Complain about a product or service

HFA Inhalers

Aimee of Pittston, ME October 8, 2009

I was switched over to ProAir HFA last year and am completely 100% dissatisfied with the new "environmentally friendly" product. I have always used my inhaler when I feel a shortness of breath and in the past my old Albuterol inhaler gave me instant relief. This new ProAir HFA inhaler doesn't relieve my shortness of breath at all and to make matters worse, after using it, I actually start wheezing and coughing. ProAir HFA may be environmentally safe but is not safe for my health. And from what I've read I am not alone.

Mimi of Salem, MA October 4, 2009

Since the cfc inhalers have been taken off the market, I have been forced to use the pro air inhaler. This inhaler is not as effective,costs more and malfunctions. My health has been put in jeopardy by this decision to take the old inhalers off the market. My condition was controlled by the old inhalers but now has spiraled out of control. My doctors all say this is just as effective. Boy!!! have they been brainwashed. Talk about health costs rising, this is a prime example. No generic so we have to pay more and get sick more because they don't work.

Morgan of Roundup, MT September 27, 2009

These HFA inhalers are simply not effective. My asthma has grown steadily worse ever since this 'environmentally friendly' mandate. My quality of life has diminished. I am no longer as active for fear of causing an asthma attack. I no longer enjoy the outdoors as much for fear of getting too far from an e.r. Not to mention that the new inhalers cost five times as much. When I do have an asthma attack, there are times when the medication doesn't work well, or at all.

Also, when I am already having trouble breathing it is difficult/impossible to take in a deep breath and hold it for ten seconds; this will usually cause a coughing fit and the bronchial spasms will worsen. At the risk of sounding melodramatic, I am frankly very frightened, and feel it is only a matter of time before this forced change to an all but useless medication will kill me. I've heard the words 'criminal' and 'inhumane' bandied about when it comes to this, and I was willing to give these new inhalers a chance... But at this point I can't help but agree with such sentiments.

Geanna of Metamora, IL September 27, 2009

I also have asthma and was forced to use the "greener" HFA inhaler. I was prescribed Proventil HFA. I have an old "air polluting" CFC Armstrong Albuterol inhaler and the Proventil HFA inhaler. I noticed that when I used the CFC inhaler, I felt better IMMEDIATELY. When I used the HFA inhaler, I did not feel ANY RELIEF AT ALL. I have been using my CFC inhaler very sparingly and have also been taking nebulizer treatments when my asthma flares up

Barbara of Murrells Inlet, SC September 26, 2009

I, too, am having a problem with the ProAir HFA inhaler. When I found your website, it looks like I'm not the only one. I have COPD and have been trying to use it since the first of year. At most it only lasts 2 weeks. I have complained to my Medicare Part D mail order supplier, but haven't heard back from them.

ellen of billerica, MA September 26, 2009

i have had asthma for almost 20 years now. arbuterol has always been there to get me through the bad times. now that it is not available to me, i have had one asthma attack after another. been on prednisones almost all year long which of course has its own side effects. i use xopenex, but somethimes i don't have enough breath in me to inhale it for as long or for as much as i need it.

Catherine of Port Charlotte, FL September 25, 2009

The new HFA asthma inhalers are not working. I do not understand why the government would put people lives in jeopardy. For 38 years I have used cfc inhalers without any problems. Since the inhalers were switched to the new kind I constantly have to take 4 or 5 puffs.

Having an inhaler that works immediately is a matter of life or death for asthmatics. Everytime I have an attack coming on I fear that the inhaler will not work. Because I have to use so much more medicine( 3 to 4 times more) I spend more for out of pocket expenses since my insurance only pays for one a month. I am appalled that no one has tried to file a class action lawsuit against whoever is responsible. This is going to be a major problem as this continues because it is causing more er visits and even deaths. As I write this I hope that the coughing and tightness in my chest will not have to depend on my new inhaler because if it is like any other time it will take a lot of puffing to breathe easy again.

Nancy of Chicago, IL September 22, 2009

I am a senior citizen. I have had Asthma most of my adult life. I used the cfc inhalers for many years with no adverse results. I tried ProAir at first after the cfc inhalers were banned. It was horrible. Now I am on VentolinHFA. I agree that it works well. The problem is after 1 month on it, I'm having trouble sleeping at night. I did some real research on it today and found out that I'm overdosing with it. Up to this point, I knew I was using it less because of the counter on the back.

I'm terrified now because I still need it. I won't be alive for health care reform. I need to breathe and sleep as do all humans. I am not sleeping at night. The government has a new weapon for population control. The people with Asthma will die off much sooner.

Keshia of Newport News, VA September 22, 2009

This new inhaler that they have out now for asthma patients is horrible. I use to could take 1 inhaled puff of my old inhaler (that had CFC in it) and I was fine. But now with this new inhaler; I have to take 4 puffs of the HFA inhaler versus 1 puff to hopefully get the same results that I use to get from the old one. It cost more and works less, Congress and the FDA aren't trying to save the the Ozone layer their trying to line their pockets and the drug industry pockets at the expesense of all asthmatic lifes.

Were not going to stop buying the rescue inhaler; so why not raise the price give us something that barely works and keep us coming back. To give us something that actually worked for us would be beneath them because they wouldn't make any money off of a population that's not sick and need the medication that the industry provides.

Davina of Sheboygan, WI September 16, 2009

What happen was all of a sudden when I had to use my "new inhaler" I did not get enough relief or air I needed to breath. I felt devastated and immediately tried to find my old(CFC) Albuterol inhaler, with no luck. What do you think a person goes through after that? Well they sure don't just sit down and things are solved. We still can't breath. I have tried all "approved" inhalers, one I am allergic to and doesn't work, and nether do the others.

I don't care how softer the spray feels, I don't care about cost.I don't care about rules, I don't care about anything else, but the fact of the problem and that is breathing. You can not take the right of a persons life away that enables them to breathe like others. I can’t believe some of us have to actually fight for our life in this absurd way.