The National Campaign to Save CFC Asthma Inhalers
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America's asthma and pulmonary patients sincerely thank the following honest, brave medical professionals who have come forward to tell the truth about the greatest medical betrayal of patients in U.S. history: the medically and scientifically unjustifiable ban of CFC inhalers. We know that there are many more of you out there; please stand up for your patients and send us your quotes at sponsor@SaveCFCInhalers.org
Comments From Medical Professionals:
"I occasionally have bronchospasm after I get a cold, and I personally can say that the HFA version of albuterol doesn't work. My patients say the same thing. How CFC inhalers were banned and more expensive, less effective medications substituted for dependent patients is beyond me. Dr. Howard Schulman, RI #4916
“Many say that they feel like the inhaler isn't delivering the medicine.”
Dr. Mario Castro, pulmonologist and associate professor of medicine for Washington University's School of Medicine, December 29, 2008
"During my twenty five years of practicing medicine, I have had occasion to treat hundreds of asthmatics, from mild cases to severe cases requiring hospitalization. I can report that during this time, I had many patients who responded better to the CFC inhalers than to the HFA inhalers. The relief response was faster and more pronounced, and these patients were much more satisfied with the CFC inhalers.
"Fifteen years ago, I developed the sudden onset of adult asthma, which was frequently severe to the point of crisis, requiring oxygen as well as injections of epinephrine and steroids. I feel that the CFC inhalers provide faster and longer lasting relief from difficult breathing than the HFA inhalers.
"The amount of CFC’s released into the atmosphere by the MDI's from asthmatics is trivial in comparison to the numerous other causes of contamination, and to withhold an effective therapy for one who feels suffocated and unable to breathe is callous and grossly misdirected. Many physicians feel that there is an emotional component to the causation of asthma. Even if studies claim that the two types of inhalers are of equal effectiveness, to deny to an asthmatic in crisis the medication he or she feels is more effective is cruel and might well aggravate the asthmatic symptoms instead of providing the treatment (i.e. CFC’s) the asthmatic person feels is more effective.
"CFC’s are not available because of the influence of medically untrained persons prevailing upon the legislature to ban them from the marketplace. It has been widely noticed that when a patented drug’s patent protection expires, and cheap generics become widely available, the manufacturer of said patent medication immediately produces a new patent-protected medication said to produce much better clinical results. Note that universally, the new medication is considerably more expensive than the former patented drug, and many times more expensive than the generic version.
"I ask you: could the ban of the CFC’s be the result of the well-paid pharmaceutical lobbyists in Washington bending the ears of our politicians to convince them of the great risk to the environment by the asthmatics’ use of their life-giving CFC inhalers? Once that is done, it will open the doors of the pharmaceutical manufacturers to a renewed flow of profits that would otherwise have remained closed to them.
"During their time in the practice of medicine, many of my colleagues have become skeptical, even cynical of the motivations of many of the pharmaceutical manufacturers. Having witnessed at close hand much of this machination, I have to say that their views are, more often than not, well founded." Robert Krogh, M.D., by email, January 22, 2009
Dr. Mario Castro, pulmonologist and associate professor of medicine for Washington University's School of Medicine, December 29, 2008
"During my twenty five years of practicing medicine, I have had occasion to treat hundreds of asthmatics, from mild cases to severe cases requiring hospitalization. I can report that during this time, I had many patients who responded better to the CFC inhalers than to the HFA inhalers. The relief response was faster and more pronounced, and these patients were much more satisfied with the CFC inhalers.
"Fifteen years ago, I developed the sudden onset of adult asthma, which was frequently severe to the point of crisis, requiring oxygen as well as injections of epinephrine and steroids. I feel that the CFC inhalers provide faster and longer lasting relief from difficult breathing than the HFA inhalers.
"The amount of CFC’s released into the atmosphere by the MDI's from asthmatics is trivial in comparison to the numerous other causes of contamination, and to withhold an effective therapy for one who feels suffocated and unable to breathe is callous and grossly misdirected. Many physicians feel that there is an emotional component to the causation of asthma. Even if studies claim that the two types of inhalers are of equal effectiveness, to deny to an asthmatic in crisis the medication he or she feels is more effective is cruel and might well aggravate the asthmatic symptoms instead of providing the treatment (i.e. CFC’s) the asthmatic person feels is more effective.
"CFC’s are not available because of the influence of medically untrained persons prevailing upon the legislature to ban them from the marketplace. It has been widely noticed that when a patented drug’s patent protection expires, and cheap generics become widely available, the manufacturer of said patent medication immediately produces a new patent-protected medication said to produce much better clinical results. Note that universally, the new medication is considerably more expensive than the former patented drug, and many times more expensive than the generic version.
"I ask you: could the ban of the CFC’s be the result of the well-paid pharmaceutical lobbyists in Washington bending the ears of our politicians to convince them of the great risk to the environment by the asthmatics’ use of their life-giving CFC inhalers? Once that is done, it will open the doors of the pharmaceutical manufacturers to a renewed flow of profits that would otherwise have remained closed to them.
"During their time in the practice of medicine, many of my colleagues have become skeptical, even cynical of the motivations of many of the pharmaceutical manufacturers. Having witnessed at close hand much of this machination, I have to say that their views are, more often than not, well founded." Robert Krogh, M.D., by email, January 22, 2009
"I support a policy position that offers CFC-free inhalers (HFA inhalers) to patients who successfully complete an appropriate trial AND who are comfortable and competent to use them."
NOTE: SALAMOL HFA, the HFA brand Dr. Reti referred to, is made by Teva/Ivax, the manufacturer of U.S. market leader PROAIR HFA.
Dr Shane Reti (QSM), M.D.
Director, International Programs,
Division of Clinical Informatics,
Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center,
Harvard Medical School Affiliate,
330 Brookline Ave,
Boston, MA 02215
“I am still disgusted by the required change (the ban of CFC inhalers) because it is costing the health care system billions of dollars and the best interest of patients was not considered. I did look at the data (on the HFA MDIs: Just The Facts page of this website) and there is certainly some concerning evidence. There absolutely should have been a crossover trial in asthma and COPD patients looking at changes in symptoms and lung function when people are switched from CFC inhalers to HFA inhalers. It would have been required of any other new drug."
Tom Stern, pulmonologist, Charlotte, North Carolina, By email, October 1, 2009
"Our patients are not as satisfied with HFA albuterol as they were with CFC albuterol."
Tom Stern, MD, pulmonologist, Charlotte, North Carolina. By phone, December 16, 2008
"A number of CF (cystic fibrosis) patients have noted that the medication (HFA albuterol) is not delivered and not efficacious, and this is the first time that a number of patients have complained that their medication is not working for them." Michael Light, MD, West Palm Beach, Florida, primarily treats cystic fibrosis patients. Submitted by phone, June 2, 2009
“My daughter has stopped using HFA albuterol inhalers because she ended up in the ER several times (always at 3 am) after they exacerbated the problem. My daughter and I have tried all four HFA inhalers (we cleaned them every day) and we think they are dreadful! They are not effective at all. They make the asthma problem worse. Right now we are using CFC albuterol inhalers from India, and my daughter will be forced to use her nebulizer for emergency relief when these run out.” Robin Levinson, MD, Hematologist, Florida, by email, July 20, 2009
"I am a doctor at California Pacific Medical Center in San Francisco. I have noticed that my patients are not satisfied with the new HFA inhalers. They are not as effective, have an unpleasant aftertaste and often stick to the back of the throat. I use them myself and much prefer the old CFC inhaler which worked very quickly. For some of my patients there may be no alternative so I feel that they should be brought back for those that can not use the HFA.
Marilyn Kutzscher, MD, San Francisco, California. By email to patient Linda Dever, May 3, 2009
"Does anyone believe the CFC's from these inhalers poses a harm to the ozone? This will kill people. I am sure this will make it unaffordable to people without insurance and even some people with insurance. We all know asthma can kill. This policy makes me furious as an asthmatic and a physician." Omar Jassim, MD PhD, MO #2101
"I have used and prescribed albuterol MDIs for years. Earlier this year I personally tried the HFA preparation, and found it to be much less effective for the relief of bronchospasm. Additionally, the unit itself requires frequent cleaning, which is often incomplete, despite diligent attention to appropriate methods. The amount of CFC released by the use of an albuterol inhaler is insignificant. This issue is a significant public health issue that is not being recognized by our elected officials and being glossed over by other regulators." Steven A. Myers, MD, ABFP, NC #2145
"HFA inhalers are not as effective in controlling asthma in emergency/rescue situations." Kevin Crawford, MD TX #3398
"This governmental foolishness will cost people their lives. What a terrible shame." Dr. John and Margaret Wolfe, OH #3833
"This is so wrong. As a patient and a doctor, I just can't believe that the FDA can turn such a blind eye."
Dr. Edna Hirsch, MD #2102
"Although he tried to ease them into the change, many of Dr. Patrick Gray’s patients were not pleased their old, familiar asthma inhalers won’t be available. “I have gotten more complaints than I expected,” Gray said. But the surprisingly large number of complaints has Gray wondering if more study is needed. “I don’t know if the delivery is not as effective,” Gray said. “There might be something to it.”"
""It works to a certain extent, but not as well," said 19-year-old Delaney Gatz, a Palm City resident diagnosed with asthma at age 6. Dr. Michael Light, Professor of Clinical Pediatrics at St. Mary's Hospital in West Palm Beach, has heard similar complaints from his patients, many of whom are from the Treasure Coast. Doctors, including Light, still are researching the effectiveness of the environmentally friendly inhalers. "If the amount of drug that is being delivered to the lung is not adequate, then clearly the solution is not to switch over from CFC to HFA," Light said. "I think that you have to listen to people when this happens.""
“If CFC's (from MDIs) have not been proven to have had a major effect on ozone depletion, why are we depriving patients of this therapy?” Kurt Budelmann, MD, SC #2266
"My asthma has been under control for over 15 years until recently. I have had a deterioration in my asthma for the past 2 months since my pharmacist substitued Pro-air for CFC Albuteral. As a doctor, I am appalled at the political interference with medical care. This ban is completely devoid of common sense and humane treatment of patients who suffer from chronic pulmonary illness." Anonymous MD, PA #3400
Signed, Dr.Hilary Luttinger,Poughkeepsie,NY 3/17,2010
Signed, Shirley Chirch RN, Gloucester,VA 3/23/1010
"I have asthma and I am also an RT. I have used the HFA MDI and I know by personal experience that they do not work." Shawna Cerda, Respiratory Therapist, FL #4197
"As a nurse I have seen such horrible things with HFC inhalers. They are just awful. I have a friend who is using CFC and may not be with us if not for it." Anonymous, PA #2654
"As a health care provider to many patients with COPD, I find this ludicrous and heart-wrenching."
Deborah Trendel, RN, CA #2552
"I am an RN and have asthma. I tried the ProAir HFA and found that even with multiple dosing, which is not the way to use an inhaler, I was unable to breathe adequately. During the brief time I used the ProAir HFA, it was necessary to use albuterol nebulizer treatments to actually clear my lungs. My local pharmacy has agreed to provide me with albuterol CFC inhalers whenever possible, but I am truly frightened about what will happen if they are no longer available. I suppose all asthmatics could carry nebulizers with them to work, to concerts, shopping, etc, and use them on an emergency basis to continue breathing. My point is, get real, FDA. The HFA inhalers are NOT as effective, and banning CFC inhalers is dangerous for a significant segment of the population." Nancy Neidt, RN, MN #2296
"CFC INHALERS WERE SIMPLY MORE EFFECTIVE" Gail Hennemuth, RN, PA #4071
Signed, Jennifer Castle, RN, NY #3992
Signed, William H. Buck, RRT, RPFT, PA #2157
“I have been a Respiratory Therapist for 12 years. I have never seen so many Pulmonary Patients in distress. This is a form of torture. Let Patients have their life-saving medications. HFA inhalers do NOT work for everyone.” Julie, RRT, AZ #2406
"I'm a respiratory therapist with asthma and my 18yo son has asthma. He's a football player with a college scholarship and he relies on his albuterol during practice and games. The new albuterol HFA does not give him relief anymore. I had to switch him to a portable nebulizer and now I'm getting Maxair since that hasn't changed yet, but there are plans to ban that too. Asthma medications are supposed to help kids stay active and healthy but we definitely have taken a big step backwards with the "new environmentally safe albuterol" Brenda Lusty, RT, MN #1144
“We must bring back the availability of CFC inhalers. This is a medical crisis. As an asthmatic and health care provider I cannot urge this enough!! In the rush to "Go Green"" we are leaving those with asthma to suffer!” Brandon Wessel, AZ #1293
"If one person dies in the name of political correctness that is too many. This is absolutely ridiculous."
Kathy Krizka, RRT, IL #1991
"This is not okay, I am an RN and asthmatic as well. There are many larger battles to be fought for the ozone. Leave the patients alone. Maybe think about the well people who abuse and take (breathing) for granted."
Ryan Castorino, RN, CA #4016
"I am a 63 y/o semi retired Nurse Anesthesiologist. I also have COPD and asthma. Something or someone has to be done to stop this lunacy of ozone and global warming. We have to stop the encroaching nanny state from destroying our lives. BTW, when we have a patient with a bronchospasm, the old inhalers (CFC MDIs) made it very easy to break the spasm. These new ones (HFA MDIs) are dangerous and hard to use in Anesthesiology." James Hawes, by email, March 30, 2009
"Unlike many people, we have great insurance and the Proair cost is not an issue. However, the HFA inhaler is not as effective as the CFC inhaler my wife has used for over 10 years. It troubles me that a product so many people depend on daily to function was taken away and replaced with an inferior replacement. I am for the environment, but as a registered nurse I ask you bring back CFC inhalers or find a more suitable replacement so asthma patients can get their lives back. Please!" Chris Allen, RN, MI October 11, 2009
"Why are all the HFA defenders sticking to the line that the albuterol is the same and it's just technique causing the problems? This can't be the first product that the inactive ingredients are not only negating the benefits of the active ingredient, but are actually causing harm. That's the problem. It's not that the albuterol isn't working; it's that the inactive ingredients are causing bronchospasms and other untoward effects in people who have an allergy or sensitivity to those ingredients." Anne-Marie Foster, RRT, CT, by email, April 1, 2009
Signed, Theresa Wright, RN, IN #4565
"Life long asthmatic and respiratory therapist that has a problem with the new inhalers. They do not work. To tell a asthmatic to take a deeper breath for the new inhalers to work has to be one of most ridiculous comments to tell an asthmatic. Which only tells me that they know nothing about not being able to breathe." Raquel Guidry, LA 2/19/2009
"Even as a Respiratory Care Practitioner, I have not been able to acquire the CFC inhaler. I've had many attacks in which it took 6 inhalations to relieve symptoms vs 2 puffs with the CFC inhaler. The difference is dramatic and risks to immediate health are imminent. Patients and their health care professionals need to make smart decisions in the care of each patient." Joan Shull, PA #956
"As a healthcare provider and an asthmatic person I have trialed and found that The HFA (inhaler) are an inferior product and do not provide the relief as does the CFC (inhaler). It is quite alarming the FDA continues with the propaganda that the two are equal when in truth they are not." Shannon Lafayette, MA #4458
"My asthma was under control before HFA's. Do not tell me I am not using them correctly. I am a Paramedic. I know how to use them." Kelly Marsh, NH 2/22/2009
"I am a clinical social worker for a Hospice and Homecare. Patients lives are at stake here!!! Please do not ban the current inhalers!" Vicki Jordan, TX #3670
"My name is Scott Braden and I have been a pharmacist since 1987. I am also a third generation pharmacist, following in the footsteps of both my grandfather and father. My oldest daughter will be graduating in May this year from Ohio Northern University with her doctorate in Pharmacy. Since the announcement of the CFC ban of albuterol inhalers I have come in contact with MANY asthmatics who have expressed similar problems with trying to convert themselves to the HFA inhalers. At first I was suspicious about what I was hearing. Then, as I began talking to more and more people from all over the country, who did not know each other, but were expressing similar concerns I began to take notice. To hear the genuine fear in their voices of the realization that they were losing an effective product that they need in order to breathe was humbling. Now that the ban is in effect I still receive phone calls almost on a daily basis begging me to find the CFC inhalers for them. I hope the powers that be will revisit this decision and realize that there is no substitute for effective breathing. Saving the environment is important, but doing it at the expense of its inhabitants is stepping way over the line. BRING BACK THE CFC INHALER! Do it for our most precious commodity...US."
Scott Braden, RPh
Pharmacy Manager/Owner
Braden Med Services/Gillespies Drugs
Caldwell, Ohio, by email, January 29, 2009
“As a scientist in Pharmaceutical R&D, and a user of albuterol inhalers, I implore the FDA to rescind this decision. The new HFA inhalers do not function in a manner consistent with the older CFC inhalers, a fact undeniable by all, except by the PMA. People will die from the new HFA formulations. This is an inane quest and was from the outset, with the sole benefit being good public relations for the PMA.” William R. Vincent, Ph.D., NJ #2271
"I have tried every HFA inhaler out there, none of them work like the CFC. My husband is a physician and he has nothing but complaints from his patients about the HFA inhalers. To us, it seems like a scam developed for the drug companies to make money instead of helping people. Since the switch to HFA I have been to the hospital 3 times for asthma exacerbation. Prior to HFA my asthma was WELL managable!" Kim Bergman, Independence, MO, by email, April 20, 2009
"I will do anything to help this cause." Bill Browning, Registered Pharmacist, NC October 10, 2009
Signed, Keith G. Gillette, R.Ph., By email, September 29, 2009
"I am a pharmacist with asthma." Cary Chrisman, TN #4871
"My pulmonologist thinks that taking CFCs out of inhalers was "bullshit." Those are his exact words. He said he's seeing patients who he thought were doing fine, who he hadn't seen in ten years, who recently were switched to HFA inhalers by their primary care physicians- who are now waking up in the middle of the night and being rushed to the ER due to these HFA inhalers." Bob Nelson III, PhD, FL, by email, December 20, 2008
"Deborah is an asthmatic and when taking the new albuterol HFA for the first time ended up in an emergency room for adverse reaction to this medication. She never had any adverse reaction to the CFC version. As a chemist (David) there is absolutely no logic in removing a compound such as CFC which makes such a small contribution to the ozone problem."
Deborah and David Gorenstein, PhD, TX #2645
"HFA inhalers do not work for me. Even when the dosage is increased. There has to be something to the delivery system. The product is different it is not simply psychological. Please reconsider the banning of this particular product. Our environment is important to me too- but there must be a balance. I want a healthy planet for my son. I would also like to read and walk and play with him- all of which is difficult (if not impossible) when I can not breathe."
Meredith Adams Moore, PhD, PA #3837
As a community pharmacist, It is my observation that patients are experiencing poor therapeutic outcomes with the HFA Inhalers and the retail cost for these products are excessive and delaying what little benefit they provide.
Dr.Rick Hansen ,SC, 3/28/2010
“A lot of people prefer the older (CFC albuterol) inhalers,” said Sydney Jacobs, a pharmacy technician at the Medicine Shoppe Pharmacy in Ventura".
"My customers are not happy," says Spalitto, owner of Spalitto Pharmacy in Kansas City. "I don't anyone who is happy with these (HFA inhalers). They just flat out don't want them — young, old, middle-age. Moms don't like them for their kids. Our customers can't stand them."
He adds: "The albuterol (CFC) inhalers immediately opened up the lungs for people who had asthma, emphysema, and bronchitis. When you're gasping for air, you like to feel that inhalation going in. But people don't feel that with this new (HFA) inhaler."
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