My boyfriend just got a new inhaler. Apparently they have changed since his last one and now it’s some sort of powder. He hates it and says it doesn’t work nearly as well. His mom hates hers too.
So, I wonder how everyone else feels about the new type. Does it work as well for you?
Another thing I wonder is whether it works in a full blown asthma attack. Since it doesn’t seem to come out with the same force, do you have trouble sucking it down when you’re already having trouble breathing?
There are different types of inhalers, some are used for acute asthma attacks (such as albuterol inhalers), while others are used daily in the prevention of asthma attacks (such as Advair inhalers- fluticason/salmeterol).
And there’s different models/methods of inhalers as well (as quick Mayo guide).
So you may need to clarify in the type of inhaler he’s getting, and it’s function- as some inhalers are not meant for acute attacks while others are (usually people may have two different inhalers or meds- one for daily control, and then one for their acute attacks).
Generally, the powder type inhalers aren’t meant for quick relief - the quick relief kind are almost all the spray sort. The powder ones are almost all ‘control inhalers’ and are prescribed to be used daily as prevention.
However, it’s been my experience as a nurse that a lot of people use their asthma inhalers wildly incorrectly, and the most common example of this is people trying to use the control meds as relievers…and then become upset when they don’t work. They don’t work because they’re not meant for that. There’s a widespread mindset, even when doctors, pharmacists and nurses explain repeatedly otherwise, that any inhaler must be good for stopping an attack and there’s no reason to use an inhaler every day. Improper use of asthma medication contributes to a lot of completely preventable ER visits, sadly.
The rescue inhalers - the ones meant to stop an attack - have recently undergone some changes due to regulations regarding the inert propellant. The new version is different - it tastes different (obviously, if you’re spraying this into your mouth you’ll get some taste no matter how efficiently you inhale/exhale), the “action” seems different, and it’s just not the same. However, I have found it equally effective in stopping attacks (which, fortunately, I rarely experience). I just had to get used to it.
And let’s face it - if you’re depending on something to potentially save your life you might well be highly skeptical of any changes?
That said, the above posts regarding maintenance vs. rescue inhalers is very true - MANY people just do not understand the difference. That, combined with a change in something you might have depended on for years, even decades, can be quite unsettling.
Is the new powder one Bricanyl Turbuhaler (blue)? I switched to it and Pulmicort (brown labelling, also a Turbuhaler) because I didn’t like Flovent, even though Salbutamol worked well for me. I have very mild, very easily controlled asthma/asthma-like-symptoms due to bronchitis a few years back, and those are the two pairs of meds I’ve used. I agree that Bricanyl seems to act slower, and doesn’t have that cold-it’s-working-now-immediate-relief lung feeling that Salbutamol had, but I do find that it seems to last longer when I’m having difficulties breathing. As for Pulmicort, I can’t taste it and kind of wonder whether I’m getting anything out of it (literally, it’s such a small dose), as opposed to the Flovent which I could taste (and it nauseated me) so I knew I was consuming it, but my symptoms are much better controlled with the Pulmicort.
If your boyfriend feels he’s not getting relief from the new meds, he should talk to his doctor and switch. He might be able to go back to whatever he was on before; it’s likely still available.
I find I have a lot less problem taking my Advair (which is powdered), than my salbutamol (aerosol)… Some of that may be the fact that Advair is a control inhaler, so I’m actually breathing properly when I take it, but I find I have a lot more control over it.
He was taking albuterol. I don’t know what the new stuff is. He has never had an OHMYGODI’MGONNADIE!! attack but he does have times when breathing without it is way more difficult than it should be. He said the old aerosol albuterol works much better than the new powder stuff. Unfortunately since his pulmonary embolism issue a few weeks ago, breathing has been harder than usual for him.
He had been on the albuterol, advair, and singulair at the same time but the doc took him off the advair and singulair over a year ago. The stuff he’s on now, he was told to use when he’s having trouble breathing. He was hoping the CPAP would help the breathing problems but it hasn’t. Neither did quitting smoking. At least it isn’t life-threatening severe.
His mom also takes it for the times when she can’t breathe but not for asthma reasons. In her case, it’s from lung cancer/bronchitis requiring the removal of part of one of her lungs. She also says the aerosol albuterol got her breathing better faster.
Ok, I stopped being lazy and checked. He’s on Ventolin now.
Edit to add: Oh now I’m gonna slap him. He just admitted to me that he wasn’t taken off the advair and singulair. He stopped taking them. Next time he bitches about breathing problems I’m going to remind him of this. I never understand why people just stop taking medication they’re on to prevent unpleasantness. It’s not as if he can’t afford the copays.
Ok, we just talked about it some more. He said it was his suggestion to get off the other 2 meds and the doctor agreed with him. He was diagnosed with asthma but he suspected (and the doctor agreed) that it was worse for him seasonally - specifically in the fall. His doctor said that he might be reacting to leaf mold.
I guess this means I don’t get to slap him. 
Anyway, this isn’t about his medical issues. It’s about other people’s opinions of going from aerosol to powder.
He said it’s way more disgusting than the old stuff. I feel bad for anyone who has to taste it. I was on aerosol albuterol briefly for bronchitis and that taste was a major turn-off.
He has only had it about a week. Recent events have had him needing it more than usual. Hopefully he’ll get used to it soon.
I have a sneaking suspicion that I’m going to be raking the leaves myself though.
Also remember all rescue inhalers in the USA have been changed due to the banning of CFCs.
This is why Albuterol and other such inhalers are no longer available as generic. This ban went into effect on Jan 1, 2009. So I doubt this is the cause of the trouble, but I found the CFCs were much more effective than the new propellent they use.
Ventolin is the brand name of Albuterol.
Until recently, he used it so infrequently and had 2 or 3 inhalers stashed in various places. He didn’t run out of aerosol albuterol until about a week ago. The last 2 months have been bad, with him using it at least once a day. He is under a doctor’s care though, what with the blood clot and all. The doctor didn’t seem particularly concerned about it.
I didn’t know about the leaf mold thing and now that I do, it certainly explains why he’s so much worse lately. This is our first fall in this house. Until now, we always had a condo landscapers cleaning the leaves pretty regularly. Between my school and his work and being sick, we haven’t had the chance yet. Our house is completely surrounded by trees and we have a huge amount of leaves on the ground. I’ll get bags tomorrow and I’ll clean it up on Sunday when he’s at work. If it really is a factor then hopefully he’ll start breathing easier with them gone.
Ah, yes - I have an albuterol inhaler. Yes, the new stuff tastes worse. But, as I said, I have found it works just as well. Then again, that’s me - other people may feel differently.
But he won’t be able to get an aerosol inhaler again - they aren’t making them any more.
He knows. He’s not happy but he’ll deal.
And what was the purpose of the banning. I could understand it happening concurrently with the aerosols of other products, but, if it happened later, I would assume it was a health issue.
In fact, if it wasn’t a health issue, I’d look into buying overseas (the legitimate way, of course).
The Montreal Protocol, which banned CFCs, allowed continued use for medical uses where no acceptable alternatives existed. Eventually inhalers using hydrofluoroalkane (HFA) were invented so, under the protocol, CFCs can no longer be used in inhalers. The problem is that HFA inhalers are not available for generic brands so out of pocket costs may increase or an insurance plan my insist on the generic.
My mother uses Advair as a preventative, but I’m not convinced she’s using it right. I know that at least one nurse has told her that she was doing it wrong and my mother now believes that she is doing it correctly but I’ve watched her do it and I’m not convinced.
She can’t seem to grasp the difference between sucking and inhaling. I wonder how many people have this problem.
Except generics no longer exist. You can NOT get generic inhalers in the US anymore. Importing them may even be illegal, I don’t know.
The first two patents on Ventolin HFA ran out in November of 2009 and June of 2010, but there are others still active. None of the generic manufacturers have come out with an HFA inhaler, possibly because of these still standing patents, but no one seems to know for sure.
I have two inhalers, one which is a preventative, in a powder form, and the other, which is a rescue inhaler, in aerosol form. I find the powder form inhaler easier to use, but I suspect that, as Tengu mentioned up-thread, that’s because I’m not struggling for breath when I use it.
My son’s rescue inhaler is one of the new powder types. I had to use his inhaler a couple of months ago when I forgot mine, and, although it was definitely different to use than my usual rescue inhaler, it was just as effective. I actually found it a little easier, once I figured it out, as I didn’t feel I needed to suck in as strong a breath to get the medicine into my lungs as I normally do with my aerosol inhaler. It was a bit of an adjustment, but, in an emergency situation, I was still able to use it properly, and it worked fine.
When my current prescription runs out, I intend to ask for the same powder inhaler my son uses.
I didn’t believe you until I looked it up and found that their unavailability in the US is due to patents, because generics using HFA propellants certainly do exist for albuterol; the one I used was Ratiopharm’s salbutamol and it cost pennies. Apotex, Sandoz and Pharmascience (to name a few generic companies off-hand) also sell salbutamol in Canada (albuterol is salbutamol, just a different name). Weird.
Looks like you’ll begin to get generics in 2012 or so, though, so financial relief of asthma is on its way!