BREATHE LA Protects the Breath of Life : promoting clean air and healthy lungs through research, education and technology.

Generic Albuterol Asthma Inhalers no longer available in USA after Dec 31, 2008

Posted Wed, 04/02/2008 - 5:07pm by Julia
Asthma Inhalers are Changing!

After December 31, 2008 generic albuterol inhalers will not longer be available for sale in the United States. New replacement inhalers will be available.

The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) will ban the use of ozone-depleting propellants called chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) used in many inhalers effective December 31, 2008.inhalers

This is a result of an international treaty designed to eliminate ozone-depleting chemicals that will have a positive effect on our environment, and will ultimately benefit lung health. But the transition to a new type of inhaler can be difficult and even confusing.

BREATHE LA encourages you to consult with your healthcare provider to ensure a safe transition from your current chlorofluorocarbons (CFC) inhaler to a non-ozone depleting replacement inhaler.

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inhalers

by Breathe Visitor (not verified) - Jan 7 2009 - 12:41pm
I feel that the ozone depleting chemicals found in an inhaler affect no-one but the user. When I developed asthma as an adult I was reluctant to use an inhaler due to extreme sensitivities to many chemicals, aerosols, cleaners, medicines, etc. I had to choose between managing my asthma symptoms and the side-effects of the inhalers. I thought, "How odd, that a drug to treat asthma would be utilizing the very chemicals (propellents) that can induce breathing problems?" This decision on the part of my particular drug company that made my inhaler, I have no control over. The greater picture of how this "socially conscious" change is affecting many, many people who NEED their medicine and are being squeezed monetarily is smelling a lot like greed to me.

Price of Asthma Inhalers

by Breathe Visitor (not verified) - Jun 21 2009 - 10:09am

I agree with you on the "greed" part of your comment.  My husband relies on a rescue inhaler and now we get to choose him being able to breathe or groceries.  We fall into that income category where you make twice as much as those minimum poverty guidelines so you're expected to pay 4 times as much for everything.  Some days I am so discouraged about what we're going to be faced with in years to come.  This wasn't my "American Dream".  Big Medicine in this country is killing us all.  Funny - the worldl used to hold America up on a pedistool.  Our  healthcare system is in the toilet!

Over the Counter Asthma Inhalers

by admatin (not verified) - Nov 29 2008 - 1:38pm
This is rediculous. This is nothing but rich people getting richer. There is no way that an asthma inhaler causes ozone problems...Look at the bigger picture, like factories, automobiles, etc. My little inhaler doesn't hurt the ozone layer this is just a reason to make me have to pay more for something I need to live.I have chronic asthma. I would like to know WHAT NUT brought this into being.What is this world coming to.

The new albuterol inhalers - and lies your pharmacy tells

by Breathe Visitor (not verified) - Jul 25 2008 - 5:45pm
I went to a Rite-Aid today to pick up my inhaler. It's 7/25/08. They tell me that "all the generics CFC inhalers have been pulled off the market and this is all we have." The Proventil HFC one, $40 vs. $10. I don't have a good drug plan, and most insurance plans anyway will insist you pay brand-name prices/higher tier prices, despite the fact that a generic isn't going to be available. Which I can't understand. It's not the albuterol being changed,but the propellant. Just how tight are the various patents, anyway? And I resent the fact that despite this being talked about since 2006, NOBODY has apparently thought to do anything to provide a generic? I'm also po'd at my pharmacy. Tell me they're being phased out and you don't have any more,but don't pass on misinformation.

albuterol

by eliz (not verified) - Dec 20 2008 - 10:52am
Last week I called in my percription for albuterol, was told I can not get it anymore. I called alot of pharm. and was able to get it from one. I payed out of pocket for (insurence payed for 2 only) 4, thats all they had left. Try different phar. and have your percription transfered to the one you can still buy, and stock up.

Yes, I too had that same

by Poorer by the minute (not verified) - Nov 21 2008 - 6:08am
Yes, I too had that same wake up call when filling a new brand name asthma prescription called Xopenex HFA ($45.00) and not a generic available! Another reason to love our Health care system and their bed buddies the pharmaceutical corps.!!!

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