What Happened to Primatene Mist Asthma Inhaler? Switching to HFA
94When I went to the grocery store in December, they were out of Primatene Mist, and did not know when they would get any more. The drugstore had only a few packages left, and I bought one. There was a sticker on it that said that they would no longer be making Primatene Mist after December 31, 2011. I decided to do some research to find out what happened to Primatene Mist and why they were no longer going to be selling the product.
Primatene Mist was the #1 over the counter medicine to help treat bronchial asthma. It was very helpful in quickly treating asthma attacks. It is marketed by Armstrong Pharmaceutical Inc. It helped relieve shortness of breath, chest tightness and wheezing that was related to bronchial asthma, emphysema and other breathing problems that were diagnosed by a doctor. It widened the airway to make it easier to breathe.
Armstrong Pharmaceutical Inc is a subsidiary of Amphastar Pharmaceuticals, Inc. is an American owned and operated company that is headquartered in Rancho Cucamonga in California. Their operating facilities are in California and Massachusetts.
What Happened to Primatene Mist?
Primatene Mist stopped being sold on December 31, 2011. Why are they no longer available on our store shelves? The FDA has banned all asthma inhalers which contain chloroflouorocarbons (CFCs). This ban only affects Primatene Mist because it is the only asthma inhaler that has been approved by the FDA to be sold without a prescription. CFC is used as a propellant to force the medication out of the container, creating the "Mist."
The United States signed an international agreement, called the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer. It phases out chemicals that depletes the ozone layer, including CFCs. This layer of the atmosphere protects us from some of the sun’s harmful ultraviolet radiation, which can increase the risk of skin cancers and cataracts.
The ban Primatene Mist is made to comply with this agreement.
There is an environmentally friendly alternative to CFC that can be used in inhalers. It is called hydrofluoroalkane (HFA). Primatene is working on switching their inhalers to HFA, but the new medication requires FDA approval.
Asthma Resources on Amazon
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What to do for Asthma Relief
OTC
It is best to be prepared for an asthma attack. If you bought Primatene Mist before December 31, 2011, you can continue to use this product until its expiration date. The company is working on a new HFA asthma inhaler and getting it approved, but does not provide an estimated date for that occurrence.
Primatene does sell tablets to treat bronchial asthma, but it will not provide immediate relief.
Prescription
Until the new Primatene HFA inhaler is approved, you will need to get a prescription in order to get an asthma inhaler. If you want to avoid CFC, you can make sure you ask for an inhaler that is made with HFA. However, you will have to take some steps in order to use your asthma inhaler made with HFA.
- Priming. If you haven't used your HFA inhaler in a while, you will need to spray one or two doses in the air to get the pump to give you an accurate dose of medication.
- Inhaling. Make sure you use the proper technique for using the medication, since the spray does not come out as forcefully as it did with inhalers that contain CFC.
- Cleaning. You will need to clean your HFA inhalers more often than you did your CFC inhalers.
I haven't used an inhaler with HFA, but these steps seem similar to the steps for CFC as well.
For more information, you can visit the FDA Consumer Update on Primatene Mist.
My doctor has said that Albuterol is more effective than Primatene Mist anyway, and recommended that I take that instead of Primatene. Personally, both the products work for me.
Asthma Resources by Millionaire Tips
- What Happened to Primatene Mist Asthma Inhaler? Switching to HFA
Find out why Primatene Mist, the only over the counter asthma inhaler in the United States is no longer being sold. - 5 months ago
- An Alternative to Primatene Mist: Treatment for Asthma
An interview with Dr. - 2 months ago
Be Prepared
If you have asthma, it is very important to be prepared for an asthma attack. Since Primatene Mist is no longer being sold, you will not be able to run to the drug store to buy an inhaler. If you are not prepared with enough stock of Primatene Mist, you will want to make an appointment with your doctor and get a prescription.
Update
Edited January 10, 2012: I called to customer service for the parent company. The representative told me that they do not have a definitive or estimated date that the product will be back on the store shelves. They are currently in the final stages of developing the CFC-free product, and are conducting clinical trials. Once they complete that, they will need to get FDA approval, which may take months or years.
Edited February 8, 2012. The customer service representative told me that they do not expect to have an alternate product until next year. The company was required to take Primatene Mist completely off the market, so it will not be available anywhere else. They did not ship it outside the United States. I would think this means it is unlikely to be found in the Canadian sources mentioned in the comments, which I am now deleting. Ebay also does not have any listings for it.
Edited March 25: I appreciate all of the insights you have been providing in the comments. I really feel for the people who have not been able to find solutions to their asthma problems. I am in the process of interviewing people in the medical community to find different options for asthma patients, and hopefully will come across something that will work for you.
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Comments: "What Happened to Primatene Mist Asthma Inhaler?"Loading...
Very informative hub. I feel for those who suffer from asthma.
Thanks Daniella and mljdgulley. I was surprised to see the label and had to do the research to find out why they were discontinuing it.
My husband and I were both laid off from our jobs a few months ago. NO health insurance now. Can't afford it. I was caught off guard with the Primatene being outlawed. Now I am in a panic. I have been taking it for 30 years. I bought some P. tablets after going to many stores to even find that. It is not helping with my breathing however. The doc gave me Albuterol years ago and it didn't work as well for me. Now I can't afford to go to my doctor to get a prescription for anything. I am really mad that our government has done this to us. They made the economy go in the toilet and now I will die from an asthma attack! Thanks. :(
sad - I am sorry. I can understand your frustration. The CFC are bad for the environment, and it is unfortunate that Primatene Mist didn't take steps years ago to change their formula. Maybe they thought they would get special consideration since they were the only ones on the market.
I urge you to find a way to get medical help. You can find a community health center - they charge you on a sliding scale based on your income. You can also call your health department or local urgent care, and see if they can offer you some assistance. It would be much cheaper for you to get an inhaler now instead of having to go to the emergency room later.
Sorry sad in Seattle, I too agree with you. Albuterol did not work for me like Primatine Mist did. I just spent $188.00 yesterday on Atrovent and it didn't work at all. I took ten puffs and nothing. As a matter of fact I have never heard such wheezing or felt such panic. I waited a couple of hours and tested the little bit of Primatine Mist that I have left and WOW!!!!!....I could breathe and no wheezing!!! I cannot believe Primatine Mist has been taken off the market. I'm freaking out now because I cannot breathe.....Yeah, you people that don't care about others..Karma...it's gonna come back to you!
I'm sorry Debbie - it seems like there aren't a lot of choices for people who suffer from asthma. Hopefully the FDA will expedite the new version of Primatene Mist soon.
I hope they get the new Primaten out soon as its like having Diabetes with out Insulin
George, it is a sad situation. Unfortunately they won't be ready until next year. Until then, we will have to stick to prescription medication.
Such b/s...various hairspray still has fluorocarbons and that makes me lose my breath when too much is sprayed,,,much less what that does to the environment. It's probably all kickback related. I have to go to the doctor now every three months to get albuterol and I have to pay that copayment plus double the price of primatene mist to get the albuterol. Once again, rich people getting richer at the expense of poor people.
People have known about the danger of CFCs and their effects in the ozone layer since the 1970s. They were phased out from refrigerants, hairspray, deodorants and cleaning products, etc., since 1995. There are very few products that use CFCs today, and they are the ones that have received extensions to continue to come up with new solutions.
Hard to believe that the tiny amount of CFCs emitted by Primatene Mist can be so detrimental to the environment. Obviously the paper pushers at the FDA have never had an asthma attack. Why does our country sign up to such silly treaties?
Dingo44 said:
"There are still supplies of Primatene Mist out there, but eBay and Amazon aren't allowing it to be sold, since it contains chloroflouorocarbons. I found some 2013 expiring bottles recently (February 25, 2012) on (www.snip) but it's pricey. It's still better than not having it at all."
I have snipped out the address since it is illegal to sell them. Thank you for your comment Dingo44
I think it a bunch of bull! They know how Maney people depend on them! They just want make the extra money it cost to get a something that don't even work! I guess it better to incor a hospital bill you can't afford just so you can breath! God Help Us!
I understand your concerns. There is a big price difference between buying an OTC medication, and having to go to the doctor and get a prescription, or worse yet, having to go to the emergency room.
how is it that the CFC is bad...its not like we are holding the inhaler in the air spraying it...it goes in our lungs...not the air...F the government for doing this to us..my health is failing because of it and i dont have insurance and cant aford 140$ for a inhaler from the doc...thats hwy robbery for a product that only really cost them 5 bucks.
Try to be in my shoes as an asthma suffer and you WILL NEVER say such a SILLY thing like suggesting us to go to a doctor for prescription. How in the world can tiny amounts of CFC (a heavy molecule that gravities to the ground) do damages to the ozone that's SEVERAL MILES high? Look up the sky. See those jets leaving white tails miles up? Then tell me which one that does the most damage.
I completely understand all of your frustrations. The OTC medicine was cheaper than going to the doctor, and even that was expensive.
The author of this article didn't sign any treaties or make any laws. I also did not delay changing the formula of the medication to get it to comply with the laws. I'm just the messenger.
I suggest you go to the doctor for a prescription, because doing without an inhaler is very dangerous for someone with asthma, and going to the emergency room is much more expensive. There are clinics that offer sliding scale fees for doctor's visits, and you can call the 800 number of prescription you get and ask them for coupons or other help to bring the costs down a bit.
The government is out of control. There does not exist enough primatene mist to affect anything except the lives of asthama sufferers. This is absurd. Where is the supply. Occupy Wallstreet? Bull. Occupy the EPA!!!
When I called the company a couple of months ago to ask why they had waited so long to start changing the formula, i was told that that Armstrong Pharm. had only bought Primatene 2or 3 years ago (I can't remember now which it was) and that the former producer Wyeth Pharm was just going to stop making it period. If Armstrong hadn't bought it, we'd have lost all Primtene years ago.
Albuterol doesn't work for me. I have used Symbicort in the past to maintain and will need to get a script for that again within the next week, at a much greater cost than the Primatene. There is no logical reason for removing it from the market simply because of cfc.
I've contacted the FDA and left my opinion and urged them to push this thru ASAP. It may help if we all do this.
Like others I have used the primatene inhaler for years.... Now I have the prescription kind and im always wheezing... I feel weaker and out of breathe quicker... I went from using the primatene just before I went to bed to using the prescription one three to four times a day.... Dont tell me its because they really thought that we were hurting the enviroment... I wish I would of known this was coming and I would of went to a bunch of different stores and bought out there supplies... either way thanks for the info...
John, I was caught by surprise by this announcement as well, although I found out in December, so I have Primatene Mist for myself. I am sorry your prescription inhaler is not working for you.
As I sit here unable to breathe looking for an asthma relief alternative with no doctor no desire for a doctor I'v had asthma 40 years I know how it responds to things. All the new HFA stuff is much less effective than it used to be. The idiots who make sweeping decisions on peoples lives should all have Asthma Attacks in the middle of the night when you only have $20 to barely be able to buy an unfindable Primatene mist as they wonder of they are going to live through this or go t a hospital with no insurance so they can start sending a $600 bill thats only going to stop you from advancing in life due more bad credit that you will need to live in this very "Rich People" biased sucksioty. I'm sure the RICH comfortable people would prefer us poor (finically) asthma sufferers to all just die. Then they can all be happy with their insurance and doctors.
the goverment is so stupid for taking our primatiene of the shelves just becuase they say it will hurt the envirement bull shit. what about alll these bad vechiles on the road with bad mufflers and things like that i would star there before removing primatine like alot of prescription drugs can get pretty pricey if you dont have inshurence com on i mean 2 14 dollars for symbacort.which i find is the best working inhaler out there lucky my inshurence will kick in at the end of this month but what about the people who dont have the inshurence.i think this is nothing but a bunch of bullshit.
I am completely angry about this. I guess the doctors weren't getting enough money from the druggies that they supply every day and had to start picking on the asthmatics.
I am in the same situation. Over 30 years of Primatine use and it WAS the only drug that worked. I have health insurance BUT NONE of the prescription inhalers help me. I just had a really bad asthma attack that lasted over a week. I did the albuterol inhaling machine three times a day, with no help. I sucked on every HFA inhaler out there with no help. So now I am stuck with popping two primatine tablets three times a day, a clariton D 24 twice a day, and about a pot of coffee a day. The bad thing is that Primatine tablets contain the epiphedrine that my lungs need BUT it is a heavily regulated Behind the Counter drug. I cannot get more than 30 pills a day due to Anti-Meth laws. I am almost at the point in which I will try to Epi-pens. I have gone to many doctors and many hospital visits since the ban began, with no relif in sight. I am extremely fearful that I will soon be one of the many asthma deaths to come from this. When Primatine was on the market, I had an excellent chance of living to old age. An attack would happen twice a year due to high pollen counts, but now I will suffer until I die from lack of oxygen from inflammed lungs. Thank you Montreal Accords, Congress, FDA, and Primatine.
i do not have insurance. i have relied on primatene, and it worked great for me. now, i cannot breath, will most likely lose my job, and may die
I don't understand why it takes so long to change the propellant. Armstrong had YEARS to prepare for this. Something else is at play here.
look yall okay yeah cfc bad for ozone..but does anyone realize the stuff doesnt go in the air..who would want to waste a puff i sure wouldnt..so its not the cfc's persay...unless they are trying to now control what we put in our bodies...that stuff goes in our lungs not in the air..so i call bs on the cfc thing
While I call BS on the CFC thing too, I've heard the "it goes into our lungs" argument before. However most of us exhale after a puff. THAT sends it into the environment. Still, I don't agree that it is a significant amount to justify putting so many people's lives at immediate risk.
I go back to why Armstrong hasn't just switched the propellant. Seems like a thing that could be done overnight. Especially since they were making enough money providing one version. It's obvious there is a market.
Dirty doctors greed is what killed this drug. Thankfully I stocked up well over 1000 of them hidden away as well as found a source for the albutorol inhalers without prescription. Fight this until someone listens.
I used primatene mist for years, people have given me various inhalers and none helped as much as primatene mist did. I can't afford to go to a doctor, so what is my options? I have suffered since i ran out of my inhaler and can't buy it anymore.
I WENT TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM FOR BREATHING ISSUES AND BY THE TIME THEY GOT DONE WITH ME WITH A MISSED DIAGNOSED HEART PROBLEM 5 DAYS AND 57,000 DOLLARS LATER I GOT MY INHALER PRECRIPTION AND STILL HAD TO CALL 911 2 WEEKS LATER BEFORE PASSING OUT. NEVER HAPPENED WITH MY PRIMATINE THE LAST 30 YEARS
So what do people in Candida use for Astma relief? CAn we by that?
I still wake up gasping for air once in a while. Had to cut down activities around the house. Coffee and mint candies helped a bit but not like Primatene can do. They have NO right taking away our beloved Primatene Mist which has never failed us. They have NO heart for us except for THEIR $$$.
since primeatene been off the market i have not breathed right tried so many methods regular give me nooooooooooo relief what the hell i have an active 12 yr old son an home career im normally very active my breathinjjg is causing me to isloate veryyyyyyyyyyyyyy depressig. Need primetene back 20 yrs of an active healthy life with it forget seeing dead end docors there not really informed anyways ghppppppppppppp
i have ( i think ) found a solution for those who have tryed a "new inhaler" and it didnt work. I have used primatene mist my whole life so after they removed it i went into panic mode...please see your doctor 1st but iam using Racepinephrine 2.25% solution in a small hand held nebulizer..the very same used in primeatene..works well and is can carry it with me..go online and you will find this product as it is an over the counter drug...i hope this helps some of you...
I am 47 years old and was first diagnosed with Asthma at about the age of 10. Over the years I have used both prescription inhalers and Primatene Mist. For me, NOTHING comes close to working as good and as fast as Primatene. I have mentioned this to both of the doctors that I have seen over the last 20 years and both explained that what might work good for one person may not work as well for another. Again, in my case both doctors said that when it comes to having a rescue inhaler the single most important thing is having THE ONE THAT WORKS BEST FOR YOU!I currently have a prescription Maxair and for me it's basically useless when it comes to quick relief and you would think that for the tiny bit of medicine you get for the $50 dollar cost they would at least come up with something better than that cheap, poorly designed dispenser! I guess there wasn't anyone at the design table smart enough to realize that a person should be able to carry the thing in their pocket without it all leaking out. Thank God I was able to get a few Primatene Mist before they were taken off the market! After doing a bit of online reading I couldn't believe how many people were saying the same thing. The only feeling that's worse than not being able to breath is not being able to breath after using an inhaler that doesn't work! I feel so bad for all the people that found themselves suddenly struggling to breath and not being able to purchase something quickly that works as good as Primatene Mist. It's hard to describe to someone who's has never experienced it just how horrible and scary it is not being able to breath. It would be great if the FDA could somehow find it in their heart to come up way of expediting an approval for the new HFA Primatene Mist but what are the odds of that happening? Just cutting through all the governments red tape is enough to suffocate anybody! Let alone the poor Asthmatic guy that the EPA fingered and tossed to the wolves...
Agree with all of above. My husband had to go from using primatine mist to albuterol, but NOW the stupid doctor wants to cut his prescription in half ... my husband needs 2 inhalers a month, but new RX is for 2 inhalers a quarter. So that means what? He should only breath for 1 of 3 months, and spend other 2 months in the hospital? So even when you DO pay extortion $'s to doctors for the stupid slip of paper, you STILL have to fight. They want to push advair, which just increases the risk of asthma related death (that way after they've sucked you dry of $'s, you can stop being a useless eater???). Other countries do NOT require prescriptions for such life-saving medicines. We live on an insane planet.
Anon, I am sorry your doctor is being so difficult. If you look at my hub on alternatives to Primatene Mist, the doctor said that the FDA recommends against using Advair as a first line of defense for asthma.
Hi I came across this site looking for the date that they will put my inhalers back on the shelves. Along with a few other sites I've been checking into over the months they like this one claim its cause of the CFC's but if those so called sites did their own research and even those so called scientists bothered to check the lung out put for a cfc level, they would understand that our diseased lungs are acting as a filter. And our lungs are capable of filtering things down to the size of one micron which is actually small enough to catch most of the cfc's harmlessly in our own bodies just to release it as carbondioxide. Which is great for the environment seeing as thats what our trees and plants use to creat oxygen. But not only that but as stated earlier the CFC's are heavier than air so they sink not float so the little tiny bit that does escape from each puff we all take never makes it to the upper atmosphere. And earlier today as i looked into the sky i saw a jet leaving a huge trail behind it, just think of all the flights daily around the world now thats what everyone should be worried about harming our planet and all our vehicles we use god no how much each day. that inlyes the problem not our inhalers i lay here writing this now with my blood o2 count down to 78% thanks to our government with their kickbacks. people i emplore you there is a plan to take the earths population down by two thirds by the year 2050 it's real just look it up and the annual meeting takes place on a compound in new england. No i'm not crazy or skitzo check into a guy name Brad Meltzer He can explain everything if i make it through tonight i'll check back here as much as i can so maybe if anything happens to me it won't be in vain. without primatene mist i most likely will die soon.Mainly because I am of such poor health no one wants to hire me when i do finally find someone hiring and with no insurance no one ever wants to treat me and i already owe two different hospitals about $20,000 in unpaid bills due to this and other medical problems. Not to mention every prescription drug i've ever taken for my asthma has never worked, the one and only thing to ever work has been stolen from me no us because people don't bother to do the necassary research it has nothing to do with the manufacturer they were told to wait on finding a solution till after the ban so there ya go there is the truth. And illegal or not you should not keep the name of a site hidden just because of that i'm sure the site still sells other stuff too. So thanks for prolonging our suffering since you and others have jobs and could afford to by your whole county's stock hoarding all you can keeping it under lock and key when i and others like me have to pray to make it just another ten minutes much less anothr day. I mean seriously i'd sell my soul just for one or two full inhalers just so i can finally go outside on last time to play with my three kids again before they get too old or before i pass. and when they come to me begging daddy daddy can we go play again. It makes me wanna cry because i can no longer play with them. And then my oldest coming up to me crying saying its ok daddy I know you can't breathe daddy why did they take your inhalers away. Why can't they just put them back so we can play daddy so you can take us to the park? anyways to all of you that read this I hope you took something from it. If i had offended anyone in anyway i'm sorry but if you were on the right side it wouldn't offend you now would it? I hope you all have a nice long life i'll keep you all in my prayers and if you think about it keep me in yours.If anyone would like to get in touch with me in a respectful manner my address is tattoopainfreak@yahoo can't put the last few things in but use common sense lol. thanx for everyone's time and thanks to this site for allowing me to inform or inspire.
If CFC's are such a concern, why are there still two prescription drugs available that contain CFC's? One of them is called Combivent. I have not been able to find out the name of the other. Interesting that we can still get a drug that has CFC's, we just have to pay a doctor, a pharmaceutical company, insurance and a pharmacy.
Not sure if this will help but I found a page on Facebook that is following this issue and maybe if they can get enough "likes" it will get some attention. This is their link- http://www.facebook.com/pages/Bring-Back-Primatene
I hope something will change and we can once again have access to this life saving drug.
It is a sad time for America knowing how our wonderful democtatic government is taking such good care of us.(LOL!).Now that my wife is unable to buy PRIMATENE MIST...we have been in the EMERGENCY ROOM twice for Asthma attacks. Both visits have cost over $1,000.00 each...,of wich we are billing MEDICARE for..with doubts the bills will ever get paid thanks to OBAMA and his idiot environmentalists cousins. What a disgrace to AMERICA to have such people leading this country that they care more about the stinking air, (when very few other countries do)...then the health of so MANY people who have found relief from PRIMATENE when NOTHING else works.....and believe me my wife's DOCTOR has tried everything to help her next to a lung transplant!!!!!!!GOD BLESS AMERICA..... and to hell with the DEMOCRATS and OBOMACARE.... which I doubt includes coverage for people with ASTHMA....YES, it is ALL politics...and OBAMAS plan for the fall of our freedom to choose....there are none!!!!!!! Now HE can send us a check for our EMERGENCY ROOM visits as I'm sure we will have MANY to come because of a little gas....Perhaps he and his pals need some TUMS...or did they outlaw that as well?????? Are you sure his real name isn't ASOMA?
I am on my last Primatene inhaler now but just picked up a ProAir Albuterol inhaler ($70). Not sure how it will work, waiting for my next "attack". There has to be something other then the CFCs behind this since I would be willing to actuate a pump for pressure or they should have started on the HFA 134a testing earlier. Supposedly Primatene is bad for you in the long run but its worked fine for me for the last 30 years...
Hopefully Armstrong is trying a different propellant (HFA 134a appears to have many problems including clogging and actually making symptoms worse). Maybe that's whats taking so long?
I've been using Primeatene for decades as well. I, unlike many of you, have great health insurance. I've been prescribed Albuterol. I decided to start using it since Primeatene is no longer available. It's pretty useless but has basically kept me out of the ER. However, Albuterol really doesn't work very well. The removal of Primeatene from the shelves is completely political and all about the $$$!!! Senator Jim Demint from South Carolina did his best to put a stop to the ban - but Congress wouldn't listen. I urge you to find out if your Congressman voted for or against the ban and do your best to make sure he isn't re-elected. In the meantime, I just keep trying to find new info. to see when Primeatene will be back on the market. I hope I can live that long - and hope that all of you hang in there until the new version is released. Hopefully, it will still work like that old one - although I'm starting to have my doubts.
My husband has suffered from asthma attacks for 40 years. Since they took primeatene off the shelf he has tried several prescription medication inhalers that don't even come close to the same relief. I think it is horrible that they have done this to asthma sufferers. Obviously, they don't know what how scary it is not to be able to breathe.
Carli, they don't care....
When congress controls healthcare, this is what you get. There is more to come I'm sorry to say...
My goodness...is there any justice at all. After 20 years using Primatine, I am sitting here right now, struggling to breath because of the US Government's incredible reckless decision.
Don't you find it kind of funny that in most states Medicinal Marijuana is perfectly legal, yet Primeatene is not? Talk about twisted logic.
I was using Primatine for years...I knew it was going away but I was being REALLY dense as i thought the supplies on the shelf would stay put, that they just would not be making anymore. Needless to say my idiot brain was in for a shock after New Years when i went to look for one.
Then had a ER visit for a breathing treatment and got an inahlor to the uninsured tune of 1,600 dollars.
I was told today that a doctors visit would be 150 dollars up front for new patients. The inhalor itself would cost fifty...
FYI for those searching for help, the Bronkaid tablets have higher doses of the active meds then the Primitine or the Walgreens generic Primatine version, but alas this too will not bring relief.
This is just a crazy decision in this economy..don't make laws to punish the negligent banks or the RX company's that bleed people dry because they are sick, but lets let the poor asthma sufferers pay..and they mean it PAY or don't breathe properly.
First, remember, the regulation removing Primatene Mist from the market was a George W. Bush regulation. It has nothing to do with "Obama care". It was George W. Bush appointees on the recommendations board that refused to extend the deadline for sales of Primatene Mist. They were all doctors who recommended people just go to a physician and get a prescription.
I called Armstrong in September 2011 when I first heard Primatene Mist was going off the market December 31, 2011. They said they would have the new version of Primatene Mist available in September 2012. I reaffirmed this date a couple of weeks ago.
Fortunately, I was able to stock up on enough Primatine Mist inhalers to last me through September,
I was born wheezing. The prescription inhalers did not work for me. They made me jittery and sent my heart beat raising to 180 beats per minute for a long time. Primatine Mist has worked perfectly for me since I first discovered it a couple of decades ago. I have not had a trip to the emergency room since then.
So, there is hope, if you can make it to September.
The Bush regulation (over years ago) revolved around EPA concerns. When Jim Demint (R) tried to get an exception for Primatene, the current CONGRESS voted it down. Please don't try to make this about Bush like everything else.
absolutely Clutch. Nice call.
I found out in November of 2011 about the ban and purchased enough Primatene Mist for about 3 years. I have been using
it for 30 years and didn't want to be without...
Primatene mist is inhaled directly into the human body, not blasted into the environment! I call Bullshit. I agree with what someone else wrote that those who banned this product should be inflicted with an asthma attack. Them those Eco retarded jerkoffs will see how much our health is more important and how foolish their actions were. The alternatives are overpriced ripoffs and money making scam. Other counties don't force ppl into paying for overpriced and unnecessary services to obtain health care and medical supplies. As someone put it you can buy this spray for 5 - 10 bucks. You don't need to pay 200 to see a doctor to prescribe some weak crap for 100 more. Evil. Also that new albuterol junk doesn't work I've tried a few different ones none are as good as PM. albuterol actually made it worse.
So glad I stumbled on this. I too have used Primatene for over 20 years. I stocked up before they pulled it off the shelves, of course, I used almost all of it before going to the Dr. for a Rx med. Now on Rx inhalers and they don't seem to offer the same relief (or peace of mind) that the Primatene did. I also have to space getting my Rx filled otherwise, insurance won't cover it. I'm sure like many of you, there was always an extra Primatene inhaler stashed away, just in case. Millions of us out here now paying top dollar for Rx stuff that doesn't work as well as good old Primatene did. I sure hope they get the new stuff on the market soon, even if they charge more for it, I'll be buying it again.
I suffer from very bad Athsma and always used Primatene for relief. The HFA inhalers are no good, they dont work. If you are like I hope this comment helps. Purchase a nebulizer, they cost around $50. Then purchase Racepinephrine. It is a liquid form of the active ingredient in Primatene. Hope this helps
Regards
I never thought the green movement would be so vicious as to eliminate most asthmatics on the chance it would improve the environment .0000000087% Good grief.
I have used Primatene mist for over 35 years. I remember the first time I used it. It was nothing short of a miracle. Within minutes or less I could breath. I was normal like everyone else! My entire child hood time going through elementary school was the worst time of my life because I couldn't breathe. Was always sick and in the hospital. This hurt me socially and educationally because when you can’t breathe you can’t do anything! Once I started using Primatene I was able to concentrate, was able to learn, excelled in school, participated in sports, was a high school wrestler, a downhill ski racer, everything I could never do all of a sudden I could do because I could breath. Know I find myself in the same boat I was in 35 years ago. Thirty five dam years ago!!! I have gone to doctors, have various medications, spent thousands of dollars, and nothing works. Mind you I have no health insurance either. I even had to admit myself to an emergency room one time because it got so bad. I have been prescribed all sorts of medications. Use various inhalers such as ProAir, Combivent, Long term inhalers, bought a nebulizer machine, Nebulizers abuteral and nothing really works. I have asked doctors what is the replacement to Primatene Mist. The FDA says go to your doctor for replacement! Are you kidding me there isn’t anything! Doctors tell me Primatene is bad! Well it has enabled me to live a productive, successful life and be a member of society for over 35 years. I am 54 years old and am healthier than a horse. Up entel now was lifting weights, active in everything, certified scuba, diver, rock climber, cyclist, hunter, karate, you name it I can could do it. Just about everyone I know, a lot younger than me have one ailment after another, and cannot do what I could do. They are overweight, have high cholesterol, dubieties, couldn’t run around there house if they had to. I find my situation absolutely unbelievable. Here we are 2012 and there is nothing that works as well as Primatene Mist! This will be the end of me. I ether will not be able to continue holding a job, or die from asthma attach. I am very scared and very worried! I never thought it would come to this. When will Primatene Mist be back on the shelf? To all the Doctors that say Primatene is bad the alternate is much worse. If you ever need a case study to the long term use effects of Primatene Mist I am available. I have used this over the counter medication for over 35 years and am in perfect shape! Please bring Primatene Mist back!
Thank you for any support you may be able to offer.
The CFC thing is total BS. Sure the product uses CFC's but nothing even close to causing a catastrophic effect to the Ozone layer. It's a classic misdirection to the bigger issue. Pharm Lobbyists only want their product to be sold in the states. Special interest groups and lobbying in the the States is the reason why they cost double or more than what they cost in most other countries.
Wouldn't the smarter thing been to have allowed the makers of Primatene Mist to come up with a non-CFC version of the mist before simply yanking the product from the shelves? Perhaps the decision makers have never suffered from an asthma attack?
OK, now on the ProAir Albuterol for two weeks, it sort of works but not nearly as fast as the Primatene. I am keeping my one last Primatene around as an emergency inhaler. I am going to do a small study effect on blood pressure and ekg effect vs the Primatene. Seems like the ProAir has more effect on my heart than the Primatene but that is just subjective...
If we could only take a couple of the chief decision makers from the EPA & FDA, place plastic bags over their heads for a minute or two perhaps it would help them understand what a horrible feeling it is to slowly suffocate... It's easy for them to say, "see your doctor for an alternative to Primatene" because they all have the best all expense paid insurance that OUR tax dollars can buy! I know it doesn't provide any immediate comfort to all of you who are suffering and your families but from what I gathered the new Primatene FHA inhaler should be available in September, possibly sooner. So until then, hang in there and survive!
I called armstrong pharmaceuticals today and told them my sad story about how nothing else works. She was very nice and said, "Yes, you and about a million other people". I asked if they were really working on a replacement product or was this just a shell game to the fool the public. She assured me they were working a a new version of Primatene Mist which would not be out until sometime in 2013. Of course that is dependent upon final FDA approval. I think it is time the "million plus" users of this product quite talking about how we are going to "die", and start doing something productive and united to let our voices be heard. Trust me, the FDA is not reading this blog!
You could try sigining this online petition to try to get Primeatene back on the shelves....not sure how much good it will do against this twisted government we have.
Wednesday night at about 2:00am I had a asthma attack. I whent to use nebulizer with albuteral solution and could not get enough air in me to use it. My wife said she heard a big bang. When she came to investigate she found me passed out on the floor not breathing. She called 911, and watched me turn purple. She performed CPR and I started breathing again when the fire department got there. If I would have been alone I would have died. This is were I am at. After spending thousands of dollars on nebulizers, pro air, combevent, qvar, nebulizer solutions, doctors visits, one emergency room visit, and now passing out from lack of air and almost dieing. I have used primatene for 35 years and never had one single problem. Was healthy active and could breath. This has all changed within two months. It is asolutly amazing that you cant get anything that is a perscription that works!!! Then I get a phone call from my ex wife said she had a old bottle of primatene that she found if I wanted it. Well I immediately went and got it. It was expired but I said what have I got to loose. One puff and I was completely restored like there was nothing ever wrong! Just one puff!!!! I cant believe this is happening to so many people in 2012!
wow mhkmuller - that is an amazing story. Funny thing is, it's exactly what I've been worried about since December 31!! Funny - marijuana can now be purchased legally for medicinal purposes - but Primeatene....no way. Uncle Sam says so.
If you or someone you love is having a hard time getting by with out without Primatene or if their prescription inhaler is providing minimal relief I have a suggestion. First you need a nebulizer. They come in a wide verity of sizes and styles priced from under $20. on up to $300. I bought a portable one for $62.00 on e-bay called "Mini-Mist", it's about the size of two Primatene Mist side by side and has worked out great for me.
Now, the only other thing you need is, S2 Racepinephrine (Race-ep-i-NEF-rin)Inhalation 2.25% Solution. Each Box usually has 30 0.5ml vials and is around $50. bucks a box. Although it usually requires a prescription I found a couple of places on-line where I was able to get it with out one. Just in case your doctor's only answer is to prescribe you another crappy little $50. dollar ProAir inhaler with no refills so he can charge you for another office visit every time you run out!
Racepinephrine is another trade name for Epinephrine which is the active ingredient in Primatene Mist so if Primatene worked well for you this will too. Sometimes you just need to do what you need to do... Even though the two are basically the same I do recommend that you take a little time, go on-line and read the precautions. You don't need 8 years of med-school to understand them and it's just some basic good to know information even for those who are still using Primatene Mist.
I just wanted to share that with all of you who are struggling to regain control of your lives as well as those who have to deal with seeing someone they love suffering through an Asthma attack.
It's not as convenient as a bottle of Primatene but trust me, IT WILL WORK!
If you or someone you care about is having a hard time getting by without Primatene Mist and/or your prescription inhaler is providing only minimal relief here's something that will help.
Buy a Nebulizer. They come in a wide verity of styles and sizes right down to one that's about the size of two Primatene Mist side by side. I'd say eBay would be a great place to start.
The only other thing you need is, S2 Racepinephrine Inhalation 2.25% Solution. (rayse-ep-i-NEF-rin)
It usually comes in boxes with 30 0.5ml vials and cost around $50 dollars a box. Even though it requires a prescription there are a few places on-line where you can purchases it without one. Just in case your doctor's only solution is to prescribe you another junky little $50 dollar ProAir inhaler with no refills so he can charge you for another office visit every time you run out.
Racepinephrine is a trade name for Epinephrine
(ep-i-NEF-rin) which is the active ingredient in Primatene Mist so if Primatene worked good for you this will too. I do recommend that you go on-line, take a little time and read the precautions. You don't need 8 years of med-school to understand them and it's just some basic, good to know information that even those who are still using Primatene should know.
It may not be as convenient as a Primatene Mist but IT WILL WORK pretty darn close to as good as one!
It's not always a vast conspiracy y'know? Over the years there's been a bunch of hubbub about people with undiagnosed asthma using primatene and managing to kill themselves. In this sue happy world with the media flogging every story, I imagine the maker got tired of dealing with it.
The problem with primatene from a medical standpoint is that it is a shot of adrenaline you suck into the lungs and this can cause heart problems with prolonged use. If you already have heart problems, that haven't been diagnosed/treated, it can be even worse. Unfortunatly for a lot of people it works rather well.
I understand reducing CFCs but flat out removing the product has caused a crap ton problems even for myself.
A few things that get glossed over:
Is your asthma under control? Having an inhaler does not mean it's under control. This will sound stupid and obvious, but avoid your triggers! If you're allergic to pets, avoid them, the allergic reaction can trigger asthma.
Lose some weight! No, really. I'm not super overweight myself but losing one or two pounds does make breathing easier. This is difficult for those of us with exercise as a trigger but you don't have to go out and run a marathon every day. Those of you in great shape might still have exercise as a trigger, sucks don't it?
Control inhalers/inhaled steroids can prevent symptoms in the first place. And of course, they're super expensive. If you can afford them I highly recommend using one. I could barely make it to the mailbox before I started using one. Keeping the reaction at bay makes it much easier to exercise.
Many community clinics have scaled payments and low office fees. Not the best solution for the working poor, but a 20 fee to get a script is better than not breathing. SeaMar in washington is pretty nice.
There are clinic operated by rotary clubs and other organizations that might be able to get you a small inhaler for free. Usually they only do this once though.
Some states have community health centers too. Don't forget that you might actually qualify for state (welfare) assistance!
What pisses me off about this is the limitation of choices. Not breathing is a pain in the ass, and if I had the choice I'd just buy the 20 buck inhaler rather than go to the hospital. And you know that a lot of people go to the county hospitals which ends up costing everyone even more money.
I do believe that primatene can be bad for you. I used it for years like everyone else, everything was under control. But really, it wasn't. My asthma is baaaaaaaaaad and I believe that the primatene might not have been helping all those years. It gives a feeling of relief very fast, but I can't say for sure if it's better. And it was starting to fuck with my heart(probably a few other things helping). However, I hate the new HFA inhalers. They clog way too easy, they feel too light, and they're too expensive. Fifty bucks for a chunk of plastic and a canister of dust? That's what pisses me off.
Typing this out I'm weezing because I can't afford the control inhaler at the moment, thinking of getting another proair but, oh yes, I can't get another for 25 days. Still don't understand that one.
I posted awhile ago....I've been diagnosed with COPD. Lung functions aren't up to par. I'm not on ProAir, Advair, Singulair and the Nebulizer twice a day. Seems to be helping me...I'm not reaching for the whiffer as much as I did when using Primatene. Down side is...more $$ being spent but if it controls my problem it's all I can do right now. I'm still planning on using Primatene, or at least keeping a couple on hand, once they come back on the market. Good luck to all of you...I found I had to change my way of thinking...just because I get a little short of breath or a wheeze, doesn't mean I need to reach for the inhaler.
Sorry, that should have read "I am NOW on...."
I used Primatene for more than 20 years. I have tried the steroid inhalers and Albuterol with no go results. I had allergic reactions to the Albuterol and all the other inhalants just made my asthma attacks worse. I did stock up on Primatene Mist and am praying I have enough to make it thru until the new product hits the market.
Thank you for this site!
I don't understand why they did this to us. I have no money no insurance can not get any help anywhere for any relief. Now I can not even get around much as it takes my breath away. Most days I walk from one room to the other and have to sit down and catch my breath. With out the help of primetene I am going down hill fast. I have tried the tablets and they do not work at all. I am just hoping they get us something over the counter soon before I lose all of my breathing.
Have you tried using the Primatene pills? They have a pack of twenty-four that will cost you $7.00 at Walgreens'
Any word on when our beloved Primatene Mist will be back on the shelves?
@JJ, have YOU tried Primatene tablets? They don't work.
Daniella Lopez Level 5 Commenter 5 months ago
Very interesting hub. I used to be a Pharmacy Tech and I remember when the laws on inhalers were being passed. People who used to buy these from us thought we were intentionally keeping them from getting their treatment... even though we at the pharmacy had absolutely NO control over it. Thanks for creating this hub, because hopefully it will help people be better informed about such things. Voted up!