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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 11:50 AM | Comments (3)
February 13, 2006
UPDATED: What you need to know about the latest FDA recommendation regarding inhalers containing CFCs…
A Food and Drug Administration panel recently came out with the recommendation to ban some non-prescription inhalers used to treat asthma because the devices contain CFCs which have been shown to harm the protective ozone layer.
Back in the 1990s, an international treaty known as the Montreal Protocol placed a ban on the use of CFCs. The American Lung Association led the successful effort to secure an exemption for metered dose inhalers (MDIs) from the Montreal Protocol, since CFCs have long been used as propellants in many of the MDIs used by lung disease patients. The exemption was needed to give MDI manufacturers time to develop CFC-free devices and provide an adequate transition period for physicians and patients.
This current recommendation applies to over-the-counter inhalers only. The ban on prescription inhalers containing CFCs is not scheduled to go into effect until the end of 2008, although there are already options in the marketplace now that offer a CFC-free alternative.
The American Lung Association highly recommends that people with lung disease work closely with their physicians to develop proper breathing management plans, which often include the use of prescription drugs. We do, however, recognize that a ban on the non-prescription inhalers could be a detriment to the health of individuals who can’t afford proper healthcare.
While we agree with the FDA’s recommendation, the announcement highlights the need for all people with asthma and other lung diseases to have access to regular medical care and life-saving medicines.
If you are having difficulty paying for your prescription medicine, please contact the Partnership for Prescription Assistance at 1-888 4PPA-NOW or 477 2669. Their website is www.pparx.org.
Click here if you’d like to read our statement on the proposed ban.
One final note …there have been several reports of a shortage of inhalers, but we have not been able to confirm that to be true. If you are concerned, please check with your doctor and pharmacist to see if your local area is affected.
Posted by lungblogposter at 07:20 AM | Comments (0)
February 03, 2006
February is Black History Month…
And while we will spend this month celebrating the contributions of so many African Americans who have made a difference in our lives, we at the American Lung Association also will take the time to reflect upon the health disparities affecting culturally and ethnically diverse communities.
Lung disease discriminates. AIDS is the leading cause of death in African American women aged 25 – 34. An African American baby is close to 3 times more likely to die of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome than a white infant. And just this week, a study was published in the New England Journal of Medicine that found that African Americans who smoke up to a pack of cigarettes per day are more likely to develop lung cancer than whites who smoke similar amounts. Click here for an article on this study.
If you or someone you know is living with lung disease, or if you suspect that you might have a lung disease, please visit your doctor today. During Black History Month let’s make the commitment to our friends, acquaintances and loved ones to protect our lungs and promote the importance of a lung-healthy lifestyle.
Posted by lungblogposter at 12:55 PM | Comments (0)
