Is the schering company discontinuing proventil?

Question

I use a pharmacy by mail service, and have been impatiently waiting for almost a month for my meds. I had already decided I better call them on Monday. Well, Saturday I receive in the mail a letter from the Pharmacy stating I need a new prescription for some thing other than Proventil (which I have used for over 20 years) because the manufacturer had discontinued it! My Dr. is out of town ,and not only I am concerned aboutrunning out, but what Am I going to take for my Asthma now? Has anyone else heard about this, and why didn't my Dr. know? I just had my yearly checkup, and this was a new prescription. Even stranger is the fact that I received a message from PrimeMail Pharmacy 2 weeks ago saying my order was on its way, never came, and then this letter in the mail saying discontinued- I cannot run out of tis , any ideas? I'm very worried!!

Answer 1

I'll explain what is happening. All CFC inhalers are being phased out by the end of 2008. You will need an HFA inhaler. Proventil is Albuterol, a generic drug. You can get a new prescription for Proventil HFA.
Now, HFA inhalers are different. They use a fine mist instead of the harsh spray. They might taste different because the propellant is different.