FDA: Time for asthma patients to get new inhalers (AP)
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Patients use inhalers that dispense airway-relaxing albuterol during asthma attacks.
Chemicals called chlorofluorocarbons, or CFCs, once were widely used to propel the deaden with narcotics into the lungs. But CFC-containing consumer products are being phased out because CFCs damage the Earth’s protective ozone layer. As of Dec. 31, CFC-containing anti-allergic/asthma inhalers can no longer be made or sold in the U.S. — and inhalers are being powered instead by ozone-friendly HFAs, or hydrofluoroalkanes.
Patients be the subject of been warned of the make some change in. for diverse years — but the Food and Drug Administration is issuing an advisory Friday saying anyone still using CFC inhalers should ask their doctor about switching now.
The FDA warns that the patients will face a learning curve: HFA inhalers may taste and feel different. The spray may feel softer. Each must be primed and cleaned in a specific way to prevent clogs. And they guard to cost greater quantity.
CFC-free options: GlaxoSmithKline’s ventolin HFA, Schering Plough’s proventil HFA and Ivax Corp.’s Proair HFA, all containing albuterol. Also, Sepracor’s Xopenex HFA contains levalbuterol, a similar medication.
The FDA said Armstrong Pharmaceuticals is the alone remaining maker of CFC inhalers and is expected to stop production even before the deadline — albeit some agency spokesman wouldn’t provide a date. Armstrong could not immediately be reached for the sake of comment.
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