Switch to 'green' asthma inhalers is near

Star-Telegram (DFW) (AP) ^ | 12-2-08 | LAURAN NEERGAARD

[engrpat]

WASHINGTON — Last warning: Asthma inhalers go "green" on Dec. 31, forcing patients still using the old-fashioned kind to make a pricey and even confusing switch.

The medicine inside these rescue inhalers — the albuterol that quickly opens airways during an asthma attack — isn’t changing. But the chemicals used to puff that drug into your lungs are.

No more chlorofluorocarbons, or CFCs, which damage Earth’s protective ozone layer. By year’s end, all albuterol inhalers must be powered by the more eco-friendly chemical HFA, or hydrofluoroalkane.

The down side: The new inhalers cost more, $30 to $60 compared with as little as $5 for the disappearing generic CFC inhalers.

And patients face a learning curve. HFA inhalers must be used differently than the old-fashioned kind. The medicine feels and tastes different, sometimes alarming new users despite doctors’ assurances that it works just as well.

"There’s still significant confusion," says Dr. Harvey Leo of the University of Michigan’s C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital. "Patients will tell you, 'I don’t feel the puff anymore.’ "

Calls from parents unsure how to use the new inhalers, or even what they are, have increased in the past two months as more drugstores run out of CFC-powered inhalers and automatically switch people who’d been expecting a mere refill, he adds.

[Osage Orange]

Thanks....that’s interesting.

[Born Conservative]

Politicians doing what they do best; fixing what isn’t broken and causing more problems than before.

My 16 year old has had asthma for about 11 years now, and he still has 4 of the “good” Albuterols left; not looking forward to the HFA’s.

[Born Conservative]

I’m fortunate in that I have access to corrugated respiratory tubing (I work in a Peds clinic, and when we give nebs to babies and toddlers, we give it via mask; thus, the corrugated plastic tubing that’s usually placed on the end of the “T” piece on top of the neb cup get’s thrown out). My son uses it as a “spacer”; it’s smaller in diameter than an Aerochamber, yet long enough to work well. If you can get one, you should try it out.

[NonValueAdded]

Good news, short of a lifting of the ban: Wal-Mart To Sell Cheaper Inhaler

[AGreatPer]

Now that the global warming scam has been exposed, wonder when those involved will restore my inhalers that work?

This should not be a dead subject.

[engrpat]

I agree but don’t see it happening. The cost of these inhalers now is just beyond all reason. They can’t cost to produce, distribute and make a profit for what we are charged. At times I have to agree with the left when they say we are being screwed by the big pharmacy companies.

[engrpat]

FYI..went to WalMart today and found out that they have what is a generic Albutoral. It is Relion Vetolin HFA inhaler at $9. Now keep in mind that this inhaler has only 60 puffs where the standard inhaler has 200. So for $27 you have about the same amount. But if you are on Medicare Part D this is most likely still cheaper and could well keep you out of the donut hole.

What I have learned is with Part D the drug supplier may charge you your co-pay but they charge Medicare the full manufactures suggested retail rate so your benefits are hit hard.