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HFA Inhalers

Ryan of Burbank CA (02/16/09)
These new HFA Inhalers do not work, WE NEED OUR OLD CFC INHALERS BACK.

Almost died.

Erin of Riverside, CA February 16, 2009

Erin of Riverside CA (02/16/09)
My asthma was under control, until I began using the new HFA inhaler. I'm not sure if I'm allergic to the propellent, or what, but this stuff causes my throat to swell and burn. My primary care physician finally concluded that I was sensitive to the new propellent and now I am forced to use a nebulizer, when necessary.

Bob of Wyandotte, MI February 16, 2009

Bob of Wyandotte MI (02/16/09)
Like the people in your article, I have COPD and asthma. I did manage to stock up on a couple of CFC inhalers before the ban, but I am having to try to strech them out and am using the HFA inhalers as much as possible. I echo the sentiments that they do not work. I have heard and tried all the explanations and helpful tips, but they do not work.

My Doctor who has asthma agrees with me but feels as helpless as I do. This has effected my quality of life. I can no longer go about my routines like I used to. I am 52 years old and do not know how much longer I can keep working my job without the CFC inhalers.

I wake up in the night with rapid heart palpitations as I know I have used too much of the HFA inhalers, but would not be able to breathe otherwise. I worry that I will soon have a heart attack or cardiac arrest.

Sandra of Posen, IL February 16, 2009

Sandra of Posen IL (02/16/09)
When my pharmacy gave me an HFA Inhaler last summer instead of my usual CFC albuterol inhaler, I immediately let them know that they had made a mistake. That was how I was informed that the old CFC inhalers were being banned.

Within a few days, I used the new HFA inhaler to halt an impending asthma episode. To my horror, it not only did not feel or taste right, it was not effective in stopping the tightness and wheezing. I tried the HFA inhaler again and got very little relief. I found an almost empty CFC inhaler and used that and got almost instantaneous relief.

I called my pharmacist and reported the problem and she was very sympathetic. She called her supplier's warehouse and was able to get me a few of the old CFC inhalers that had been put aside. (For what? To go to waste when the ban went into affect on Jan. 1st?) So, I used those inhalers for the last 6 months and had no problems getting immediate relief.

Unfortunately, now I am just about out of them and have only the new HFA inhalers on hand. I have to tell you that I am very worried, and even scared, about how it will work when I need it to work the most.

I have voiced my fears to my doctor and she is going to refer me to a pulmonary specialist to see if there is something else that I can try that will work. Hopefully, there is something. In the meantime, I have made sure that I am well stocked up on vials of albuterol for the nebulizer, which I know will work. But that's not something that you can tuck into your purse for emergencies away from home.

I honestly don't know how this will all turn out, but I am worried. For myself and the thousands of other asthmatics that I understand have experienced the same ineffective results with the new HFA inhalers. Hopefully, this ban on CFC inhalers will be lifted.

Carole of Edgewood, NM February 16, 2009

Carole of Edgewood NM (02/16/09)
I have had incidents with the inhalers. They tend to have exactly the opposite effect for a prolonged amount of time. The object is to stop the narrowing of the airways - quickly, not use a device that constricts the airways more - before it opens them, and then only opens them part of the way. Brain damage occurs at about 4 minutes and the new inhalers don't work quickly. Can yu imagine how terrifying it is for a person to be smothering? That's what it's like. Your brain is still working, but you can't breathe, and your rescue inhaler has made the ability to breathe worse - instead of better.

Passing out from lack of oxygen isn't fun either, and leads to other injuries - if you live long enough to be rescued by your HFA rescue inhaler - with your brain intact. If I weren't getting CFC inhalers from another country, I wouldn't be able to leave my home, and I would have to be within reach of my nebulizer machine at all times, and pray the electricity doesnt't go out. The law needs to be changed - quickly! Incidentally, I reported my problems with the HFA inhalers to the government and I tell every doctor and person I can about them. I also tell my doctors that they need to report patient incidents to the government, but I don't know if they do or not.

I was a nurse before I got sick, and I tend to think that the doctors just want to keep on keepin' on, and not ruffle the government's feathers, which is one of the things wrong with the medical profession. I have had asthma all my life, spent many holidays in the hospital in my childhood because of asthma, and got the CFC inhalers in my early 30's when they can out. I never had a real problem with asthma after that. If I thought an asthma attack was coming on, I inhaled 1 or 2 puffs, and I was good as new within a minute. No other medicines were needed. Now with the HFA's, I'm on 2 other medicines besides the new inhaler, and one of them will destroy my bones in time, and gives me vaginal infections. Somehow, I don't feel better off, and now am handicapped.

I must get inhalers from another country, or should I say countries, any country that makes them, or I must stay housebound near my nebulizer machine.

Candace of Hammond, IN February 16, 2009