centered image

centered image

Asthma Inhalers to Become Prescription-Only

Discussion in 'Pharmacy' started by Egyptian Doctor, Sep 24, 2011.

  1. Egyptian Doctor

    Egyptian Doctor Moderator Verified Doctor

    Joined:
    Mar 21, 2011
    Messages:
    9,751
    Likes Received:
    3,327
    Trophy Points:
    16,075
    Gender:
    Male
    Practicing medicine in:
    Egypt

    [Broken External Image]:http://cast.thirdage.com/files/styles/article/public/originals/asthma_12.jpg

    Environmentalists can breath a little easier after the Food and Drug
    Administration announced that it's banning over-the-counter asthma inhalers,
    citing hazardous chemicals the spray emits.

    The epinephrine inhalers violate an international ban on chlorofluorocarbons,
    an ingredient formerly found in many aerosol products that has been shown to be
    harmful to the ozone layer.

    Armstrong Pharmaceutical's Primatene Mist is the final inhaler to
    use chlorofluorocarbons, and other inhalers that have substituted the more
    environmentally friendly hydrofluoroalkane are prescription only.

    That could pose logistical and financial problems for asthma sufferers who
    rely on inhalers to stave off attacks. The alternatives to the soon to be banned
    epinephrine inhalers are more expensive and require a prescription to
    obtain."

    If you rely on an over-the-counter inhaler to relieve your asthma symptoms,
    it is important that you contact a health care professional to talk about
    switching to a different medicine to treat your asthma," Badrul Chowdhury, FDA's
    director of pulmonary drug division, said in a statement.

    The ban derives from the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone
    Layer, an international agreement in which the U.S. and 195 other countries
    agreed to take off the market all products releasing chlorofluorocarbons into
    the atmosphere. The FDA finalized plans to phase out the dangerous inhalers in
    2008. The ban officially goes into effect on Dec. 31.

    Source : Ibstimes.com
     

    Add Reply

Share This Page

<