The Food and Drug Administration has banned the sale of inhalers that use CFCs as they harm the ozone layer which shields the earth.
The chemical hydrofluoroalkane (HFA) replaces CFCs to pump the medicine. The medicine, albuterol, a bronchodilator used as a treatment for various pulmonary
define diseases, however remains unchanged. The FDA and doctors have been training, preparing and helping asthmatic patients and emphysema victims, who also make use of albuterol to ease breathing, make the switch.
The new inhalers cost more, generally about $30 to $60 vis-à-vis the CFC inhalers that cost $5 to $10. Therefore, there are reasons to believe that few patients may intentionally buy cheaper CFC inhalers before the sales ban.
Dr. Bradley Becker, co-director of the Asthma Center for Children at Cardinal Glennon Children's Medical Center, opined, “It's possible people may skimp on their medicine because of the cost."
Then there are few die hard fans of the CFC inhalers who have formed the 'The National Campaign to Save CFC Asthma Inhalers.' They have also set up a documented Internet petition to the government. They intend to seek a medical exception to the CFC inhaler ban. High cost of the HFA inhalers and the deficient knowledge about how to use them also acts as a catalyst to their endeavor.
The concerns are real. Dr. Mario Castro, a pulmonologist and associate professor of medicine for Washington University's School of Medicine, admitted, “Many say that they feel like the inhaler isn't delivering the medicine.”
Close to 20 million asthma patients in the United States are likely to be affected by the ban. Since the inhalers are also used by patients suffering from other diseases like influenza, cystic fibrosisdefine, and multiple sclerosis, the number of people affected may be much more.
Data of the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America reveals that more than 2 million asthmatic visits to the hospital are reported per year. One in four emergency visits is an asthma case. In case lack of knowledge to use HFA inhalers was to increase such visits, it could have catastrophic impact.
Post new comment