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Asthma sufferers: your inhaler is about to change, get more expensive
If you use an inhaler, a change is coming that you may not be aware of. The old ones are being phased out. And next year, you'll only be able to get the new, more environmentally friendly inhalers. Differences between the two are causing confusion among some asthma sufferers. As an asthma sufferer, Kristina Milburn of Anoka uses an inhaler about four times a week. She says, "I have one for my purse. I have one in my medicine cabinet. I have one by my bed." Still, she was unaware she'll have to switch to a new kind of inhaler next year and says, "No, I did not know about them until you told me." The sale of inhalers that use chlorofluorocarbons, or CFCs, as propellants, which harm the earth's ozone layer, will be banned as of January 1st, 2009. In their place will be inhalers that use hydrofluoroalkanes, or HFAs, as propellants instead. Dr. Julia Montejo, an allergist and immunologist with Columbia Park Medical Group, says some patients who are unaware of the change may wonder if their new inhaler is working. She says, "It feels different, it looks a little different and you have to do a little more maintenance of how to use it." She says some patients may wonder if they're getting the right dose of medication. "They may have to prime it more often than they had to for the other inhalers. And when they use it, it's more of mist than a blast [of medication.]" She says the new inhalers also need more maintenance. "Where the medicine comes out, there's a little spigot, kind of like on a hair spray container and that can get clogged." The new inhalers are also more expensive because there will be no generic option. Montejo says co-pays could jump from a few dollars to nearly thirty dollars. As we all work harder to pay for gas and food, Milburn doesn't need higher co-pays too. She says, "My son has [asthma] too so it will get kind of spendy. And he probably uses [his inhaler] more than I do." Dr. Montejo says patients who have not switched to the new inhalers yet should talk to their doctors about how they differ. Those who feel they may not be able to afford the co-pays can contact the Partnership for Prescription Assistance by calling 1-888-477-2669. You can also log onto its website above. The new HFA albuterol inhalers include ProAir by Teva, Proventil by Schering-Plough and Ventolin by GlaxoSmithKline. Manufacturers of the new inhalers also have give-away programs for those who qualify.
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