Doctors suspect rush on old asthma inhalers

With the year 2009 drawing close, people who suffer from asthma and other respiratory ailments only have until Wednesday before the last of the inhalers that use ozone-depleting chemicals disappear from ...

[Guarded Statement]

The tiny amount of gas these devices use is minuscule. What will happen is the users will be all [again] be driven to order from sources outside the country. The environ-wacko extremist again show that they are totally off their rockers. I have a cat that needs almost daily Flomax treatments and I'm not paying 2-3 times what I'm paying now for it for a cat.

[sadie]

this is bu11sh1t!

[WhereAreTheProof Readers]

What year is drawing to a close??? 2009??? So I've been writing the wrong year on check for the last 9 months??

[savecfcinhalers]

For more information:
www.savecfcinhalers.org

[InDemand]

I have tried the new inhalers, they do not perform like the old ones. You ned 3 or more puffs, they only last for about 20 puffs,a nd cost $30.00? How about all of the smog trucks, and busses that cause our air problems. I dont see the government fixing them as they idle outside of shopping centers, and schools.

[mrsTexas]

this is DUMB

[bruce]

Guarded Statement wrote:

The tiny amount of gas these devices use is minuscule. What will happen is the users will be all [again] be driven to order from sources outside the country. The environ-wacko extremist again show that they are totally off their rockers. I have a cat that needs almost daily Flomax treatments and I'm not paying 2-3 times what I'm paying now for it for a cat.

30 million HFC inhalers going off four times a day in this country alone is not minuscule by any measure. A small Albuterol HFA has 200 metered doses per canister. Try cleaning it once and awhile. If you really want to complain, ask Bush's FDA why there is no generic Albuterol HFA available to all of you economically challenged wheezers, or get a nebulizer.

What does your cat's prostate gland have to do with any of this?

[Arthur Abramson]

bruce wrote:

<quoted text>
30 million HFC inhalers going off four times a day in this country alone is not minuscule by any measure. A small Albuterol HFA has 200 metered doses per canister. Try cleaning it once and awhile. If you really want to complain, ask Bush's FDA why there is no generic Albuterol HFA available to all of you economically challenged wheezers, or get a nebulizer.
What does your cat's prostate gland have to do with any of this?

There is no evidence WHATSOVER to support your IDIOTIC ASSERTION that even PEAK GLOBAL CFC MDI EMISSIONS (which accounted for less than .5% of total CFC global emissions) have ANY effect on the ozone layer, UV-B ground radiation or skin cancer.
Total atmospheric CFC levels have been falling since 1994, and the ozone layer has stabilized since 1997, and total CFC emissions were MUCH GREATER during this period of recovery than CFC MDI emissions EVER WERE, giving FURTHER PROOF to the argument that CFC MDI EMMISSIONS ARE INSIGNIFICANT AND HARMLESS.
No one even MAKES this argument except psychopathic treehuggers like you, Bruce. The FDA ADMITS that there is NO evidence or mathematical model to support your argument, and the EPA said that the reason a permanent exemption for CFC MDIs was not done was for POLITICAL, NOT SCIENTIFIC reasons. Several astrophysicists have confirmed the NEGLIGIBLE AND HARMLESS EFFECT of CFC MDI on the ozone layer.
Too much time on your hands, Bruce?
Arthur Abramson
The National Campaign to Save CFC Asthma Inhalers
www.savecfcinhalers.org

[Melissa]

I've been using the Pro-Air inhaler for about three months now, and they don't work nearly as well as the old CF inhalers.
My biggest fear is that I'll suffer from an asthma attack that the Pro-air inhaler can't fix. I think this is a big fear for others too.
Yes, I have a nebulizer, but nebulizers are to be used sparingly (so my doctors have said) they're also supposed to be used after a fast-acting inhaler. For acute asthma attacks you're supposed to use a fast-acting inhaler. To me, the Pro-Air inhalers are not fast-acting in any sense.
What if I'm to get a asthma attack while I'm outside, or at a friends house? Would someone really expect me to lug my nebulizer everywhere? On business trips or to parties?
I do believe that rise in greenhouse gasses are damaging the ozone, however, I think a persons life is much more important. I really think there should be acceptations to these CF bans, and you'd think inhalers would have been that acceptation.
The bottom line is that these inhalers don't work as well as they should. Hopefully we'll see some changes for them in the future.

[bruce]

Arthur Abramson wrote:

<quoted text>
There is no evidence WHATSOVER to support your IDIOTIC ASSERTION that even PEAK GLOBAL CFC MDI EMISSIONS (which accounted for less than .5% of total CFC global emissions) have ANY effect on the ozone layer, UV-B ground radiation or skin cancer.
Total atmospheric CFC levels have been falling since 1994, and the ozone layer has stabilized since 1997, and total CFC emissions were MUCH GREATER during this period of recovery than CFC MDI emissions EVER WERE, giving FURTHER PROOF to the argument that CFC MDI EMMISSIONS ARE INSIGNIFICANT AND HARMLESS.
No one even MAKES this argument except psychopathic treehuggers like you, Bruce. The FDA ADMITS that there is NO evidence or mathematical model to support your argument, and the EPA said that the reason a permanent exemption for CFC MDIs was not done was for POLITICAL, NOT SCIENTIFIC reasons. Several astrophysicists have confirmed the NEGLIGIBLE AND HARMLESS EFFECT of CFC MDI on the ozone layer.
Too much time on your hands, Bruce?
Arthur Abramson
The National Campaign to Save CFC Asthma Inhalers
www.savecfcinhalers.org

Too much Albuterol today? Hypoxic? It's affecting your reading comprehension. Care to point to anything in my post regarding ozone or the validity of any of the science?

Didn't think so.

If you have an issue with an international treaty, fine. Go write a letter to your Congressman. If you can use your great scientific mind to show that HFAs don't work as labled, go bark at the FDA. If your inhaler isn't giving you relief, go see your doctor---or go find one that can manage your condition a little better.

There's nothing more frustrating than trying to talk some sense to a mismanaged, air starved, cigarette induced COPDer. Go find yourself a nice pulmonary rehab center and stick with it. You'll feel much better.

[Mayor of Crime Hills]

I'm overwhelmed by Bruce's empathy for the suffocating masses. Anyway, China continues to manufacture the offending gases without halt, so they'll always be a source.

[bruce]

Melissa wrote:

I've been using the Pro-Air inhaler for about three months now, and they don't work nearly as well as the old CF inhalers.
My biggest fear is that I'll suffer from an asthma attack that the Pro-air inhaler can't fix. I think this is a big fear for others too.
Yes, I have a nebulizer, but nebulizers are to be used sparingly (so my doctors have said) they're also supposed to be used after a fast-acting inhaler. For acute asthma attacks you're supposed to use a fast-acting inhaler. To me, the Pro-Air inhalers are not fast-acting in any sense.
What if I'm to get a asthma attack while I'm outside, or at a friends house? Would someone really expect me to lug my nebulizer everywhere? On business trips or to parties?
I do believe that rise in greenhouse gasses are damaging the ozone, however, I think a persons life is much more important. I really think there should be acceptations to these CF bans, and you'd think inhalers would have been that acceptation.
The bottom line is that these inhalers don't work as well as they should. Hopefully we'll see some changes for them in the future.

If your shortness of breath is so severe that you can't hold your breath for five seconds, you shouldn't even be using an inhaler. There are several portable nebulizers on the market that can fit into your purse, that are no bigger than an MDI spacer. A 2.5 mg dose of Albuterol in a nebulizer is exactly the same as 2 puffs of Albuterol MDI, WHEN USED CORRECTLY. Google it.

Nothing else matters when you can't breathe, but if you are not getting relief from your rescue inhaler, go to your doctor now. Albuterol treats the symptom, not the cause. Under the right direction, the vast majority of cases like yours are totally manageable.

I personally don't care if it's an HFC or an HFA inhaler. My experience is that it just takes a little patient education to correct 99% of the problems associated with MDIs. They're usually given to patients by the pharmacist with little or no guidance on their usage.

What concerns me is your statement that the nebulizer should be used after a rescue inhaler. That's nonsense, unless you nebulize your steroids. Telling a patient to use a fast acting beta2 inhaler in conjunction with a fast acting beta2 nebulizer borders on malpractice, and sooner or later will kill you. Next doctor visit, clarify that in writing.

[bruce]

Mayor of Crime Hills wrote:

I'm overwhelmed by Bruce's empathy for the suffocating masses. Anyway, China continues to manufacture the offending gases without halt, so they'll always be a source.

HFAs are here to stay. Whining about it won't change that fact.

[bruce]

If you really want something to complain about, complain about HFAs not being available in generic form. This is a cash cow for the manufacturers. The active ingredients in either one are the same.

[Arthur Abramson]

bruce wrote:

<quoted text>
Care to point to anything in my post regarding ozone or the validity of any of the science?

Sorry, bruce. I assumed you understood the relevance of the issue you replied to regarding CFC MDIs emissions- I didn't realize you were just a cranky moron shooting your mouth off for no reason. And a pathetic, gutless coward as well, attacking sick people anonymously.

So, please explain the significance of your comment below if it was NOT directly referring to the effect of CFC MDI emissions on the OZONE layer, bruce:

"30 million HFC inhalers going off four times a day in this country alone is not minuscule by any measure."

Exactly. What a coward and idiot you are, bruce.

[bruce]

Arthur Abramson wrote:

<quoted text>
Sorry, bruce. I assumed you understood the relevance of the issue you replied to regarding CFC MDIs emissions- I didn't realize you were just a cranky moron shooting your mouth off for no reason. And a pathetic, gutless coward as well, attacking sick people anonymously.
So, please explain the significance of your comment below if it was NOT directly referring to the effect of CFC MDI emissions on the OZONE layer, bruce:
"30 million HFC inhalers going off four times a day in this country alone is not minuscule by any measure."
Exactly. What a coward and idiot you are, bruce.

It says what it says. If you don't get it, turn up the oxygen a notch and loosen your thong.

I hope you don't have any kids. You carry the germ of a powerful stupid.

It's no wonder how ineffectual your organization is, isn't it?

[Arthur Abramson]

bruce wrote:

<quoted text>
It's no wonder how ineffectual your organization is, isn't it?

We'll see. Time will tell. We are supported by a growing number of physicians and surgeons (as opposed to gutless, anonymous, trolls like you, bruce) who know that HFA MDIs are not as safe and effective for all patients as CFC MDIs because of the excipients (the inactive ingredients, bruce) and probably the extractables and leachables (potentially toxic impurities in all MDIs, bruce). But I'll defer to your expertise on thongs, bruce. That's your department.

[UNbelievable]

Fascinating article. The ozone-hugging crowd are, by-and-large, the same group that are always complaining about how government policies negatively affect the poor.

This article is pretty clear on the negative effect this silly rule is going to have on poor, sick people.

Unfortunately, they are far to blind to see their own hypocrisy.

[FarRightWing]

Way to go,the cost of going green will hit some people in the pocket books where they can least afford it.What a bunch of bull turds.God I hate you hippie tree huggers.

[Kate-Pups]

I find that the 'new' enviro friendly inhalers don't work as well. Anyone else find that too ??