new "CFC-free" metered-dose inhaler "Pro-Air"

[rehab nurse]

***mods, if my post does not quite belong here, please move. Sorry, I just didn't know where to put this!! It's not medical advice out-right, but information on other's experience with a medicine. THANK YOU!****

Are there any other asthmatics out there that think these new "CFC-free" inhalers don't work as well as the old albuterol inhalers? Or any nurses who have had patient's complain about less efficacy with these new inhalers?

I just am curious on both a personal and professional level. I don't practice at all anymore due to cancer and many, many health issues. So my friends and mainly this board give me so MUCH of the "pulse" of what's happening out there. As for the personal angle, I've had asthma my whole life, and I find these new inhalers to be terrible. I just don't get the relief I had with the older ones. I may ask to go back to Maxair, but that's yet another 50 dollar prescription, instead of a 15 dollar one. And the cash is >tight<.>

Being on COBRA, and between me and my 2 kids, we have almost 600 dollars a month on rx's. Can't get medicaid for the kids cause I've had "insurance" for them. Would have to go without ANY insurance for a year for them to even be eligible to apply for my state medicaid. The $ 1,000+ dollar/month COBRA payment stinks too, with no job for over a year. I wish I had a home job. An easy job...

Anyway, back to reality. Anyone out there with info?

[rehab nurse]

Well it seems that it's divided,then. But I am glad I am not the only one who suffers when this new inhaler doesn't work as well. It just doesn't feel like it "does" anything. With the old inhalers, I felt almost instant relief. With these new ones, I get almost no relief. So then I have to lug out the nebulizer if I really want some relief.

I have been an asthamatic all my life as well, been on all the drugs for it. I was thinking to ask my physician next visit if Maxair is still on the market, because that did work for me, but I quit taking it only because of the price. If I have to pay the price for either Maxair or ProAir, I'd rather go with ProAir. I am also on Advair 500/50, Symbicort, Xopenex. Asthma is no fun.

I hate those commercials for asthma inhalers that say "if you require use of your rescue inhaler more than twice a week"....man, I wish only had symptoms 2x week. Even with all my meds, I am still on the rescue inhaler daily.

My best friend is a smoker, and her and I told her the other day how sad it mad me that she smokes like a chimney. With all my asthma drugs alone, and then the pain meds, chemo, seizure, depression, etc (so you can imagine I have my own pharmacy). I told her, look at me take all my asthma drugs so I can breathe. She just says it makes her nerves go away (there are many ways to do that!!!) I love my friend, but sometimes we can sure disagree :) And yeah, she's a nurse, so when she's done smoking she goes to wash up and then back to the oncology ward (so she doesn't stink).

Thanjs everybody, and I'd love to hear updates from your pt's, WhiteRN!!!

[panamabrt]

Go to your computer and look up any articles (studies) that show the efficacy of pro-air. If Maxair works better than stay with it. You can go to the competitors website such as the pharmaceutical company called "sepracor" or I believe glaxo-smithkline who has the powdered inhaler and they will give you some insight. I will look quickly for you and see what I can find. What you are looking for is the drug with a higher Beta 2 adrenergic catacholamine. ( just see which one has a higher Beta 2 effect which stimulates bronchodilitation.

Good luck...

[Cove66]

I love it when someone tells me my asthma problems are all in my head.

[scattycarrot, BSN, RN]

The new CFC inhalers just don't deliver the medication with as much force as the old inhalers and thats why patients tend to think they aren't working as well. They are just as effective, its just patients perception of it thats the problem. The medication is being delivered but the patient tends to think it isn't. I use the new CFC and I spoke to a pharmicist and thats what they told me! My asthma is the same as it was using the old style inhalers and I use inhaled steroids, so if they weren't working, I would know about it!

[chisiv]

I have also had serious problems with the new inhaler and have been using an albuterol inhaler for 17 years. I found an online pharmacy that still carries the generic albuterol and order 4 inhalers at one time. I say you should check it out. I have done a lot of research and this is a rampant problem with many many people myself included. I haven't slept a full night in about two months and it takes the ProAir about an hour to kick in and even then I don't get the relief I'm used to plus I'm on Advair for the first time too which I didn't need before. It's like one long asthma attack that ebbs and flows and doesn't ever seem to completely go away. Good luck!

[Geoff1950]

I find that not only is the newer HFA-propellent Pro-Air not as effective, I'm not getting the full 200 metered doses from it - more like about 50! Is this some sort of scam being perpetrated on us? I realize that the strength of each puff has been reduced, but I find that after about 50 puffs there's nothing left at all and I have to throw the puffer away and move on to another ...