FDA to ban Primatene Mist

[Hugh R]

I occasionally get asthma. While in Toronto this week I dropped my non-prescription Primatene Mist inhaler and broke it (glass). Go to a local drug store and the pharmacist says they discontinued selling them in Canada years ago, and he was pretty sure that they were going to be banned in the USA soon. Got home did a Google search and found that the FDA is banning their sale December 31, 2011. The reason is that they contain CFCs (chlorofluorocarbons) which are akin to Freon, and deplete the ozone layer. The world medical contribution of CFCs to the atmosphere is insignificant.

So, one Primatene inhaler costs me about $15 and lasts me about 3 months. The prescription one costs me $50 co-pay to my doctor ,and 20% of $100/inhaler which lasts maybe a month. So my cost for three months is $50 (doctor) plus $60 (3 inhalers at $20/each, my co-pay) or $110. If I didn't have insurance, which I won't when I retire, my costs will be $350/for months versus $15. Yeah, the FDA is really looking out for me. Guess I'll be hoarding Primatene Mist over the next 2-1/2 years.

[teenerted1]

any chance you qualify for the $4 walmat pescription deal?
http://i.walmartimages.com/i/if/hmp/fusion/customer_list.pdf
i usually dont like to promote that store but here is one place i would suport the savings on medical costs

[rammstein]

CFCs could kill someone. Asthma never hurt anyone.....

[RWebb]

why can't they use a different propellant like EVERY OTHER INHALER???

I have asthma and all my inhalers have new propellants

[Hugh R]

The Wallymart $4 deal is a bit of a joke. I'm not aware of any asthma inhalers that they sell for $4. Good point though, I should check with them again.

Edit:

Just checked. No they only carry a nebulizer solution for a machine you breath out of in your house under the $4 program; not an inhaler you carry in your pocket.

[georgeinhere]

Our friend died from asthma last year...

Originally Posted by rammstein

CFCs could kill someone. Asthma never hurt anyone.....

[MBAtarga]

Originally Posted by georgeinhere

Our friend died from asthma last year...

You may not be aware, but the green font being used on some posts is known to reflect [SARCASM ON] Green font text [SARCASM OFF]

[georgeinhere]

Did not know that one...

Originally Posted by MBAtarga

You may not be aware, but the green font being used on some posts is known to reflect [SARCASM ON] Green font text [SARCASM OFF]

[jyl]

The conversion from cfc to non in medical inhalers has been underway for some time. Do some more investigating, maybe your drug of choice will be converted too.

[berettafan]

Is Primatene the OTC stuff in the thick white plastic doodad?

Have been living with asthma for my entire life and as i got into my high school and college years would buy the otc stuff rather than drop $$ on a doc visit to reup my prescription for the good stuff. docs were never very happy about this when i would tell them (typically during a visit for bronchitis) and told me to avoid the stuff like the plague.

honestly don't recall why.

advair actually helps as a maintenance drug, perhaps you might check with your doc on that.

[berettafan]

and hugh i don't think asthma is something you want to be self medicating.

dunno how bad yours is but i've had some scary asthma related moments in my life and finally paying up and talking with my doc about it made a difference. of course it had been a long time since i spoke with a doc about asthma as i thought i knew it all and a lot had changed.

ever have to do the stick-your-head-in-a-freezer routine? my worst days were waiting/bussing tables in a busy restaurant and running out of the otc inhaler. would be scared ****less and take frequent breaks in the walk in freezer. miserable. i knew which drug stores carried the stuff and have, in the distant past, made many a midnight run to pick one up. lordy i do not miss those days.

[rammstein]

Originally Posted by georgeinhere

Did not know that one...

And believe it or not, the green for sarcasm indicator was my own invention. Probably the biggest achievement of my life, really. I mean, people actually still use that. Its very useful. I need to make sure they put this on my eulogy someday.

[Heel n Toe]

Originally Posted by rammstein

And believe it or not, the green for sarcasm indicator was my own invention. Probably the biggest achievement of my life, really. I mean, people actually still use that. Its very useful. I need to make sure they put this on my eulogy someday.

Fixed it for you.

[cab83_750]

Originally Posted by jyl

The conversion from cfc to non in medical inhalers has been underway for some time. Do some more investigating, maybe your drug of choice will be converted too.

Agree! A prescription of mine was switch to another brand because of the cfc. Primatene is just another victim.

BTW, have you noticed that you cannot buy the Primate tablets anymore?

[Steve W]

If Primatene is banned you can be sure there will be a rise in asthma related deaths unless there is a over the counter substitute. There are many people that depend on being able to obtain it, especially in an emergency situation where they do not or never had a prescription inhaler.

Primatene is actually very bad for you because it works by stressing your cardiovascular system. The prescription stuff such as albuterol works better and is much healthier for you without any real side effects. However either of these are rescue inhalers, and frequent use of these means you are not properly maintaining the disease. Going through one Primatene inhaler every three months is a lot and really shows yours is out of control.

Asthsma is usually the result of an allergic reaction to allergens in your environment (pollen, dander, dust mites, etc) and needs to be controlled by either moving to an area low in allergens, such as by the beach, where winds come in from the ocean, or with a type of 'antihistamine' medication of which is what Singulair (Montelukast) is for. Singulair not only controls nasal allergies, but stops the lungs from overreacting to the allergens. Rather than treat the symptoms, it is better to prevent the cause. However it is extremely expensive and is to be taken once a day. At ~$5 a pill, it is Merck's single highest revenue generator until U.S. patent expiration in 2012. However you can get the generic version from overseas pharmacies now for about 80 cents.

Hugh, I would highly recommend you talk to your doctor about trying Singulair if you haven't already, and keep Albuterol inhalers around if and when you need it. Also consider an allergy test to find out what you are allergic to. Your quality of life will be substantially improve along with a significant increase in your energy level and stamina. Generic Albuterol inhalers can be purchased at Costco for about $35, and you can get generic one from overseas pharmacies for about $8, with CFC propellants, which actually are supposed to work better than the ones that are using CFC substitutes - HFA, which is all you can get in the U.S now. The generic are made by companies such as Cipla in India where I think there are minimal to nil patent laws with regards to pharmaceuticals. If anyone wants to know a reliable site to get this stuff, let me know and I'll look it up.

[Steve W]

Originally Posted by cab83_750

Agree! A prescription of mine was switch to another brand because of the cfc. Primatene is just another victim.

BTW, have you noticed that you cannot buy the Primate tablets anymore?

But you can buy Bronkaid tablets with ID which is scanned, which are the same thing. I think the stuff is controlled because kids use to stuff to compose a cocktail with the effects of speed.

[berettafan]

shoot i used to blow through a primatene inhaler every 2wks or so.

[grasseater]

I have had asthma for 35 years, and still continue to suffer with it. I have used every drug prescribed by doctors. It's not so much the cfc that their banning the primatene mist, alot of people are turning to primatene mist because it's cost effecient and effective. Roughly $18.00 and last and could last up to 3 months depending on the serverity of your asthma. Unlike rx inhalers they cost more with lesser units of dosages, as you can see it puts a big hole in their wallet, thats the first reason. The second reason is the use of epinephrine and ephedrine inhaleness and pills. Epinephrine and ephedrine are natural dialating bronchodilators. They are fast acting and long lasting. Albruteral, Ventalin, Ventrollin, Alupent are fast acting inhalers..but don't last long. Doctors try to push these inhalers and steroids to aid and to counteract asthma attacks..Without pushing these rx drugs it puts a hole in the drug companies wallets and hurts the doctors. For decades doctors have done this telling people not to take these meds because they are bad for them. We used to go to Mexico and buy Amoxicillen and Penicillen and inhalers every summer after visiting my grandparents. I told the doctor once I was taking Amoxicillen from across the border and he said not to use it, that it wasn't the true amoxicillen. After taking it like a regular rx drug from the doctor it worked the same and after sending it to Stanford State University(chemical relations test..crt.) it was the same chemicals used in the states. Now tell me who is fooling who??? The pharmacists, doctors. Who??

[wellnessman]

I've referred a number of my asthmatic clients to a free asthma nutrient/enzyme protocol which has typically been showing quite gratifying results. All supplies, support and tracking are free for at least 8 weeks. the site is (www). equilib.us Good luck.
PS I believe the free program is only available in North America.

[Jagshund]

Ask me why I'm taking 100+ lortabs a month rather than Darvocet. Thank you, watchdog groups. Like I really needed another addiction.