Tips to Ease the Transition to Your HFA Albuterol Inhaler
That's made a lot of people unhappy, but we have to face the facts, folks. The HFA inhalers are here to stay. So what can we do to make them work better? Apparently, quite a lot, according to a recent press release from the Allergy & Asthma Network Mothers of Asthmatics (AANMA).
Use better MDI technique. It's the technique that forces the drug into your airways, not the type of propellant.
Clean your HFA device frequently. The new HFA inhalers clog more easily than the old CFC inhalers. Frequent rinsing helps.
Prime your HFA inhaler, using the instructions it comes with. HFA inhalers need more and different priming than your old CFC type. Be sure you know how to prime correctly.
Try until you get relief. Apparently a big difference in the new HFA inhalers with albuterol is that each brand is quite different from the others. So, if one doesn't work well for you, ask your doctor if you can try something different until you get the level of relief/control you're looking for.
HFA inhalers cost more because it's too soon for generic equivalents. The transition to new manufacturing has cost the pharmaceutical companies too. Generic versions should emerge in time, but it may take years. Meanwhile, many of the pharmaceutical companies are offering discounts, coupons, and other financial assistance. Check their websites to learn more.
It's in our best interest to make the best of the new inhalers. A big "machine" (the U.S. government) made this happen, so it's not likely going away.
Comments
My daughter (9 years) doesn’t seem to have any problems, knock on wood, and I haven’t noticed her peak flows suffer since she switched, but she hates the taste of the HFA ones. I’m surprised some patients can even find the old ones anymore.
Anyway, love the post, and I do think the switch is having at least one positive effect–it’s forcing people to learn correct inhaler technique, as you advise.
::sigh::
Some of us are unable to adjust to the new HFA inhalers due to sensitivities to different propellants.
I am tired of hearing “its going to be OK.” It’s NOT going to be OK for many of us. Powder inhalents can also be a problem for some. For instance, I am allergic to lactose, which is a powder used to carry meds in one of the drugs prescribed to me.
The FDA had a category for “medical necessity” allowances which has been eliminated. They have announced that “testing” has shown the “medical exceptions” are no longer necessary. They are mistaken.
AND they are not listening.
I have to laugh when I hear all we have to do is inhale differently - long and slow. I have one quick, short chance to get air into my lungs. That same chance applies to getting medicine inhaled. Slow, deep inhalation isn’t even a possible option for me!
I think its unforgivable that asthma and lung associations are not still fighting this tooth and nail. As far as I am concerned, “Face it, people” is the difference between being a relatively normal person and a complete invalid - or even dying.
I can’t imagine what kind of effect this will have on children with sensitivities like mine, especially when their parents follow the advice of “so called experts” and won’t believe their kids or just keep washing the devices thinking that will solve the problem. I am an adult and the “powers that be” will not listen to me either.
And senior citizens - I hope you get a big head start in finding the cheapest choices that work for you - 10 and 15 dollar discount cards once in a while aren’t going to help much when Medicare won’t cover the most expensive inhalers.
While Congress and the FDA continue to choose which of us will live or die, associations that should be supporting us have fallen for the lies they are passing out. Another one of thse falsehoods is that the meds aren’t working because our asthma isn’t well controlled. Well MINE WAS. I walked on a treadmill 45 minutes at a time, was able to maintain intimacy with my husband, as well asa do most of my own housework and shopping. Good luck to those of us who have to switch to “boxed warning meds” if we want to MAYBE keep breathing. Believe me: it’s no fun to inhale those meds when you have to read: “WARNING: Long-acting beta2-adrenergic agonists may increase the risk of asthma-related death.”
The one most important and valid idea put forth here is the importance of trying to get a head start on finding a drug group that works for each individual. Some people will do OK with that - if you are reading this, I pray you or your child are one of them. THe article printed here is correct in reporting that there are many different drug options. I don’t know why someone hasn’t figured out that is because some things work for some people and not others! Use your remaining time wisely!
Although Congress has mandated these changes, they have not set aside any funds to educate patients and track who can or can’t survive the new drugs and their side effects. Some of the drugs have been tested for as much as one year - and at least one that I know of has been tested for only 6 months! Neither the FDA or even the manufacturers have a clue about what long term (or even just six months)use of these meds will do to asthmatics and COPD patients.
There is no money set aside to learn about that EITHER!
Thanks for “listening.” I hope you WON’T face it! And that you will write your congsessmen!
Barbie