Posted on 05/30/2008 5:39:41 PM PDT by tobyhill
FRIDAY, May 30 (HealthDay News) -- Asthma inhalers that contain the drug albuterol to relax the airways also contain chemicals that harm the ozone layer. And these inhalers won't be available after this year, so U.S. health officials are urging patients to switch to alternative inhalers now.
Chlorofluorocarbons, or CFCs, are widely used to propel inhaled drugs into the lungs. However, products containing CFCs are being phased out, because the chemicals damage the Earth's protective ozone layer. CFC inhalers are being replaced by inhalers powered by HFAs, or hydrofluoroalkanes, which are ozone-friendly.
The change to HFA-powered inhalers has been in the works for several years, but the FDA issued an advisory on Friday, urging patients still using CFC inhalers to switch now. Inhalers containing CFCs will not be available after Dec. 31.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...
My 80 year old Mom needed one of these today. According to this news, she will be in trouble.
Geesh, I hate the people behind this crap.
Of course it would be more expensive and not work as well. The government said this is what asmatics have to use. The government said we could only use low-flow toilets. They use more water than the older ones because you have to flush more often! Can only wonder how the government mandate about the kind of TV reception we can have starting next February will work. It’s more expensive, that’s for sure. By the way, I’m a life long asmatic and have COPD. Doc put me on Advair. It’s ok but does not work as well as albuterol.
Dang. My albuteral-using husband won’t be happy to learn this latest enviro-fascist news. Thanks for posting, though. Good to know.
Almost past time ... your pharmacist is probably rationing them now. Best to ask. The expiration date will not be your friend, however.
It will be like the illegal toilets that are smuggled in from Canada. Unless they have been banned in Canada too. You never know with control freak idiots.
My mother isn’t doing too good today. She cannot walk well anymore. This asthma is scaring me with her because she seems even weaker.
The eviro busy bodies need to be stopped and forced to die by their own standards.
I really have had about enough of this.
Thank you for caring. You are very nice and it is appreciated.
They will find you. They made bringing Cipro back illegal a couple of years ago. They will do the same with Albuterol.
The enviro nazis are going to kill us all. But I'm really glad we got this well Republican president to protect us from the Democrats.
This is orders of magnitude nuttier than Howard Hughes and his germ-phobia.
Advair blows.
Sounds like your mom is in good hands and prayers she gets better. Asthma is very scary and sometimes deadly so if using the inhalers for saving lives means breaking the law then breaking the law is something that will be done.
try Combivent..
Not meant to replace fast acting inhalers.
Thanks, my Dad and Mom both are still with me. Great people they are. Mom is a spunky loving little gal.
I am worried about her, but she has Dad and good care, plus two kids who love her dearly!
I will lift you and your dear mother up in prayer; my mother is using these also, and we are in the same situation. It is so hard to watch them struggle... I guess I am just not used to seeing my mother having to use a walker and oxygen. I’m grateful that she is still with me, though! But these new inhalers are a disgrace...
I have several older adults in our church who are also heavily reliant on inhalers, and they are truly suffering with these new “ozone friendly” inhalers. They are saying they DO NOT WORK - but they are still required to pay WAY MORE for them...
I am so frustrated with these petty control freaks making life harder for these people who already suffer SO much.
This was exactly the sort of BS I thought would be addressed when the Republican party took power.
Bless your mother, she sound in about the same shape as my Mom. My Mom is in a pain with her back and the coughing from the asthma has made her really weak.
I have always thoought God led us to these things that eased suffering. He leads us there and nutty people take it away from those who benefitted from something so simple.
I had shots every week for 13 years as a kid for asthma. I did outgrow it for the most part, but every once in a while I need an albuterol inhaler. Scary stuff here.
I guess we can both pray our Moms will be with us longer. I really just am not ever going to be ready to lose her.
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