FDA to consider banning CFC powered asthma inhalers.

[NNadir]

WASHINGTON - Millions of nonprescription inhalers used for decades by asthma sufferers, often against the advice of doctors, could be taken off drugstore shelves because they contain propellants that harm the ozone layer.


An advisory panel voted 11-7 Tuesday to recommend that the Food and Drug Administration remove the "essential use" status that Primatene Mist and other similar nonprescription inhalers require to be sold, spokeswoman Laura Alvey said. Final revocation of that status would mean a de facto ban on their sale.

The FDA usually follows the advice of its outside panels of experts, though a decision can take months. If the agency opts to follow the recommendation, it would begin a rulemaking process that would include public comment, Alvey said.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060124/ap_on_he_me/asthma_inhalers

[Dr.Phool]

1. They should use nitrous oxide for propellant

It'll make them happy at the same time.

[htuttle]

2. There has to be something else behind this

Nobody is going to convince me that the Bush FDA really cares about the minor effect on the ozone layer that Primatene Mist has.

Here's an older link about this issue from 2004:
http://www.ens-newswire.com/ens/jun2004/2004-06-14-03.asp

It looks like GlaxoSmithKline has a product all ready to be used as a substitute for OTC ephedrine, "Proventil HFA". Huh. What luck.

I know that CFCs are very bad. I also know that dying of an asthma attack is very bad. I also know that for people without health insurance, OTC ephedrine inhalers are the ONLY treatment they have for asthma attacks.

And as I said, there's no way I'm going to believe that the Bush FDA really cares about the ozone layezr -- there has to be a money angle in it for them somewhere. It's their nature.