There’s a change in the air for those with asthma. Come December 31, it’s out with the old and in with a new, improved, and apparently greener inhaler.
No longer will the inhalers be powered by CFCs (chlorofluocarbons) which are known to damage the earth’s protective ozone layer. Instead, they will be powered by HFA (hydrofluoroalkane) which is considered to be much more eco-friendly.
It’s great news for the environment but possibly not such good news for asthmatics for the simple reason that these new “green” inhalers will cost up to five times more than the CFC inhalers.
Changing to HFA inhalers also means a learning curve for users. Even though the medicine (Albuterol) remains the same, it feels and tastes different with the new inhaler. The cold blast of air at the back of the throat that was the hallmark of the CFC inhaler is no longer. Instead, the patient experiences a softer puff, resulting in many of those using the HFA inhaler feeling like they are not getting the medicine at all.
Image: tambako the jaguar