units and refrigerators.
This means that lower-cost generic albuterol inhalers will disappear. People with asthma may have trouble finding such products even before the 2008 deadline.
They are being replaced by alternatives that use HFA (hydrofluoroalkane). Brand names like ProAir HFA, Proventil HFA and Ventolin HFA all contain albuterol, but they do cost more than the old generic CFC powered inhalers.
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ProAir HFA inhaler is supposed to be a brand, not a generic but it is less effective than Proventil HFA inhaler. Of course, my insurance company charges less for ProAir than Proventil. Something's wrong with the delivery system. The mechanisms of release with this new HFA propellant are complicated enough and neither of the HFA inhalers is a good as the old fashioned Albuterol, even the generic. But ProAir has a real problem. I have complained to my doctor and the FDA.
I totally agree with the last comment. This new ProAir inhaler just doesn't seem to give the same relief as the generic albuterol. The delivery is definitely not as good.
I agree that the delivery system is not as good. The new proair inhaler takes twice as long to take effect not to mention it takes extra inhalations to get relief. To make matters worse my co-pay doesn't even cover half the cost. What a way to make money, start a pharmaceutical company.
Since getting ProAir I have only had congestion a few times, which prompted me to reach for the inhaler. The ProAir made me feel worse! I used an expired albuterol inhaler and finally got relief!
I started with the new ProAir inhaler about 3 weeks ago. I also had a little in my old cfa inhaler. I reiterate all the comments before. I used the ProAir and the first night had major breathing problems. I used it again the next night. Same situation. I then used my old inhaler and had absolutely no problems. In fact, had a great night. I guess the FDC hopes those of us that need them will all die before they really become concerned with our plight. It also cost me 5 times as much as before. What's wrong with this picture??
The ProAir is horrible!! The Albuterol inhalers used to last me 3 months. Now I go through the ProAir within 3 weeks because it just doesn't work well. I have to take it multiple times to get the same relief. Isn't there something we can do??
I agree! My new asthma inhaler doesn't work, which was ok when I wasn't having attacks - but recently had a horrid one come out of nowhere. Current inhaler did nothing, and just as I was thinking I'd have to go to emergency room, my housemate found one of my old inhalers. One shot of the old albuterol and I was JUST FINE. Give me back my old medicine!!!
I thought I was the only one! I know I am a little late, but I have had the same issues - I go through 2x the inhalers at 2x the cost with this ProAir inhaler. This is inclusive of the fact that ProAir still doesn't even feel effective (even with the extra puffs!), but i just give up. There has to be something we can do. I argued with the pharmacy to give me back my Albuteral and they said they couldn't anymore. I asked my doctor to write the Rx for specific brand only, and they gave me the ProAir again. Are there any choices or ways we can legitimately voice our concerns??
I agree. I just got my first Pro-air inhaler and it's TERRIBLE. The medication doesn't get into my lungs nearly as well and takes several administrations to work properly.
Also, the TASTE - it reminds me of a dreaded childhood nightmare -- PRIMATENE. Is this PRIMATENE Mist?
How do I complain to the right people?
Charles
Help! What can we do? this is a nightmare. suffocating to death does not appeal to me. I want my old albuterol inhaler back. everyone needs to write to the FDA.
I have been having asthma symptoms for almost two weeks because of the ProAir inhaler. Typically I have one mild asthma event a year, and it clears up immediately with the Warrick inhaler. Got the ProAir inhaler, and I thought it was a placebo or something, because it didn't work AT ALL. This was a week ago, and I finally broke down and used my old Warrick inhaler that is ONE YEAR out of date, because I figured it couldn't be worse than a med that does absolutely nothing. But it might be too late, because my symptoms are getting worse. Went back to the doc and he was suggesting that I go on an inhaler with steroids. Great idea! Now instead of the $9 solution, my asthma is going to net the med companies lots of extra bucks. I only hope I don't wind up in the hospital for the first time in my life, due to uncontrolled asthma.
I have a problem with the HFA propellant too. It also seems to have a shorter shelf life. I know it is under pressure and should last for as many puffs as it says, but after so many puffs it is like you'd have to do a handstand to try to get anymore out of it!
For anyone interested, the FDA does have a website that you can go to if you have a "reaction" to a medication. Maybe enough complaints about the medications and the need for the CFC (I doubt we'll kill the world for an allowance in just asthma inhalers when we still have auto collectors, motorcycles with straight pipes, and the county I live in doesn't even have vehicle emissions inspections...). Another thing would be to write your Congressman to get legislation, the asthma organizations to lobby, and ask your doctors to do the same.
Further, some of you stated you felt worse. MOST of the newer asthma medications contact the medicine and sulphate. I am allergic to sulpha drugs, sulphites, and sulphates. When I used one of those asthma inhalers I had an allergic reaction and was worse. That could be the problem making you worse. I am not a doctor, though, so if you did get worse, talk to your doctor about it.
They don't last and are a rip off. They are not nearly as good as the old ones. More expensive. One of the others would last a month easily now it takes two and most of the time they have only 50 or less inhales.
ProAir is a ripoff and a way for some drug co. and the FDA (not be trusted to approve something stupid AGAIN). The product does not work-yes I wash it everyday. I am thinking of flying to Mexico or Canada - if I can still get Albuterol there. Does anyone know? So my life is worth more than than the ozone layer-what a ---- joke.
I am so upset that the cost of inhalers has gone up so much and that people that depend on those little cans may loose their life because of the ineffectiveness of this product. My son goes through this new product 2x as fast and they don't work, He panics when he can't breath and we resort to our nebulizer with the albuterol packets that we still have.
Come on FDA, give us a break, we will have to decide on heating our home or medication for our children, I see a huge problem here!
It disgusts me that there are no generic inhalers for proair. I am unable to afford even the co-payments from my insurance due to this ridiculous issue of no more generic inhalers of any kind. I will be jumping on the first class action suit I find. I work for a living rather than getting disability because of by breathing problems. It's pure hell knowing that there will be days I have to spend at the hospital because I am unable to afford inhalers and not to mention Proair is extremely less effective. The FDA has got to be joking. Hey, if anyone knows of a class action suit being filed post it somewhere. Sign me up. I hope the good folks at the FDA don't lose a loved one to asthma. Grow a conscience.
My son, 17 yrs old, has had asthma all his life. We had to get the new HFA inhalers and he told me it didn't work. I told him it had to, it was still albuterol. Now after reading up on the HFA inhaler, I owe him an apology. The inhalers are 4 times as expensive as the old inhalers and they don't work!!
I have a daughter and husband on this and it is costing too much! I agree that the albuterol lasted longer and actually worked. ProAir does nothing for my daughter. She has to put albuterol in the nebulizer to get any relief. It is becoming a choice between bills and medicine. Ridiculous. If there's a petition to sign, let me know!
I have had asthma for over 50 years and have been using an epinephrine mist since it came on the market in the mid 1950's. (Primatene as a brand appeared a little later.) It saved my life and allowed me to live an ordinary life. My doctors have prescribed other mists and medicines at various times but they all did not work including recently the ProAir (a piece of junk). Damn those FDA jerks who threaten to pull Primatene Mist off the market. If they succeed it will kill me.
These people are completely without ethics or caring for the millions of us who don't suffer because of Primatene Mist. I have never been to an emergency room with an asthma attack because of Primatene Mist. If this taken off the market the emergency rooms will be even far more crowded than are now and people will die.
My 16 year old son has had asthma all his life. For 11 years, he used albuterol, which had his asthma under control, along with other medications. However, for the last three months has had to use the proventil instead of the albuterol (no longer on the market) and now he is having a lot of problems breathing and the proventil does not bring any relief.
He panics before a game (his asthma is primarily exercise induced) because if he has an asthma attack the proventil is not going to work and he is going to wind up the the emergency room. What can we do to get the albuterol back?
The Pro-Air inhalers are junk. They do not work! They do not last for the 200 doses they are supposed to, you are lucky IF they last for 50. And unlike the old inhalers most of the puffs you do get are wasted priming the stupid things. So you actually can use only a small part of the 50 working puffs. The propellant seems to leak out of them after you use them once. These inhalers don't bring relief either. I have had to revert to using my nebulizer which is not convenient and severely limits my activities in comparison to having access to 1 puff of the old style albuterol inhaler!
I have had several attacks recently get very serious and have almost gone to the E.R.for asthma for the first time in YEARS; because I got no or very limited relief from the Pro-Air inhaler.
I would like to have access to an inhaler that actually works. As it stands I am paying 5x as much for something that doesn't work or provides very limited relief and in attempting to use this product I'm having to get refills 6x as often. I am paying a LOT more to feel a LOT worse!
In the UK, my daughter is prescribed Primatene Mist inhaler for anaphylaxis (life threatening allergic reaction). She also has an Epi Pen injection, but the inhaler is a vital part of her emergency medical kit. I would be very disappointed if Primatene Mist was discontinued.
When I was able to use the CFC Albuterol inhalers, my asthma was well controlled. I could afford the medication on a limited income, and it lasted me for a few months.
Then in 2008, when I was forced to switch to the HFA inhalers, my asthma has gotten worse. I can no longer tolerate certain smells. Too much cigarette smoke in my face sets me off. The smell of perfume leaves me gasping for air. When I take a walk, I have to walk slowly. There were times I'd lay in bed to sleep at night, and would find myself gasping for air.
I've nearly passed out due to lack of air, and the HFA inhalers, both Pro-Air and Ventolin do not offer much relief. The Ventolin even causes side effects, such as giving me a respiratory infections, which makes breathing harder.
And right now, I am having difficulty in breathing. My lungs feel like they are on fire, and I'm praying it doesn't worsen. I've taken two puffs of the HFA Ventolin, and it doesn't seem to be helping. I know how to take the inhaler, so it's not me. It's the inhaler.
I also feel that our complaints have been largely ignored by the FDA, the congress, the government in general. I also feel there is an actual truth as to why the CFC inhalers were banned. I want to see the CFC inhalers put back on the market.
Once they are, we asthmatics will not need to live in fear of suffocating to death.
I understand the patent system a bit. I'm not a lawyer but am listed as co-inventor on 35+ manufacturing and materials science patents. IMHO the new delivery systems for many drugs are not really inventive. This sort of "innovation" is no such thing IMHO, but again I'm not a lawyer.
Yes, I have an Rx for ProAir. "Inventions" such as this, again IMHO are obvious combinations of old drugs and old delivery systems that should not be granted patent protection. So now many who have been, in the past, able to obtain an economical, though slightly less environmentally friendly Rx need to shell out big bucks for the "innovative" system that has new patent protection. But since there is far less money in a generic, who will spend the big dollars to fight big Pharma to invalidate such patent claims?
The little amount of gas from a darn inhaler does nothing to the ozone layer compared to what airplanes do, get real! It's all about the dollar; the drug companies and the doctors. With the good ol school albuterol inhaler, I did not have to run to the doctor as often. I was prescribed that half effective Xopenex. For anyone that used to smoke, that was over thirty years ago for me, but remember the difference between a menthol and a non menthol cigarette? Blah! That what Xopenex is like compared to albuterol.
I just found this site tonight and can immediately relate to the lack of relief I receive from the Proair, I just got my prescription filled today and the price went up $10 in 2 weeks (now over $52). Wow I would hope that I would get better relief at this cost, what is the answer out there, is there another inhaler that works as well as the old albuterol? Is there another place to shop that would be less expensive? None in my area.
I can't believe I just paid over $40 for a "generic" pro-air inhaler!!!! That's WITH insurance! I can remember not having insurance and paying $17 for a generic inhaler that worked better than this thing does. This delivery system has a significant delay in the time it takes to work, at least 20 minutes and sometimes up to 45 minutes where the other type was within 3 minutes. This is just wrong, they are able to take tons more of our money while giving us an inferior product! Where is the oversight? Who to complain to? I think I'll write to my congress reps because this is insane!
Just got notification that my Ventolin Evohaler will not be covered under the new Part D Medicare drug plan, and is being replaced by Pro-Air. I was prescribed Pro-Air 2 years ago when I got out of the hospital. IT DOES NOT WORK. I get the Ventolin Evohalers from Masters Marketing LTD in England. They cost about $8 each, and you can get 6 at a time.
I have used Albuterol since I was 14 years old with no problems. I only use it when desperately needed. This means that I do not use it everyday. When I picked up new RX it was called Ventolin HFA. The new version does not work at all. I am a very active person meaning that I do some type of physical activity everyday. I have passed out skiing and hiking three times. My life is on hold now.
The Ventolin made me sick to my stomach, dizzy, headache, ringing ears, purple spots on my hands, and pass out/black out episodes. I stopped using the inhaler and the symptoms stopped, except for the "no breathing"! I really am desperate for help. I dug through my flight bags, purses, boxes, etc. looking for old Albuterol inhalers last night. I found two outdated ones. I will use these until they are gone. Then what?
Good morning,
Maybe this will help: http://www.proairhfa.com/pdf/ProAirHFA_Cleaning_Usage.pdf
Big Momma
Georgia
So after forty years using this with no problem all of a sudden it's a big problem for emissions. What was it?
Almost worst was the fallacious argument the FDA gives us ignorant consumers. Like one factory in China doesn't pour out more harmful emissions in one hour that all the inhalers in the US do in ten years.