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February 24, 2006
Do Not Panic – Information on the reported inhaler shortage
In my blog last week I mentioned that there had been several reports about a shortage of albuterol CFC inhalers and that we were trying to gather more information on the subject. The articles that I’ve seen appeared in the Denver Post, Chicago Tribune, Salt Lake Tribune, Charlotte Observer, Fort Wayne Journal, Baltimore Sun and the Arizona Daily Star. I’ve also heard that there are reports of more limited supplies of generic albuterol in Oregon, Colorado, Maryland and Utah.
There are a couple of issues at play here that I want to explain. The elimination of CFC-producing inhalers is a public health benefit and a decision by the FDA that the Lung Association supports. CFCs have been shown to harm the protective ozone layer, so the goal is to eliminate all products that contain CFCs, but to give the pharmaceutical companies enough time to come up with options for the millions of Americans with asthma and COPD who use inhalers as part of their disease management plan. The official ban of CFCs does not go in to effect until December 31, 2008. Over the next two years we may see periods of shortages for this type of inhalers as manufacturers have already begun to convert their manufacturing to CFC-free alternatives. Shortages of traditional inhalers do not mean that the rescue medicine albuterol itself is running short. It isn’t. CFC-free inhalers with albuterol are now available, but you will need a specific prescription from your doctor to obtain one – a pharmacist cannot substitute this product for you. Depending on your insurance, these new inhalers may be more expensive, but our hope is that as more people move to the CFC-free delivery method that the price will come down.
The most important point to us at the Lung Association is the matter of asthma control. Patients with properly managed asthma should not need to use their quick reliever (rescue) medications very often because the asthma controller medication prevents asthma attacks. We hope that you have taken the Asthma Control Test to see if you have your asthma under control. After you take the test, share the results with your physician. The American Lung Association encourages physicians to adhere to NIH guidelines of asthma management and one major goal of the guidelines is to reduce the use of rescue medication by ensuring that the patients’ asthma is under control: http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/guidelines/asthma/asthgdln.pdf.
Again, I want to remind you to continue to take your medicine as directed by your physician. If you have questions about your asthma, talk to your physician.
Once again I want to take this opportunity to remind everyone that the Partnership for Prescription Assistance at 1-888 4PPA-NOW or 477 2669 is available to help assist people who cannot afford their prescription medication. Their website is www.pparx.org.
Posted by lungblogposter at February 24, 2006 11:50 AM
Comments
hey yea i think that they should quit smoking unless they want to die even sooner! And dont they have anything to want to live for longer like a grandchild or something?!
Posted by: christine at April 18, 2006 05:48 AM
Where do you get the idea that asthma has anything to do with smoking, Christine? I was diagnosed at age 2 and have lived with it my whole life. And I've never smoked. Don't spout off about things you don't know.
Posted by: Emily at June 6, 2006 10:30 PM
Thanks for the information, it is re-assuring to see it spelt out in plain & simple language.
Much appreciated.
Posted by: ChrisM at October 5, 2006 03:35 AM
