If you use the Primatene Mist Inhaler to control asthma symptoms, you will need to find an new medication before the end of 2011. Primatene Mist is the only over-the-counter asthma inhaler available in the United States. It contains the medication epinephrine and was approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat occasional asthma symptoms.
The FDA has issued a statement that Primatene Mist will be discontinued by December 31, 2011 as part of an international agreement to stop the use of chloroflourocarbons (CFCs) and other chemical substances that can damage the environment.
Primatene Mist eases asthma symptoms by propelling the drug epinephrine into the lungs during an asthma flare-up, where it helps reduce swelling in the airways so air can move more freely. Primatene Mist uses CFCs to spray the medication out of the inhaler so it can be breathed into the lungs.
What are CFCs?
Chloroflourocarbons are chemical compounds made up of chlorine, fluorine, and carbon. They were originally used as propellants in aerosol cans. CFCs become harmful to the environment when they are carried by air currents into the stratosphere, which is the portion of the atmosphere approximately 30 miles above the earth. Ozone molecules in the stratosphere act as a filter to prevent harmful UV radiation from reaching the earth. When CFCs reach the stratosphere, energy from the sun causes the CFC molecules to break apart, which enables them to destroy ozone molecules. Countries around the world have agreed to phase out the production and use of chemicals that cause damage to the ozone layer, including chloroflourocarbons.
Replacement medications
If you have been using Primatene Mist over-the-counter and have not been formally diagnosed with asthma, the first step in finding a replacement medication is confirming that you do have asthma. "There are many other safe and effective medications to treat the symptoms of asthma," said Badrul Chowdhury, M.D., Ph.D., director of FDA’s Division of Pulmonary, Allergy, and Rheumatology Products. Asthma symptoms can be similar to the symptoms of other breathing conditions, so it is important to talk to a health care provider to find out what medication is right for you.
Your health care provider can also show you how to use your new inhaler correctly. Studies show that many patients are not using inhalers correctly, which can result in poor control of symptoms and wasted medication. Prescription medications can be more expensive than their OTC counterparts. If you are concerned that you can’t afford a prescription medication, talk to your doctor, or call the manufacturer of the medication. Many companies have patient-assistance programs to help patients afford their medications.
Some companies that previously used CFCs in their inhalers have switched to an environmentally safe propellant called hydroflouroalkane (HFA). There currently is no version of Primatene Mist made with HFA or any other environmentally friendly propellant.
If you are taking Primatene Mist, talk to a health care provider soon to get a different medication. As the end of production approaches, it may be harder to find Primatene Mist in stores. Make sure you have a new inhaler and an asthma control plan before your current medication is gone from store shelves.
Sources:
U.S. Food & Drug Administration
Monterey Peninsula College
Journal of Internal Medicine