| # | Name | Comments | US State |
|---|
| 2551 | Anonymous | | CA |
| 2552 | Deborah Trendel, RN | As a health care provider to many patients with COPD, I find this ludacrous and heart-wrenching. I have posted information in my blog about signing the petition at www.copd.about.com/b and welcome your comments as well.
Regards
Deborah Trendel
Your Guide to COPD
www.copd.about.com | CA |
| 2553 | Audrey Helton | My husband has gotten worse since having to use these HFA inhalers. They do not work!!! | OH |
| 2554 | Teresa Finch | The new inhalers do NOT work very well. They also cost me $75.00 for a 3 month supply versus $10.00 of the CFC. This is ridiculous! | VA |
| 2555 | Estel Helton | The new inhaler is not any good. It doesn't work.
Go back to the old inhaler before we all die!!! | OH |
| 2556 | Kevin O'Malley | The HFA inhalers are useless. They do not relieve my symptoms, and sometimes make them worse. Please end this madness -- bring CFC inhalers back!!! | NY |
| 2557 | Joshua B Harris | Since my conversion from CFC Albuterol to HFA, I have had persistent and more frequent asthma episodes; The inhalation of either PRO-AIR HFA or PROVENTIL HFA will not fully relieve an asthma attack; as a result I use these "rescue" inhalers about 4 times as much in a futile attempt to get relief. I cannot believe the effect of 1 lifesaving product being removed from shelves to protect the environment outweighs the need for it to protect the lives of our planets COPD/RAD afflicted populace.
Still suffering....J Harris | TN |
| 2558 | Scott Hawley | | IL |
| 2559 | Tara Pellegrino | PLEASE keep CFC inhalers! | FL |
| 2560 | Melissa Schaffer | | FL |
| 2561 | Anonymous | My asthma has flaired up so many times that I can't count, even with a stay in the hospital which hadn't occured in 24 years after switching to the HFA inhalers. They are poison to my system and we need to get rhe CFC's back. I refuse to use them and now keep a small nebulizer with me at all times. Its not as fast and not as convient but HFA's are unsafe. We don't need to be back 50 years ago when we have had such great relief from CFC's. | AK |
| 2562 | Anonymous | My wife is an asthmatic who HATES the new HFA inhalers, they don't work as well and often make her asthma WORSE rather than better. Her Warrick CFC worked so well, why are the idiots at the FDA trying to kill her and other asthmatics by taking this important tool for breathing away? Does the FDA want to kill asthmatics off? If so, they have found a way to do it. We have to fight the FDA on this, we are Americans, who gives a s*** about whether other countries are outlawing CFC's in the name of "environmental friendliness". Surely the health and lives of our asthmatic family members are of more importance than the trace amounts of CFC's produced by CFC inhaler use. Global warming is a pile of horse manure to begin with, it isn't based on any real science and Al Gore (who says he also invented the internet etc.) stands to make BILLIONS selling fake "carbon credits" to "offset" carbon foot prints. What a pile of crap! Now his lies and those of other liberal wingnuts will be costing us the lives of our loved ones. It is a sad, sad day for America when common sense no longer prevails and lies are accepted in the place of scientific facts and the truth. My wife and I are sick to death of political and environmental correctness and now these crazies may actually cost my wife her life literally in the form of the HFA inhalers she is being forced to use in lieu of the CFC inhalers that actually WORK. We are angry, angry Americans, the FDA has betrayed us, our government and our medical establishment and our pharmaceutical companies are selling us down the river. Bring back the CFC inhalers!!!! BRING THEM BACK NOW OR PEOPLE WILL BE DYING FROM ASTHMA BY THE HUNDREDS!!!! | WA |
| 2563 | KarinFilip | What is this world coming to? Look at all these signatures. Obviously, something is wrong here. Where have all the good people gone? Someone who can do something about this...Please bring back the old Warwick CFC inhaler. The HFA 's do not work! Worried! | MN |
| 2564 | Anonymous | he HFA inhalers do not work. It requires numerous puffs before any relief (if any) is felt. The expense is outrageous given the drug is the same, just the propellant is different. This scam! There are so many things, such as the way we farm animals in the US that are sooooooooo much more damaging to the environment. That is what the FDA should be worrying about, not a LIFE SAVING medication that emits miniscule amounts of CFCs. | NJ |
| 2565 | Anonymous | I don't use this inhaler, but being an asthma sufferer, I understand how hard it is without the use of an effective one. It really is excruciating. | MD |
| 2566 | Tina | I have been sick for 3 weeks now and on steroids and I know it's because the new inhaler is not working correctly. The only time I feel relief is when I use the nebulizer. | IL |
| 2567 | Jeanne Dunn | My asthma is suddenly out of control after using the ProventilHFA inhaler. I,M now on a steroid inhaler. I can breathe but both my weight and blood sugar are going up daily. I,ve also had a full evaluation for a heart attack that occured at the same time I switched inhalers. The quality of my life is drasticly compromised. Am I looking at a future fat, breathless and unhealthy? | FL |
| 2568 | Anonymous | | NC |
| 2569 | Anonymous | These new inhalers are horrible.
I've gone from almost not needing the inhaler, to using it over 4x a day.
With the old albuterol, I would feel INSTANT relief. Now, I normally feel NO better, and sometimes actually feel WORSE. I try taking more, but that doesn't help. So what should I do??
I have NO health insurance and now I have to pay MORE for a product that does not work nearly as well as the product I was paying LESS for. WTF?
Banning these because of CFC's is rediculous. Many people should be fired over this. I'm sure some drug company executive made a politician very rich with this load of BS.
Thank you to the US Government for not only bankrupting the country, but depriving me of a medication that makes life tolerable. I've just about had it with this country. Its definitely not the great nation I grew up in. | NY |
| 2570 | Crystal-Mylove Dunton | I have serious pulmonary health issues. I have Asthma and Pulmonary Hypertension. The removal of my inhaler, will have serious adverse effects on my quality of life. I cannot tolerate the other drug. I deserve to live!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! | IA |
| 2571 | Anonymous | I was rushed to ER because I had a sudden asthma attack. I was incubated as no air would enter lungs. My asthma is controlled but due to being at a party with animals present brought on this sudden attack. HFA inhaler almost killed me as provided no relief. Overpriced inhaler that is prone to clogging almost cost me my life. Please keep manufacturing CFC albuterol inhalers. | CA |
| 2572 | Todd Sheets | | NY |
| 2573 | Norman Holcomb | Please don't sacrifice the health and lives of American Citizens on the altar of Environmentalism. This is not necessary and it adversely effects the lives of not only those suffering directly, but their families, friends and coworkers as well. | OH |
| 2574 | Anonymous | | MN |
| 2575 | Anonymous | The new proair inhalers do not work. I finally had my asthma manageable and had a semblance of a life and now I can't breathe! I can't walk my dog, or play outside with my kids. I'm taking my children to Florida; I don't know how I'm going to be able to function without my old cfc inhaler. I hope I don't spend my entire trip with visits to the er. Please bring back the old inhalers so that we can feel safe and breathe correctly again. | RI |
| 2576 | jennifer uding | | MO |
| 2577 | perry fogleman | i am 27 years old and was diagnosed with asthma at the age of 4. i was just sitting here having trouble breathing wishing to God i had my trusty cfc containg albuterol inhaler and not have to hit this proventil hfa b.s. for the 20th time in the last 5 minutes. it was such a security blanket for me knowing that if i couldn't breathe all i had to do was take 2 puffs of that lovely cfc containg concoction. now its a coin toss between the b.s proventil hfa and the nebulizer i have only had to use a handful of times in the last 15 years. how much ozone depletion can really take place from my inhaler? gimme a freakin break. unfortunately some asthmatic will probably have to be KIA before anyone cares. please help me and millions of others. you have no idea how terrifying not being able to breathe is. just jump in the water and hold your breath until you can no longer possibly hold it anymore and then have someone continue holding you under. sounds awesome right? its even cooler when ur not in water and not even ur | OK |
| 2578 | Kathy Coy | When I went to get my monthly inhaler, Rite Aid told me on 7/26 that the generic albuterol inhalers had been "recalled" and the only thing they were stocking is the Proventil HFC. This is months before the December deadline! I have no drug plan, so my cost is expected to jump from $10 to $40, and I'm certain drug plans will not make exceptions to their tier and brand pricing even though no generic will be available next year. I don't even know when the FDA decided to change or ignore its own exemption for the inhalers. I never liked the Proventil formulation even before, finding it far less effective than the generic, as well as coming with less doses in an inhaler. I fear having to rely on it, especially given the early results coming in from people who have tried to change over. The only ones who will benefit are the drug companies from having people HAVE to buy a far more expensive formulation. And I've seen no concrete scientific measurement of inhaler CFC impact. To draw an extreme analogy, it's been measured that methane output from cows does have a sizable impact on the atmosphere -- why not ban cows? Oh right, they have effective lobbyists just like the drug companies. But who cares about the people being directly affected by this forced changeover? | NY |
| 2579 | Charlotte Mooney | You're jepardizing the lives and lifestyles, quality of life of all asthmatics, young and old. Apparantly none of the politicians relatives have asthma! | MA |
| 2580 | Judith Stone | I am 61 and have been asthmatic since childhood. I have never been hospitalized for my asthma. Between my steriod inhaler and my CFC albuterol inhaler I have been in complete control of my asthma. I received my first HFA albuterol inhaler early this year. I have already had 2 bouts of pneumonia, in Februrary and again in June. I have always been athletic, but find myself avoiding exertion because I have realized that my HFA albuterol inhaler does not help me like my CFC inhaler did. This is changing my life considerably. Last night I awoke in the middle of the night ,again, because I was having trouble breathing. I used my HFA inhaler, ProAir. When that did not work, I remembered that I had an old CFC inhaler that I keep in a travel bag. I got up and used that and within 2-3 minutes my breathing was again normal and I could go back to sleep. That inhaler expired a year ago and still worked better than my new HFA inhaler. I am constantly short of breath now and it terrifies me to think of what my future holds. | CA |
| 2581 | Brenda Moller | Just returned from the pharmacy and payed $25 for a normally $10 prescription. This will be the last time I can afford to have this filled at that price. Hope I dont have a breathing emergency. | PA |
| 2582 | Anonymous | all i want to do is to be able to breathe - why should that bother anyone? These new inhalers are useless. | IL |
| 2583 | Naomi Garcia | | CA |
| 2584 | Kimnerly Lewis | I suffer from chronic brhoncitis and a deviated septum. Do not remove these inhalers from the market. There are other more effective ways to protetct the environment. | OK |
| 2585 | Bo | So the greedy bastards at Big Pharma have found a sanctioned excuse to force asthmatics to pay brand name prices when albuterol sulfate has been available generically for decades. Well isn't that special! I would rather take my chances buying my inhalers from anywhere overseas than lay down for another screwing from Big Pharma. I bought one of the HFA inhalers and it just didn't do it. My asthma had been controlled on Albuterol sulfate for many years and I really resent the loss of that security. After many sleepless nights trying to get my breath, I asked my physician for a prescription for my old generic inhaler for as long as they remain available. I now have four months to try to find an alternate source. I'm on a fixed income, and even if the new HFA inhalers worked, I couldn't absorb the more than $300.00 per year extra. | NC |
| 2586 | Anonymous | | NY |
| 2587 | Dianna | Wow! I can't believe I found this website. I have used the old Warwick inhalers for as long as I can remember and have never had a problem. I was surprised as well when I received the new red HFA inhaler. Not only did it not relieve my symptoms, it makes my asthma much worse!! I keep complaining to my doctor and pharmacist. I had NO idea that so many people feel the same way. SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE! Somebody has to realize the severity of this problem. (Having gone through 6 pregnancies before the new HFA inhaler, I can't IMAGINE what pregnant mothers with asthma will do now. The lack of oxygen will effect the unborn babies!!) | MA |
| 2588 | Anonymous | | MO |
| 2589 | Craig | This ProAir HFA Albuterol Sulfate Inhailer I was forced to buy does not work. I'm not sure what I am going to do? I hope 'they' lift this ban on CFC inhailers soon!!!! | NY |
| 2590 | Anonymous | I absolutely hate the new inhalers. They don't work. They clog too easily, they life saving albuterol doesn't get to my lungs like it used to. They are extremely expensive. I have taken to carrying my portable nebulizer with me everywhere I go. I plug that in and use that instead of my inhaler whenever I can. I am on tons of asthma controllers. They don't work that well for me. I need albuterol ! I need my inhaler back !!!!!! | MI |
| 2591 | suzette sanchez | I also hate the new inhalers!! I also hate the fact that we (asthmatics and others with breathing problems), have no choice in this matter! Asthma CAN kill you, hello, or put you in the hospital, some of us cannot afford this. Some of us have NO health insurance. We should at least have a choice! Bring back the original inhalers and give us a choice. This is America right??? | HI |
| 2592 | Pam Brumbly | I have had asthma all my life and lived a very healthy, productive life inspite of it. My asthma was controlled, for the most part, only having to use my rescue inhaler (cfc/albuterol) as needed for the last 30-35 years.
Then last year my doctor changed my inhaler, stating that it was the same albuterol and would basically work the same. I received no other instructions.
After using the new (hfa) inhaler I noticed it did not seem to work as well but never thought any more about it.
Then I began developing a lot of lung inflamation and had to use my inhaler more and more often. I knew something was different about my asthma but could not put my finger on it..
This went on for some time with the inflamation getting worse and worse making my asthma worse and worse.
I got scared and went back to the doctor and was told that I had very little air flow and chronic lung inflamation and needed to be on about 6 different medications with many side effects that were not acceptable to me.
I began a search for natural ways to control the inflamation and was only a little successful (I was still using the new inhaler). It seemed like I was fighting a loosing battle.
I went back to the doctor and once again was told I would have to take add'l medications if I wanted to live.
I conceded and began taking an inhaled steroid against my better judgement. Approx. 2 weeks after beginning the steroid I had a severe asthma attack and used my inhaler and it did not work. I ended up dying and had to be resuscitated 3 times before arriving at the emergency room in a hospital.
If it wasn't for my husband being close by and the quick actions of the emts I wouldn't be speaking with you now.
My husband and I figured out b-4 that my troubles began with the change of inhaler but could not figure out why and every medical professional denighed the connection.
Enough was enough. I now new that something in the new inhaler had led me to deaths door. Immediately I felt deep sorrow for the millions of other people that might not be so lucky.
I now have found a place to get the old inhalers, temperarily, while I search for more, to buy myself time to heal my lungs (from the damage from the new (hfa) inhaler) and an acceptable replacetment when I can no longer get one.
I plead with anyone who can reinstate the old inhalers or cancel this ban. I am a person who loves life and loves this country and would love to remain alive to enjoy both. My life and millions of others are in your hands. PLEASE FIX THIS BEFORE ANY ONE ELSE HAS TO DIE/suffer.
Desparate and Worried
Pam Brumbly and Family | IL |
| 2593 | Leslie White | | TX |
| 2594 | Anne Bennett | These new inhalers DO NOT WORK!!! I have been in the hospital 4 times in the past year, having to intubated once...the HFA inhalers DO NOT stop an asthma attack and it people are in danger of losing their lives because they are taking them and trusting that they will save their life...please bring back the CFC inhalers and help us all to breathe easier. | NE |
| 2595 | Kelvin Gravely | Ridiculous. | VA |
| 2596 | Daniel Michaud | I have smoking induced COPD and when I was smoking cigarettes I was typically taking 2 puffs 4-6 times a day from a CFC inhaler. Since quitting smoking 3 years ago, my usage has typically been 1 puff 1 or 2 times a day, some days not at all. I use Flovent as a maintenance inhaler.
I picked up my 1st prescription of an HFA inhaler 2 weeks ago. Now I'm taking 3 puffs at least 3-4 times a day to control flare ups. It also seems that it makes my symptoms worse.
Not only that, but I used to pay $10 for a one months supply. That has gone up to $30 for the HFA. But since I'm using more of it, I probably won't have enough for a month with the current supply. With the economy the way it is, this could really be bad for alot of folks.
The HFA inhalers simply do not work as well as the CFC inhalers.
Some of it i'm sure is because people with COPD can't inhale as deeply and the CFC inhaler propellant forces the albuterol into the lungs more effectively than an HFA inhaler.
After using a CFC inhaler for so many years and then abruptly switching, you can be sure that I can tell the difference, it's not just my imagination.
I wonder how many drug company lobbyists were pushing the FDA to adopt the Montreal Protocol. I mean if someone told you that if you ban this certain thing that you could get 300% more money for the replacement, wouldn't you be tempted.
There definitely needs to be a reversal on the ban on CFC inhalers immediately. | ME |
| 2597 | Jamie Bennett | My wife is a severe asthmatic and is allergic to a lot of things. I want to know that relief is going to be there for her when she needs it. She's been hospitalized too much already. | NC |
| 2598 | James L. Allen-Polley | Doctors informed me I just needed to breathe in a little deeper when using the HFA inhalers. Too many people die from Asthma as it is, end this irony before the death rate rises. | KY |
| 2599 | David Cunningham | Having been taken off of my old generic Albuterol inhaler which contained CFC's, I have been on a variety of HFA inhalers since July of 2006, most notably ProAir HFA. I have also tried Proventil HFA, and most recently, Ventolin HFA. After two years on these new "rescue" HFA inhalers, I can honestly with no doubt conclude they DO NOT WORK as the old CFC inhalers did. I am also forced to use far more of the recommended dosage to achieve a fraction of the relief I used to receive with a single puff of the old CFC in haler. Also, I believe my asthma has seriously worsened as a result.
In the past two months I have had several episodes of waking at night with a serious feeling of suffocation, and no amount of the ProAir "rescue" inhaler actually succeeded in rescuing me. For the first time since learning I had asthma many years ago, I feel it may actually kill me; before the HFA changeover, any version of albuterol CFC would instantly work and clear my airways. Prior to the HFA changeover, I often felt asthma-free. I have discussed this with my Dr., but he insists the medications are the same, although we are now trying the Ventolin HFA. This is obviously not true, at least for me. Since my experiences I have read of many others with similar experiences, and believe the HFA propellant to be the culprit. Until these problems can be sorted, the ban on CFC inhalers needs to be – at least temporarily – lifted. The benefits to the many millions who have asthma far outweigh the proven infinitesimal impact on our environment. | AZ |
| 2600 | Gay Lynn Alexander | Everytime I get even a small cold I become completely dependant on my inhaler. My asthma has progressivly gotten worse as I've gotten older. Today, I have brochitis, have been using my inhaler alot, my chest still hurts and I feel like my lungs are going to burst for lack of air. What happened to the right to "life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness"? | CA |