So I went to pick up my inhaler at the pharmacy on Friday, only to find out that the makers of Albuterol have switched to the new environmentally friendly (no CFCs) version of the drug. That's fine and dandy (although I seriously doubt that it will make much of a difference). Well, it TRIPLED THE PRICE! And that's WITH insurance!! I need to know if anybody else out there knows of a different inhaler that I can request my doctor switch me to that isn't so rediculously expensive. I read on about.com that they will most likely be banning all CFC-containing inhalers, but somebody has GOT to be making an affordable version! This is just assinine!
2007-02-26 03:09:46 · 6 answers · asked by concretebrunette 4 in Health ➔ Diseases & Conditions ➔ Respiratory Diseases
in a nutshell......you (and millions of other Americans) are out of luck.
2007-02-26 17:41:25 · answer #1 · answered by jloertscher 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
To begin ventolin and albuterol are the same thing. Meantime those inhalers do cost more but unfortunately the old ones are going to be phased out completely and are safer for the environment. Obviously if you need to occasionally use an inhaler carrying a nebulizer around isn't a workable answer to the problem. Meantime perhaps you can try to avoid those asthma triggers that you can control and then reduce your useage. Avoid smoke of any kind, cigarettes and fireplaces. Avoid those allergens that trigger attacks whatever they may be and keep the air in your house to a climate level that you can live with but adding moisture in the winter and using AC in the summer. A lot of folks are suffering with high drug costs, some with no insurance so join the crowd.
2007-02-26 11:48:32 · answer #2 · answered by Tulip 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Will your Dr prescribe a nebulizer?
Albuterol in neb form cost me $15 for 120 doses
I had problems with CFC's They were supposed to phase CFC's out in the 80's
There are 28 million asthmatics in the US That's a lot of CFC
I've had to use the HFA for a couple years No ins help
2007-02-26 11:32:29 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
My kids take Flovent and Ventolin which are both made by GlaxoSmithKline. They cost about $20 each plus pharmacy dispensing charge usually about $10 and that is with insurance too.
Definitely ask your doctor about something different which is cheaper. Actually ask the pharmacist as they know what's comparable to what you have been prescribed.
That's just gouging to me.
PS I'm in Canada so not sure if these prices mean much if you're in the USA.
2007-02-26 11:21:13 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
The reason for the increase in price has to do with the fact that though the drug is generic and off patent, the physical delivery device is now on patent. They are all going to be expensive until the patent runs out. They don't cost, per se, any more to make.
2007-02-26 16:07:59 · answer #5 · answered by Lea 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
people are idiots the cfc ban is riddiculous we only see a hole above the pole because of the polar icecaps and sure cfcs increase the lives lost due to strengthining the ice caps but more lives wwill be lost due to the the loss of cfcs more infections more starvation and more fire fighter losses
2007-03-01 03:00:32 · answer #6 · answered by ?????? 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋