Asthma Inhaler Changeouts

[leanan]

How is everyone handling the changeout of our asthma inhalers? Apparently they seem to have changed the propellant. This new propellant seems to be working better for me. It is doing a better job of pushing the meds into my lungs. Although I wonder if the old propelant did not just make my lungs more irritated so the meds had to work harder.

I just feel frustrated that there is no more generic for my inhaler while we deal with the new patent. SIGH. Now I have to figure out what to do about something to keep me stable while pregnant. I have a bad feeling the pressure of my growing tummy is going to put pressure on my naughty lungs.

 

[RNMOM]

You need to speak with your OB doctor about that asap. If you have a pulmonologist/allergist they can help too but you need to also run it past your OB. Good luck and keep healthy!

 

[leanan]

I have discussed it with my OB and she has refered me out to an Internal Medicine Dr first. Since my asthma is stress triggered as well as allergy triggered I would go to a Pulmonary specialist next. We have to see what the internist has to say first.

 

[arminnie]

How is everyone handling the changeout of our asthma inhalers? Apparently they seem to have changed the propellant.

I'm not aware of this. What meds is this for?

My advair does not have a propellent, but I do have to use albuterol daily because of possible chronic bronchitis. I had it filled a few weeks ago.

 

[leanan]

This is for the rescue inhalers that many of us use. I use an Albuterol rescue inhaler.

B

 

[shovan]

I have noticed the change. At first I didn't think it was going to work as well as the old one. After a couple of days, it was fine. I was able to get a generic though. It says Armstrong Pharmeuticals on it.

 

[pugdog]

All of the drug compaines will have genaric forms of albuteral. It just might take some longer then others to do it.

 

[lovethattink]

My son likes the "old" inhalers better than the new ones.

 

[RxforDisney]

All of the drug compaines will have genaric forms of albuteral. It just might take some longer then others to do it.

We hope!

I am a pharmacist, and what is interesting to me is that the generic manufacturer IVAX has come out with an inhaler with the new propellant (HFA), but is marketing it as a brand name at the same cost as the Proventil and Ventolin brands. I don't know if it is just more expensive to make with the new propellant, or if they are just capitalizing on it while they have an opportunity. If and when other generic competitors enter the market, we will likely see the cost go down. But, until then, expect to pay brand name prices for albuterol.

Another interesting fact is that these companies have known this was coming since the early ninetys when the government set a date of December 2008 to ban any CFC containing inhalers. They have had at least fifteen years to make this change, but have waited until the last minute and have created shortages in the process.

That's big business for you.

 

[ducklite]

Interesting. I haven't had to refill my Albuterol for several months, so I didn't know about this. Thanks for the heads up!

Anne

 

[Lars624]

I don't like the new ones....they don't seem to work as well & for some reaason I gag when I use it

 

[PatsMom]

I got my first new propellant inhaler about two weeks ago - just in time for a trip to Disney which is always sure to require more than a few puffs! I didn't really notice a difference. The pharmacist mentioned that they were more expensive but he had a discount card that took care of my co-pay. When I called Express Scripts the woman I spoke with said that the albuterol inhalers would continue to be a generic co-pay so my cost won't change.

 

[DisDreaminMom]

Interesting. I guess this explains why I had to pay $30 co-pay instead of cheap generic cost. I was wondering about this.

OP, I had little problems with my asthma during both my pregnancies once I got really huge. It was worse with DD, because of extra estrogen in my system. Let's hope you're having a boy. (This is according to asthma Dr.). What was worse was gastric reflux. Yuck.

Good luck, and talk to the Dr. I remember I was all freaked out about taking any meds, especially Advair while pregnant. My funny old retired-Army Dr. told me "If you're dead, you won't be able to be a mom. Take the medicine..." Remember, you're breathing for two and it's hard enough carrying around the load of pregnancy.

 

[bcla]

All of the drug compaines will have genaric forms of albuteral. It just might take some longer then others to do it.

Old thread, but I got curious and did a search after a doctor gave me a sample of Symbicort to handle asthma-like acute bronchitis symptoms. I never asked why I was given this sample rather than being prescribed albuterol (gotten this before to control wheezing) back when CFC inhalers were common. I suspect it's because my doctor has a lot of these samples and is trying to save me from a high copay in hopes that it's enough to promote healing such that I no longer need it.

So it's 2014 and there still are no "generic" albuterol inhalers per se - or at least none that you can get for the basic copay with almost any prescription plan. I understand the patents on various HFA inhalers have expired about four and one year ago, but I'm not sure what companies have worked on a generic HFA inhaler. I've also read stuff suggesting that the waiver for CFC inhalers was lifted under lobbying from the drug companies that developed and/or had access to HFA inhaler technology. I heard that one of these drug companies marketed a "house brand" at a steep discount for one large chain that shall go unnamed.

 

[bumbershoot]

So it's 2014 and there still are no "generic" albuterol inhalers per se - or at least none that you can get for the basic copay with almost any prescription plan. I understand the patents on various HFA inhalers have expired about four and one year ago, but I'm not sure what companies have worked on a generic HFA inhaler. I've also read stuff suggesting that the waiver for CFC inhalers was lifted under lobbying from the drug companies that developed and/or had access to HFA inhaler technology. I heard that one of these drug companies marketed a "house brand" at a steep discount for one large chain that shall go unnamed.

Definitely an old thread.

I will pay nearly full cost for albuterol because I like it from my choices. I don't do steroids for my asthma, I need my rescue for "just in case" times, and that's what I like. I think it was $75 the last time. JOY.

I was told by the pharmacists that the insurance companies just want us taking the combo ones with steroids. It boggles my mind, since many of them have an increased chance of death in an emergency.

And to answer the original question from 2007...when I was first fully diagnosed with asthma (when pregnant) the albuterol made me insane. I would go from too puny-feeling to do anything, to having oxygen flowing and wanting to go to the White House to push the red button to kill everyone. I was nearly homicidal with albuterol. I thought it was the drug. There was a year or so of no asthma where I didn't have the inhaler at all and then I was using Primatene Mist until it went away, and when I got back to it it was the new formulation. I get jittery and shakey still *sometimes*, but not all the time or to the degree as before, and I don't go homicidal. Turns out that THAT feeling seemed to be caused by the CFCs. Glad they're gone!

 

[DopeyDame]

My daughter was recently diagnosed with asthma. The fact that there are no generic albuterols just kills me! Hasn't it been around for ages? She's also on FloVent which also doesn't have a generic. $40 a pop adds up fast for a maintenance med.