Complain about a product or service

HFA Inhalers

Candace of Hammond IN (02/16/09)
I have had mild asthma for years, only needing my rescue inhaler (albuterol CFC) on occasion. Beginning in January 2009 I started having problems. I couldn't take a deep breath and I felt like I wasn't getting enough air. I started using my new ProAir HFA inhaler more often, which I got the first week of January. I made sure to shake it extra well and clean it often, as directed.

Day by day I felt more tired and had more difficulty breathing. I began having chest pains upon exertion. I started to worry that I was having heart problems. Finally I had gotten so bad that simply washing my hair or sweeping the floor made me dizzy and brought on more chest pains. My face felt flushed and strange, like I was going to pass out, but I didn't. Instead I sat down and took aspirin.

Finally I called the nurse hotline at my insurance. We talked about my problems. I didn't think it was my asthma because I wasn't having asthma attacks, no wheezing, just shortness of breath and the chest pains and dizziness. The nurse told me to go to the hospital ER, which I did. After several hours in the ER I was admitted. This was January 22, 2009. I spent 5 days in Immediate Care, hooked up to a heart monitor. I had numerous tests and scans. I had a stress test which brought on a full-blown chest pain, dizziness, flushed face episode for the doctor to see.

Because of the abnormal stress test, I had a heart cath (angiogram) to check for blockage. The result of all the tests showed that my heart is healthy. I still did not know the cause of the pain. I was, however, feeling much better because the hospital gave me an albuterol CFC inhaler, so I was using it instead of the ProAir HFA. It wasn't until I had my follow-up appointment that I learned the source of my pain was bronchial spasm. I never in my whole life of being asthmatic have I ever experienced anything like that---never.

I have experienced an asthma attack where I would wheeze and have difficulty breathing, but never pain and dizziness. Using my inhaler would open my lungs and stop the attack. But this was different. Using the ProAir did not make me feel better. Looking back I could see that my problems began gradually and worsened gradually but they began when I started using the ProAir and stopped when I stopped using the ProAir. When my albuterol CFC runs out I have a prescription for XOPENEX HFA. I hope I do better with it, if not, I don't know what I'll do.

My parents raised me to be environmentally aware. Acting responsibly toward the environment is something I've always done. I share the same outrage as others regarding the crimes against our planet, but I also believe that the minute amount of CFC released from an inhaler is insignificant enough not to damage the Ozone. I understand some people are doing well with an HFA inhaler. That's fine, but for those who are having horrible reactions to the propellant, we need to have the option of having our CFC inhalers back.

I had a bad reaction to the ProAir HFA inhaler which resulted in 5 days in the hospital in Immediate Care and an angiogram from which I needed to recover. Thankfully I have insurance, but it cost my insurance over 35,000. There was no charge to me but still, ethically speaking, that was an expensive dose of asthma spray.

Christiane of Columbus, OH February 16, 2009

Christiane of Columbus OH (02/16/09)
I have to strain in order to draw medicine out of the new HFA inhaler when I am not having a asthma attack. When I am having an asthma attack I have to take double the amount of puffs in order to draw the albuterol into my lungs and wait up to 30 minutes to get relief. I have been fortunate enough not to have had a severe asthmatic fit as of yet. I know this inhaler could not save my life if it depended on it and I will have to have my husband drive me to the ER when it happens.

I have to pay more than double for an inhaler that will not stop a severe asthma attack. I am financially OK, but other people are not right now and your ability to live should not be based on your current income. This new inhaler will result in more financial hardship and emergency room trips for Americans.

Melissa of New York, NY February 16, 2009

Melissa of New York NY (02/16/09)
My CFC inhaler was switched to HFA-propellant inhaler for asthma because of the new international law banning CFC asthma inhalers.

Within 3 weeks of starting the new HFA inhaler, my normally well-controlled asthma became scarily severe. I lacked enough breath, gasping for air, to finish my sentences and began wheezing after walking up half a block of a slowly rising hill. I had previously had bad experiences with other HFA asthma inhalers, but was told I had to switch to this and it would be better. I must be allergic to something in the HFA propellant. Upon switching back off of the HFA inhalers and onto my usual CFC albuterol, my asthma symptoms returned to their previous mild to moderate severity. The month when I could not breathe was one of the scariest of my life.

I am 36 years old and am mother to two young children. The cost of the new inhalers does not concern me because I WILL NOT BUY THEM again. They cause my health to deteriorate. Using them for a prolonged period would most likely cause my death. I am very worried about not having CFC inhalers available, dying and leaving my two sweet young children motherless. My most sincere hope is that this law can be repealled expeditiously without too many human casualties along the way. The FDA has clearly made a mistake in its safety assessment of HFA propellant. I am an ardent environmentalist, but do not believe the environmental benefit of this CFC ban merits the major health threat it is causing HFA-allergic asthma sufferers.

Maxim of Waltham, MA February 16, 2009

Maxim of Waltham MA (02/16/09)
Having been diagnosed with asthma from the age of 5 I have used different inhalers for over quarter of the century. While my doctors tell me the it is controlled now I am still supposed to carry a rescue inhaler at all times. My last prescription yielded the new ProAir inhaler that proved to be worse than useless. Having overextended myself in the gym I felt the need for the inhaler (first time in a month). Well, I had the new, freshly cleaned ProAir in my sweatpants. 4 puffs and 10 minutes later the gym people were ready to call 911 on me as I got much worse, when I remembered that I had my old inhaler in the car. 1 puff of the environmentally dangerous old Armstrong inhaler and 3 minutes later I could breathe and think of driving myself home.

On a few other occasions ProAir made me feel worse (and I did not always have the old inhaler on hand, so I did end up in the ER twice). Even with insurance, ER hits the wallet of a poor student. When I think that it was unnecessary, had I been able to use the old-style inhaler it makes my blood boil.

Roger of Chicago, IL February 16, 2009

Roger of Chicago IL (02/16/09)
New HFA albuterol inhaler replaced old CFC albuterol inhaler. These inhalers are for rescue use, for sudden asthma attacks - not for maintenance use. New inhaler acts much more slowly. When having a sudden attack, you need fast action to relieve the symptoms. Asthma is the inability to breathe, which makes it impossible to take the deeper breath necessary to get the medicine into your lungs with this weaker propellant. New inhaler clogs much more easily. Instructions say to wash it more frequently, but when having an attack it is too late to wash it out and let it dry.

The HFA inhaler fails as a rescue device, which is after all the only use of albuterol consistent with good asthma management. This new inhaler is going to kill somebody - hopefully not me.

Janet of Wickenburg, AZ February 16, 2009