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HFA Inhalers

Brett of Fenton MO (02/16/09)
I grew up choked by second-hand smoke and developed asthma; when I was growing up, the US government did nothing to protect children from second hand smoke. I grew up using the CFC inhalers (for decades) and my asthma was well under control. I was able to lead a fairly normal life. Then, the US government crammed the HFA inhalers (ProAir) down our throats and I nearly choked to death. The Proair inhaler did NOTHING to relieve my asthma. The FDA claims: It is important to remember that it is the deep breath that gets the medication into a patient's lungs. HA! Whatever fool wrote that has never tried to take a deep breath while choking to death from an asthma attack! I should note that I am about as green as they get, making all of my life decisions based on what is good for the environment.

However, I beg our government not to choke me and millions of other people to death in a trumped-up effort to save the ozone layer. The science the government is relying on is completely bogus, and millions of us are suffering as a result. I ask the US government: PLEASE stop doing this to us. I used to be in shape, running everyday to control other health problems I have. I can no longer run, however, now that the government has done away with the medicine I needed to survive. The fact I am unable to exercise will no doubt mean that I will not have nearly as many years to spend with my baby daughter. I ask you, is this fair to her?

How many other families are being destroyed by this terrible government decision? One can only imagine the numbers are staggering. I hope other parents who read this will consider asking their Congressmen to reverse the US government's decision so that I and others can live their lives free of the terror of wondering on a daily basis if they are going to choke to death and leave behind their spouses and children.

Erika of Los Angeles, CA February 16, 2009

Erika of Los Angeles CA (02/16/09)
All the produts above seem to clug up the airways instead of opening them; they cost twice as much and give less than half of the relief; they stink, they are not rescuers, we need to be rescued from them

Christy of St. Peters, MO February 16, 2009

Christy of St. Peters MO (02/16/09)
I am appalled that the FDA infers that we aren't using the new HFA inhalers properly. Do they really think that after a lifetime of asthma I don't know how to inhale? The problem is I CAN'T!! Thanks to the HFA inhalers. HFA's do not rescue when needed most. Every time I read of someone dying from an asthma attack I have to wonder if it was because their HFA failed them. Such as this story which clearly states she was using an inhaler that had to be HFA considering the date.

I tried the HFA inhaler during an asthma attack. There was no relief whatsoever. I was so frightened that I immediately contacted my Dr. and arranged to get a nebulizer. It's not very convenient but my life is no longer in danger. I will NEVER depend on an HFA inhaler again. The FDA is ridiculous in claiming this has been to protect the ozone. The engine in a gas-powered lawn mower produces eight times the pollution that a car engine does!! There's a laundry list of medications that the FDA has recalled because they do harm or cause death. Of course these were all thoroughly tested too, right? When will the FDA be accountable for killing people?

Michele of Chandler, AZ February 16, 2009

Michele of Chandler AZ (02/16/09)
My son is 4 years old. When he was 9 months old, he got bronchiolitis. Every subsequent winter he would get sick every month, and have trouble breathing. He would also cough so much he would throw up. When he was 3, he had to go to the doctor every month to get help to breathe. They gave him a steroid inhaler to manage his inflammation, and an albuterol inhaler (CFC) to give him relief.

In November of 2008, his (and my remaining, expired) CFC inhaler ran out, and we got a ProAir inhaler instead. He stopped getting better. Before he would cycle with his breathing problems, but he just never seemed to get much better this winter. Finally, after a night of so much coughing he threw up 7 times, I decided to look up information on the new inhalers. Since then, we have had to get a nebulizer and that has helped much more than the ProAir. He has not taken a puff from the ProAir inhaler in about 3 weeks, and his coughing has ceased. We need to be more concerned with the current pulmonary health of millions of people, not just with imagined, future threats to the ozone layer. This was a political, not medical move.

Son's cough ceased to subside once ProAir inhaler was started. CFC albuterol inhaler would always help him to breathe and ameliorate his cough. Now we have to use a nebulizer at home and hope for the best while he's at school, since he no longer has a rescue inhaler that works.

Scott of Vallejo, CA February 16, 2009

Scott of Vallejo CA (02/16/09)
I have been a life long asthmatic and have had my asthma manageable for the last 15 years. I rely on a rescue inhaler 1-2 times a week when doing heavy exercise. I have tried 2 different HFA inhalers and neither will give me the relief of the CFC inhalers. I have been trained in the proper use of the HFA inhaler. Bottom line it is not effective on me. While not a cost issue for me (HMO Covers the higher cost) it does not work. I have had to very carefully monitor my heavy exercise as I no longer have a viable backup when I have an asthma flare up.

I truly believe the FDA has not done their homework and are putting peoples lives at risk, in the guise of saving the environment.

Paul of Beverly Hills, CA February 16, 2009