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 | ProAir HFA, one of the three brand-name albuterol inhalers available on the market for the treatment of asthma symptoms, has a new dose-counter that allows the user to determine how many puffs are left in the inhaler. Ventolin HFA, another brand-name albuterol, has had a dose-counter for years, while Proventil HFA is now the only albuterol inhaler without a dose-counter. Dose-counters for albuterol HFA inhalers are important because there is otherwise no other way to determine how much medicine is left in the inhaler -- and since these rescue inhalers are not typically used routinely, it isn't helpful to simply determine the amount of medicine left in the inhaler based on the amount of time that the inhaler has been used. In addition, a past study showed that 25% of people found their albuterol inhaler empty during the time they needed it most -- while having an asthma exacerbation. | |
Compare the Albuterol Inhalers Available to Treat Asthma
Albuterol is an inhaled medication used for the immediate treatment of the symptoms of asthma -- coughing, wheezing, chest tightness and shortness of breath. Albuterol works by relaxing the smooth muscles of the lungs, typically within a few minutes of taking the medication. Therefore, it is often referred to as a "rescue" medicine for the treatment of asthma.
| How is Xopenex Different From Albuterol?
Xopenex (levalbuterol) is an inhaled medication for the treatment of acute asthma symptoms, including coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath and chest tightness. Xopenex works by relaxing the smooth muscles around the lungs, usually within a few minutes of taking the medication. Xopenex is available both as an inhaler as well as in a solution form delivered via nebulizer machine.
| What's the Difference Between HFA and CFC Based Inhalers?
Many people with asthma have noticed a change in their albuterol inhaler recently - the old, white generic CFC (chlorofluorocarbon)-propellant albuterol inhalers have been replaced by brand-name HFA-propellant albuterol inhalers. While this change is in the interest of the environment and preservation of the earth's ozone layer, many asthmatics are less than thrilled about the change. First, since there are no generic HFA albuterol inhalers, the cost is dramatically higher than before. Second, many of my patients have told me that they feel that the new inhalers don't work as well - often because the spray isn't as forceful from the HFA inhalers - and therefore the medication doesn't seem to get into the lungs as well.
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