asthma? need an inhaler? lucky you're not killing the ozone off anymore or fucking up

[orleans]

the environment because now you are using the crappier, more expensive inhalers that aren't as effective

from mother jones:

"THE ENVIRONMENTAL PAYOFF: Oh right, that. By upgrading their inhalers, Americans will prevent about 1,300 tons of CFC emissions a year. By comparison, the estimated global CFC emissions between 1986 and 2010 were 8.3 million tons. According to the University of Michigan's Edward Parson, an expert on ozone regulations, this impact will be "tiny."

"One estimate suggests that CFC-free inhalers will accelerate the repair of the ozone layer by just a matter of days. And of course, the industry has solved its ozone problem but still has a climate-change problem. "It's just absurd to think that this is anything that could have a measurable impact," says Dean Baker of the Center for Economic and Policy Research. "You'd be hard-pressed to find a law that raised costs so much for such a nonexistent benefit to the environment."

read this short article for how it came about
http://www.motherjones.com/environment/2011/07/cost-increase-asthma-inhalers-expensive

yes, it was so important to remove the kick ass propellant for inhalers for people who can't fucking breathe and it's gonna make a shit's worth of difference for the environment. maybe if they'd tackle the crap that *would* make a difference in the ozone and in air quality, most of us wouldn't need these fucking inhalators!

--just sayin' ....

[Rhiannon12866]

1. I use an inhaler...

You mean to tell me that I'm responsible for the erosion of the ozone layer??

[PaulaFarrell]

2. I have been using non-CFC inhalers for years

and they work fine for me.

[XemaSab]

3. I resent the hell out of the fact

that people are getting rich off my illness.

The ventolin's bad enough, but the steroids? I can't afford $300 a month in meds.

[Donald Ian Rankin]

4. A 0.3% annual global reduction just from that change is impressive, actually.

Note that the article apparently compares emissions in one year in America alone with emissions worldwide over 24 years - whether out of stupidity or dishonesty, I can't say.

[freshwest]

5. The only emission *they* care about getting rid of us carbon dioxide from lesser humans...

*you know, they, them, et al.*

[Javaman]

6. several people I know have asthma...

they, once upon a time, swore by primatene mist.

primatene mist was pulled from the shelves due to the type of accelerant in the can.

to this day, they say nothing at all comes close to the effectiveness of primatene mist.

funny thing is, primatene mist has come up for approval again with a new design, yet keeps getting voted down.

now why is that?

because primatene mist was so effective that all other inhalers, at the time, didn't come close to it's effectiveness.

so what is a giant pharmaceutical corporate industry to do? eliminate the competition and make sure it never makes it back to the market. And replace it will costly under preforming substitutes that people have to keep using that are much less effective.

[Avalux]

11. Primatene is inhaled epinephrine, better known as adrenaline.

It's meant to be used as a very temporary fix (rescue) to dilate the bronchial tubes in mild asthma, when an inhaler is not available.

The FDA voted in favor of its effectiveness, but against its safety for OTC:

FDA Panels: Primatene HFA Inhaler Not Recommended for Asthma
http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/821103

Amphastar, a generic drug co., owns the patent for Primatene Mist.

Whether or not there's been a conspiracy of major pharma in cahoots with the FDA to kill Primatene Mist, I agree that the FDA's safety concerns are valid from a clinical perspective. Case in point:

http://www.houstonchronicle.com/local/prognosis/article/Most-don-t-know-how-to-use-EpiPens-and-inhalers-5966264.php

[Ratty]

12. It was the only option for people who couldn't get a prescription

I know this from personal experience. Yes, it's inferior to the prescription versions but if you had no insurance to see a doctor it was better than suffocating.

[Sunlei]

7. a couple years ago. Primatine mist was the only 'over the counter' rescue inhaler. Gov. removed it.

Asthma deaths in usa went up 1% that year. people begged Primatene mist company and congress to roll back the product.

another company came out with the same medicine in a expensive, breaks easy product, a bulky 'vap' product that needs batteries to run and cost 5 times as much. Its the only over the counter rescue inhaler today.

[RoccoR5955]

8. Even years and years ago

There was another product, Bronkaid Mist, which worked for some, as well as Primatine. There were other, store brands as well.
I believe that they are killing these folks on purpose.

[REP]

14. I still use Bronkaid tablets along with Albuterol and QVar

Bronkaid tablets are ephedrine and guaifisen, and help me reduce the number of times I need Albuterol.

I remember when Tedrol was OTC - that worked great.

[HereSince1628]

9. But, but, but... I BREATHE FINE! The problem must be ASTHMATICS!

So, it's the asthmatics that must cough up the solution to environmental costs...

This so so sucks...that I find it hard to breathe.

[Avalux]

10. Can you provide clinical data showing that CFC-free are 'crappier'?

I'm not sure what that means, and I'd like to see the data showing the difference between the two.

I'm not addressing cost here, just the medical impact. Thanks.

[orleans]

13. no -- can't provide clinical data

just my own opinion on the difference between the inhalers then and now

i spoke with a pharmacist about this and she agreed, saying the inhalers we have to use now are not as good or effective

actually, over the past couple of years there have been several pharmacists who have said that to me when i've brought it up. not one has said that there is no difference between the old and the new.

so--at least what happens with me is that because it's not as effective i end up using it more frequently. which is great for the assholes who manufacture it, isn't it?

i found this on wiki about the montreal protocol:
"There are a few exceptions for "essential uses", where no acceptable substitutes have been found (for example, in the past metered dose inhalers commonly used to treat asthma and other respiratory problems were exempt, but no longer as of 12/31/11.[12]) or Halon fire suppression systems used in submarines and aircraft (but not in general industry)."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Montreal_Protocol

here's a link to tons of blabla that i can't make heads or tails of regarding the doc. for the u.s.
http://ozone.unep.org/new_site/en/essential_use_information.php

this article says the new inhalers need to be "primed" which means to spray them FOUR TIMES before using. which is terrible when you consider that you're paying five times as much to use the damn thing AND paying at least twice as much now for these new ones than the old ones!

and it also means your script will be up sooner, which means added trips/expenses for more frequent doctor visits.
http://www.consumer-health.com/services/WhatEveryAsthmaPatientNeedstoKnowAbouttheNewHFAInhalers.php

a piece of this on wiki talks about the propellant :
One of the most crucial components of a MDI is its propellant. The propellant provides the force to generate the aerosol cloud and is also the medium in which the active component must be suspended or dissolved. Propellants in MDIs typically make up more than 99% of the delivered dose,[9] so it is the properties of the propellant that dominate more than any other individual factor. This is often overlooked in literature and in industry because so few propellants are used and their contribution is often taken for granted. Suitable propellants must pass a stringent set of criteria, they must:" etc.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metered-dose_inhaler#Propellants

but the propellant used now kinda sucks. (apparently that's why you are supposed to "prime" the thing four times)

anyway...

[ARMYofONE]

15. Thank the supporters of the Montreal Protocol. Not every environmental regulation is worthwile.

I agree. The inhalers suck, if only for the ridiculous price.

[Blue_Tires]

16. I use Symbicort and it's been fine for me...