Asthma OTC Inhalers Phased Out from 2012

Medical Daily ^ | September 23, 2011 | Medical Daily

[Tolerance Sucks Rocks]

Asthma inhalers, available over the counter from pharmacies will become prescription-only from 2012.

The move comes as worries over ozone layer damage persist from continued use of chlourofluorocarbons to propel the medicine out of the inhaler.

Primatene Mist, the only inhaler still available from pharmacies without prescription is an epinephrine inhaler that causes airways to relax, helping asthma patients during hard times or breathing difficulty. It is not a preventing medicine, but acutely used when airways constrict.

CFC’s (chlorofluorocarbons) are concerning environmentalists, due to their dangerous depletion of ozone, the layer around the earth protecting us from the sun’s harmful rays.

Currently, there are three inhalers on the market, but government officials have decided that OTC’s are to be removed first – restrictions over prescribed inhalers are due 2013. Primatene, made by Amphastar is currently undergoing a propellant redesign, although it is thought that the new inhaler will not be available before the old is phased out, according to the Wall Street Journal.

There are three million users of Primatene reported in 2006, and the FDA says around one to two million are still in use – though it is hard to say how many are over-the-counter (OTC).

"The clock is ticking on Primatene Mist, the only over-the-counter asthma inhaler," FDA press officer Karen Riley said at a news conference.

More than 235 million people worldwide suffer from asthma and it is the most common chronic disease among children, according to the World Health Organization.

[netmilsmom]

>>Maybe you can go the Lake Erie route, take a boat across<<

LOL! There is a park 20 minutes south of Detroit where you can shoot an arrow to Canada. A rowboat will get you there in about 3 minutes.

[algernonpj]

Dear Lord! I can’t wait for the grown-ups to be back in charge and put a stop to this ongoing insanity!!!

You'll be waiting a LONG time.

The insanity started long before Obama. Clinton mandated the ban on prescription CFC inhalers based upon the Montreal Protocal which used junk science to blame an enlarging ozone hole on freon related products. The FDA in deference to the EPA put the ban in effect.

Bush continued the ban which at this point in time is almost complete.

The ban was completely political in nature. In fact the old asthma CFC propellants had a great safety record back over 50 years.

OTH the new HFA propellants are an inferior product for which the FDA waived its own testing regulations. While the HFA inhalers work for some, they don't work for others, don't work as well for others, and cause severe asthma attacks in others. Most HFA inhaler contain corn based ethanol. Ethanol is a known trigger for asthma and corn is one of the most common food allgergies.

The FDA on its web site stated it is the DEEP BREATH that makes the new HFA inhalers work, not the propellants.

This was a perfect storm of political correctness and crony capitalism.

[nodumbblonde]

Looks like the doctors are going to benefit as well. My mom has had asthma since she was 6 mos. old. Now, her doctor will not prescribe her asthma medicine unless she comes in every year for a complete physical... head to toe and all parts in between including smear and mammogram. It costs her $500 just to be allowed a prescription and that’s just the part she pays out of pocket.

[crosshairs]

Are inhalers something you can stock up on?

Make room on the stock up shelf next to the good, murcury-free lightbulbs that are going away.

[algernonpj]

For those who haven't seen it yet and those who are interested here's information on drug expiration dates and storage:

Drug Expiration Dates - Do They Mean Anything?

Do Medications Really Expire?

Are Drugs Good After Expiration Date

Drugs Past Their Expiration Date; Are they Safe to use?

And although this thread is about an OTC med... This booklet was written for medicare on how to get drug plan to pay for medication you need. The same rules apply to non-medicate drug plans.

Drug Appeals Manual

Federal Regulations re Rx Appeals - including time frame in which insurance company must respond

Most drug plans allow you to renew a few days early. Over time you can build up an emergency reserve of a medication you depend upon.

[chris_bdba]

I was thinking that myself.I’m sure there are people out there who can’t afford to go to the doctor every time they need a new prescription who rely on these.I’m sure OTC is much cheaper than what paying for a prescription without drug coverage costs.

[Alamo-Girl]

Thanks for the ping!

[Hillarys Gate Cult]

I can assure you that epinephrine doesn’t last long after it’s expiration date.

[TigersEye]

Thanks for posting that it is good information.

I find it interesting though that they only say that liquid anti-biotics degrade over time. A friend of mine is a pharmacological research doctor at John's Hopkins (I see you include one link to JH) and I asked him about the stability of anti-biotic pills. He said they do degrade and I could expect to still receive the negative effects that normally come with anti-biotics and little or none of the intended positive effects.

I had specifically asked him about Penicillin V, Amoxycillin and Ampicillin that I have which is over ten years past the expiration date. This is his and his wife's specialty and has been for about two decades or more.

[Scythian]

Taking expired antibiotics is a great way to destroy your kidneys and liver, throw them out, immediately ....

[TigersEye]

Sitting here wondering idly how many will die just so a few envirowackos can get their self-stroke of the day.

The ozone hole thing is really absurd. Are we to believe that Rx inhalers are more enviro-friendly? Ridiculous! Clearly their intention is to discourage people from using any inhalers by making them more expensive, more trouble to get and socially unacceptable. IOWs human lives are expendable for the sake of an unproven theory about ozone.

These people promoting this should be horse-whipped.
Literally, no hyperbole intended.

[TigersEye]

My friend didn’t say that they would cause any harm like that just that they would do the normal negatives like nausea, killing off the bacteria in the gut, headaches and such. May I ask what your source is for your view on it?

[MarkL]

Leftists at it again... They keep telling us how the air pollution is causing an epidemic of asthma in children, then they work hard to make sure that nonprescription medicine is no longer on the market. They want to make sure you have to go to a doctor in order to get relief, then their plan is to decide just who gets to see the doctors.

I wonder how many children will die thanks to these "environmentalists?" How many millions have died of malaria with the banning of DDT?

Mark

[algernonpj]

I can assure you that epinephrine doesn’t last long after it’s expiration date.

Out of curiosity why and do you have a link. I would add into my information.

[algernonpj]

My brother and family is canadian and he couldn’t believe it. He’ll sell it on Amazon.

Thanks for the information. I'll pass on to anyone who can use it.

[algernonpj]

My friend didn’t say that they would cause any harm like that just that they would do the normal negatives like nausea, killing off the bacteria in the gut, headaches and such. May I ask what your source is for your view on it?

TigersEye, that's what I remember reading.

Scythian, please ping me on sour source also.

[algernonpj]

sour = your

[silverleaf]

We have MD’s serving in Congress, including Ron and Rand Paul. They need to step on some pointy heads over this.

If I had a kid with asthma I’d be parked on Pelosi’s doorstep.

Idiots.

[Texaspeptoman]

Have her go to a minor emerg. center doc-in-a-box