FDA urges immediate switch to HFA-propelled albuterol inhalers
June 4th, 2008 joshua
The FDA is encouraging patients, care givers and health professionals to switch to hydrofluoroalkane(HFA)-propelled inhalers instead of using CFC-propelled devices. The latter will not be available in America by the beginning of next year.
The CFC inhalers are being phased out from use because chlorofluorocarbons are harmful to the ozone layer and contribute to environmental degradation.
The FDA says patients should start switching now and because there has been anticipation of this overall switch and enough supply of the HFA inhalers exists.
According to an FDA release, HFA-propelled albuterol inhalers may taste and feel different than the CFC-propelled albuterol inhalers. The spray of an HFA-propelled albuterol inhaler may feel softer than that of a CFC-propelled albuterol inhaler. Patients must also prime and clean HFA-propelled albuterol inhalers. Doing so prevents buildup of the drug in the inhalation device, and buildup can block the medicine from reaching the lungs. Each HFA-propelled albuterol inhaler has different priming, cleaning, and drying instructions, and patients should read and understand the instructions first before using the inhaler.












