Primatene Mist Being Taken Off Shelves
The over-the-counter asthma inhaler known as Primatene Mist will soon be taken off shelves. As of next year, it will no longer be available. This is due to a phase-out of epinephrine inhalers containing chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs).
The epinephrine inhalers are being taken off the market because they use CFCs as a propellant to move the medicine out of the inhaler so patients can breathe the medicine into their lungs.
Primatene Mist was originally approved by the FDA for the temporary relief of occasional symptoms of mild asthma. FDA urges those who use Primatene Mist to see a doctor to find out which asthma medicine they should switch to. Since Primatene Mist was the last over-the-counter medication, patients will be forced to get a prescription.
“There are many other safe and effective medications to treat the symptoms of asthma,” said Badrul Chowdhury, M.D., Ph.D., director of the FDA’s Division of Pulmonary, Allergy, and Rheumatology Products. He added that you should find out if you actually truly have asthma. “If you have breathing problems but have not been diagnosed by a health care professional, it’s important to see one. Not all breathing problems are asthma, so you need to get an accurate diagnosis and the proper medicine.”
Many manufacturers have changed their inhalers to replace CFCs with a propellant called hydroflouroalkane, or HFA. There are currently no over-the-counter inhalers containing HFAs. Currently all inhalers containing HFA are by prescription only, and you must see a doctor to have one prescribed to you. The cost is also considerably higher than inhalers that contained CFCs.
With rising health costs and many asthma-sufferers not having insurance, it will undoubtedly be harder for these patients to get the treatment they need for their asthma.
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