Posted on 12/31/2008 10:51:26 AM PST by Diana in Wisconsin
Miami, FL (AHN) - Wal-Mart announced that it will sell a more environmentally-friendly inhaler starting at $9.
Traditional inhalers for such conditions as asthma, chronic bronchitis and emphysema use chlorofluorocarbons to release medication to ease symptoms. But the Food and Drug Administration ordered those inhalers to be phased out because CFCs are blamed for ozone layer depletion.
Inhalers must now use hydrofluoroalkane to propel the medication. These inhalers are significantly more expensive than CFC inhalers. Many health advocates say the higher prices may prompt some patients to go without essential medication.
Wal-Mart says it has the answer.
"While some HFA inhalers may sell for as much as $60 for certain brands, our $9 ReliOn Ventolin HFA inhaler will ease the financial burden for sufferers of asthma who should not go without these life-saving medications," Sandy Kinsey, Walmart's divisional merchandise manager for pharmacy, said in a statement.
I suppose it depends on what "inactive ingredients" are added by their Chinese suppliers.
Can you say China inhalers?
Since it’s probably made in China, I wonder what else it contains?
It is so stupid that the enviro-weenies win over people with cronic pulmonary diseases. Makes you just want to go choke a hippie, so he’ll know how it feels. :)
Previous article:
Asthma Inhalers Go Green, But Are More Expensive
December 30, 2008 9:27 p.m. EST
David Goodhue - AHN Reporter
Miami, FL (AHN) - People suffering from asthma and other respiratory ailments will be forced to shell out more money to by “green” inhalers beginning in the new year.
Since the United States signed on to the 1987 Montreal Protocol, U.S. drug companies must sell inhalers that use the propellant hydrofluoralkane, or HFA.
Environmentalists say the propellant used in traditional inhalers damages the ozone layer.
But the HFA inhalers are significantly more expensive.
Most of the new HFA inhalers cost between $30 and $60. Old inhalers cost between $5 and $25, the Orlando Sentinel reported.
The cost has some healthcare professionals concerned lower income people may cut back on their prescriptions. Inhalers are used by asthma, emphysema, chronic bronchitis and chronic obstructive disorder patients to deliver the drug albuterol for quick relief of symptoms associated with those diseases.
Old inhalers used chlorofluorocarbons to deliver the drug.
Some patients say the new inhalers are less effective in delivering relief.
They haven’t won over this asthma patient and never will. Fortunately, I’m under control with Advair and hardly ever need to use my Albuterol.
GlaxoSmithKline, Inc. (GSK) makes them. Not sure if they’re made in China. Do your own homework to back up your assertions.
I can’t do EVERYTHING for you. ;)
-—they did a good job post-Katrina, too-—
Lol! It was an assumption.
Yes, they did. And when a tornado nearly wiped out the next town over from us (we watched the tornado pass by us across our back forty), Wal-Mart was the first Semi there, handing out water and basic clean-up supplies, generators, food, etc.
I shop there every week for basic needs; not a ONE of them is ‘Made in China.’
It amazes me that people can’t read product labels on the what they’re buying. *SHRUG*
I was listening to talk radio (Walter Williams filling in for Rush)he said besides the horrendous cost of the new inhalers they also plug up and therefore don't deliver the needed amount, if any at all.
Sadly, they won’t work any better than the other non-CFC ones. The new propellant is worthless, not to mention corn-based (a major allergen to many).
The first night I relied my new HFA inhaler, I ended up in the emergency room. I had never been in the emergency room for asthma ever before.
WalMart Ping!!!!!!!!!!
Let me know if you want on/off the WalMart ping list -— be advised most on the list are WalMart shoppers, and while acknowleging there are faults, we’re pretty adamant in our opposition to unfounded nonsense.
I would gather that most didn't even have a clue...this was going to happen.
My PA prescribed the new one about six months ago because of the pending ban, so I could “try” it. It cost $100 compared to $10, partially because the insurance hadn’t picked it up yet and it had half the albuterol.
I have some Walmart generics in front of me. Two of the $4 ones are made by Mylan, an American company, and the expensive one is made by Teva, an Israeli company with operations in America. The other $4 one is made by Lupin Ltd, an Indian company. Please tell me what you know about them.
Walmart generics have been wonderful for me.
My son is a Wally World Pharmacy Technician and both the Military and local civilian communities have benefited greatly from the low cost prescriptions available through them. I have heard of some Super Wal-Mart’s that actually have urgent care clinics available. Once again the private sector shows the stupid bureaucrats how to really run a health care program at a low cost to the consumer.
Yes, but it’s difficult to tell - “distributed by” when it comes to food products isn’t quite so assuring as “Made in U.S.A.” or “Product of U.S.A.” There are new truth in labeling laws but they don’t apply to restaurants or prepared foods.
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