In Memory of Krimson Leah Hughey
December 29, 1980-March 6, 2007

"We are the parents of an Asthmatic.  Her symptoms and diagnosis began at age 3.  She was very active and was just finishing her BBA.  One math class to go.  She had already walked with her class waiting for the issuance of her diploma once she finished up that math class.  She walked with her class in Dec. of 06. She turned 26 the end of that month. She had a fatal Asthma attack on Feb. 25, 2007.  She had filled her prescription for her "new" HFA Proventil inhaler 12 days prior to the attack.  My husband was able to do CPR and get back vitals.  She was life flighted to a hospital in a larger city 20 miles from us.  She remained on life support for 10 days.  The oxygen levels were so limited that she sustained brain damage that left her unable to pull out.  They could not intubate her because her lungs were so locked down.  They bagged her during the squad ride to the local hospital and during the flight.  Once she reached the hospital they had to paralyze her in order to put her on the vent.

"Please understand that our daughter was not taking any other medications other than the HFA Proventil inhaler and her Albuterol for her nebulizer.  (She was given Azmacort inhaler- an inhaled corticosteroid- in middle school, but she had such a severe, prolonged case of candida that it had to be discontinued. She took oral prednisone when it was prescribed, which was very rare.)  She was not sick and had been attending her two jobs.  In fact she was scheduled to go snowboarding that day but the trip was canceled due to severe weather.  She saw our family doctor at least once a year for routine checkups and prescription renewals, and while she was at school in New York she saw another doctor for follow-up whenever necessary.  Typically asthmatics get to experience emergency room visits and possible 911 calls to the squad during their early years.  Our daughter was no exception.  Prior to this incident however, she had only had one previous squad ride and that was 6 years earlier.  On that occasion, she immediately responded to treatment and was sitting up and talking to the EMS crew during the ride to the ER.  That trip in the fall of 2000 was the last time she had gone to the ER for her asthma, and the only previous time in her life that she had felt the need to call 9-1-1, until the time of her death.

"We immediately began to suspect that the new HFA Proventil inhaler was a contributing factor to her death.  Why would we suspect it?  For the simple reason that the inhaler was the only thing that had changed, and that change had taken place just 12 days before this fatal attack.  When we mentioned  to friends our suspicion, we found that she had expressed a concern to one friend that “my new inhaler doesn’t seem to be helping”.  That information reinforced our suspicion so we filed a medwatch report with the manufacturer of the inhaler.

"When we read the quote on your website that says “When you can’t breathe, nothing else matters”, it struck a note with us  because that is what we experienced that night with our daughter, right here in our home.  Her last words were, “Mommy, Mommy, help me, do something, I'm dying.”

Phil and Maureen Hughey, Columbus, Ohio, by email, August 10, 2008
Krimson's MedWatch report was filed by her parents and her pharmacist. It is on page 27 of the Proventil HFA MedWatch PDF (April 1, 2005 to September 30, 2008), on the File MedWatch Complaints page.

Her parents have created this blog in memory of Krimson:

                                    In Memory of our Daughter Krimson Leah  Dec. 29, 1980 - March 6, 2007

NEWSFLASH: Did You Know That Children Have No Problems With HFA Inhalers??

"Children are not having difficulties (with HFA inhalers). Parents are not reporting difficulties on behalf of their children." 
Nancy 'Mother of Asthmatics' Sander interview on 3/20/2008 (bottom of page 4)

Asthma 'Patient Advocate and Educator', Founder and President of The Allergy and Asthma Network Mothers of Asthmatics (AANMA) Nancy Sander informed the media of this fascinating 'fact' recently. (Nancy has been your FDA-appointed 'Patient Representative' since 1996; feel free to call her at 1-800-878-4403 to thank her for continuing to lie to the media and Congress about the 'equivalent' safety and effectiveness' of HFA inhalers, in her constant campaign to make sure that CFC inhalers will never again be legalized.)

Unfortunately, the following parents and children never got Nancy's memo about how well children do with HFA inhalers:

"My 13 year old son and I have been lifelong asthmatics. This has been the worst year for our health. The HFA inhalers DO NOT offer the same relief as the CFC inhalers. The number of trips to urgent care have doubled.  We want an effective medication. We NEED our CFC inhalers back." Erena Benson, CA October 29, 2009

"My 14 year old son hates the new inhalers, says they do not work and taste bad." Chris Schultz, NM October 16, 2009

"My 13 year old son uses the new inhaler 3 times as much, the new propellant is not as effective and is not good on his heart to take it so much." Anonymous, WA #4622

"Please save CFC inhalers. My daughter is allergic to the HFA ones." Donna Friedman, DE October 13, 2009

"Two children with asthma, who do not get the same relief from the new HFA's." Anita Adler, NY October 11

"My 4 year old daugher suffers from asthma and has for most of her short life. Recently, we made the switch from the CFC based inhalers to the HFA's. My daughter is telling me that it "tastes funny" and she tries not to breathe it in because of this. It's really ludicrous that the Government is claiming inhalers are killing the ozone layer and contributing to "global warming". I am appalled at the lengths that our government will go to to further an agenda (which is what global warming is, read the scientific evidence refuting it). They will take my 4 year old's inhaler away from her."
Nicole Zimmerman, WV October 9, 2009

"My daughter depends on her intal CFC inhaler before any physical activity. She is a soccer player who is now compromised because it is no longer available." Rosella Bender, MA September 28, 2009

"My son immediately started complaining that his inhaler did not work once we switched to the new inhalers.  I have cleaned them and he still complains." Melissa Barnes, MN September 10, 2009

"Please bring that old inhaler back.  My son, Daniel told me that the new one doesn't help. Thanks."
Charles Olson, MN September 9, 2009

"I am signing on behalf of my daughter. Hayley (13) needs to use inhalers prior to exercise - she's an athlete. She uses them daily. Since switching to the new inhalers, she has had repeated episodes (after having managing them to non-existent.) The recovery after using the inhaler for the second time, during an episode, is not as complete or quick as previously. The only change in her routine is the inhalers. She's now scared of having an attack during a game, because she isn't confident she'll get relief from her inhaler." Paula Pienton, IL #702

"My daughter cannot breathe, and the new inhalers do not work. This is unacceptable. Do you want people to die? It certainly is a side effect with this new control. This is shameful." Nancy Young, NJ #855

"My daughter suffers from severe asthma, the dr gave her a prescription for the new inhaler and she HATES it. Even states it doesn't seem to be as effective. Matter of fact she had an asthma attack last night and I had to borrow my neighbors inhaler, he has the older style albuterol. It worked like magic." Paula M., PA #795

"My son has struggled with his asthma ever since he has been forced to use the new HFA inhalers. They are not working
for him. Please allow the use of CFC inhalors." IL #988

"Please allow my daughter to live easier by withdrawing the ban on CFC inhalers. It is bad enough that she has to live with this disease forever, please give her a better chance of a quality life." Cheryl Kemp, MI #611

"I have asthma; my 8-year-old daughter and my 3-year-old son also have asthma. The HFA inhalers do not work as rescue inhalers for any of us. Our daughter just had an ER visit night before last after using the last of our CFC inhalers. Without them, she might have died before she got to the ER; the HFC inhalers would not have saved her."
 Mark Kyle, GA #684

"My daughter has asthma, the new inhaler she has does not work. After her 2 inhalations, she still is having trouble breathing. We have to come home to use her neubulizer." Eva Golembiewski, IL #719

"My son has been using ProAir inhalers since this past summer as his physician won't prescribe him any more CFC Albuterol inhalers because of the impending ban. It's not even enforced yet and he won't let him have what helps him! He's even told the doctor they don't work. The ProAir doesn't work for him at all - he goes through one a week which he never did before with the CFC inhaler. Why won't the government eliminate other pollutants (car/truck/industrial emissions; cigarette/cigar/pipe smoke, etc.) and leave alone the CFC inhalers that HELP people to breathe? What about the aerosal paint and hair spray cans that are still on the shelves? Why are they not banned? I want my son to have the best quality of life he can. Please, don't take away the CFC inhalers that help him to breathe."
Connie Smith, IL #841

"Both myself and my six year old son have had asthma since birth. We just picked up our first of these new "eco-friendly" inhalers about 2 weeks ago. Upon picking them up, the pharmacist informed me first that they clog easily and second "by the way, they don't work very good and you'll feel like you can't breathe even after you take them." Great. You know what? He was right. Since it is bittlerly cold here my son and I tend to need a rescue inhaler a little more often when outdoors in the wind too long. Neither one of us can breathe better after taking this new inhaler. I hope someone listens and will help in this fight to bring back the original CFC inhalers. There are people's lives at stake."
Elizabeth Forehand, WI #556

"Please reconsider this new ruling by the FDA/EPA. Our granddaughter needs to continue using the CFC inhaler. She is 18 years old and the new mother of a six week old child. This new inhaler does not work for her asthma."
Jim and Marilyn Myers, IA #398

“Why would you do something that would affect millions of people? Young and old... Many people can and will die if you don't change this hateful law towards our countrymen!!! My children need this. They at this time are 5 and 2 years of age. I choose not to see my children and many others have to suffer because of an unwise choice!!! I believe it is the time for a stronger policing over you and others just alike... The lives of my kids and others always have been and always be above over zealous people for the planet. You must have balance and this is not the answer!! * * When you can't breathe nothing else matters.. How disgusting!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Amanda Dawson, TX #1193

“I have three asthmatic children and they NEED effective inhalers. I am furious that once more Big Brother has made a
decision about which I have no control. Do not let this happen!!” Vicki Surges, MN #918

"I just found out that my 20 year old daughter may be allergic to the HFA propellent. The pulmonary specialist is doing a
study to see if it is the steroid or the HFA. I am amazed at all the complaints and this scares me even more. This is awful
is there anything that can be done?" Kathleen Shappee, NY # 2141

"My daughter suffers from asthma and the new inhalers are ineffective. Please reinstate the "old" inhalers. People are
suffering and we can't afford to worry about the environment while people are dying from asthma. Lets get our priorities
straight." Adrienne Erickson, FL #2061

"I am a nurse and I have 2 sons with asthma. I bought the Pro-air inhaler once as I was told my pharmacy didn't carry their usual inhaler anymore as they are no longer selling them due to environmental reasons. At first I didn't mind paying extra as my sons need it for survival, and we are doing something good for the environment, but they get no rescue relief with the pro-air and it lasted only a few days. I might as well gave them a glass of water when they are having an asthma attack it would have be just as effective. I AM ALL FOR SAVING THE ENVIRONMENT BUT I REFUSE TO LET MY SONS DIE BECAUSE THE MEDICINE THEY NEED TO BREATH IS BANNED DUE TO SAVING THE OZONE!!!!!!!! Just give us a solution that works or don't mess with whats working!!!" Heather Gray. MO # 2008

"My son has had asthma since he was 12 months old. He is now 18. He takes Advair twice a day but still has to rely on a
rescue inhaler. (Rely can be defined as: to depend confidently; put trust in) We are unable to get his normal albuterol MDI and have tried both Pro-Air and Proventil Inhalers. Neither has been very effective yet this is all he can "rely" on now that his old inhaler has been banned. Not only that they cost twice as much on our co-pay so we now spend 90 dollars a month for two asthma meds, one that doesn't work very well at all. I understand that we are lucky to have insurance and that it could be a lot worse if we were forced to pay the entire cost. It seems to me that if we are worried about the environment, there are much bigger fish to fry. I live in Utah and in the winter months the air is despicable, which of course just exacerbates the asthmatic and others with pulmonary problems. These people now have to rely on a less than effective medication because of environmental extremism. How many people will have to die?"
Karen Allred, UT #2045

"My son, who is 14 years old now has been using the Warrick inhaler for 14 years with good success. For the FDA to insist that we change to this ineffective HFA inhaler is medieval. He now has asthma that turns into pneumonia on occasion and I pray to God that nothing happens to him. We need to bring a class action suit against this policy."
Laura Harris, MD #1957

"My daughter is a soccer player with sports induced asthma. She uses her albuterol inhaler prior to games and practice and never has a problem. When I put her new inhaler in her bag, Pro air, she said she could not breathe during the game. she did not even know that I had given her a different inhaler. I was able to obtain some Albuterol inhalers, but she will be in big trouble when they discontinue them altogether." Diane Johnson, IL # 1962

"PLEASE keep these inhalers on the market. The new ones DO NOT work as well and are causing health concerns for many people including myself and my daughter." Sandy Sanders, IL 1839

"Albuterol makes my son's heart rate go over 200 bpm. Primatene doesn't. Pretty clear what he needs to use, but Big Pharma doesn't care and they've bought the FDA." Patrick Sullivan, NC #1850

"My 10 year old daughter, Alexa, has asthma. She had her first asthma attack at 13 months and has never known life without some form of inhaler. She hates HFA inhalers. In the past when she felt on the verge of an attack the first inhalation of CFC Albuterol brought much needed relief. In contrast, HFA Proair takes 2 inhalation for her to feel a small measure of relief. My husband and I along with Alexa's doctors have worked hard for Alexa to have a normal, active childhood. With HFA Proair that has become more difficult. Following an Asthma attack and the use of Proair she cannot participate in physical activities. Which is heartbreaking considering CFC Albuterol is the drug that allows her to play soccer, swim, even participate in P.E. at school. How dare our government make decisions that should be left to Alexa's doctors! I pray this petion helps and it doesn't take children ending up in dire straits daily as it was before Albuterol was introduced to the medical community and Asthma patients - who cheered with its birth and who now curse HFA inhalers." Anonymous, WA # 1781

"My daughter has been hospitalized many times in the past for asthma. Finally it was under good control, & she had been doing great. After she got her last inhaler, she has not been doing well - her lungs won't clear up, & she is coughing all the time. I called the pharmacy & the dr, & found out that the inhaler is different due to no fluorocarbons, & the propellent is different. Frankly, that propellent is useless. The inhaler ran out far more quickly, meaning not only does it NOT WORK, I have to spend twice as much money & she has to take more doses, for it to NOT WORK. Frankly, I don't understand why her health is now put at such great risk, & why people were not informed of this. You CANNOT make such a big change without having a comparable substitution, & this is NOT comparable. People with asthma are not expendable just to save one little iota of the ozone layer. I know 2 people who have died from asthma attacks - this is not a small thing. Go back to what was out there, until you have a comparable replacement. This is completely unacceptable." Anonymous, MI # 18

"My son has had asthma since the age of five. He has always used the old inhalers, but the new inhalers are not doing the job for him. His symptoms continue after the new inhaler is used--very serious!! These old inhalers need to be excluded from the law, and reinstated for asthmatics before lives are lost!!" Anonymous, SD # 90

"The new ProAir inhaler does not relieve my son's symptoms. He has to use more to get relief and the relief does not last as long. He runs out before he is able to get another one and thus misses school a lot more." Anonymous, OH #113

MY DAUGHTER IS 18 AND HAS ASTHMA. HER PUFFER WAS CHANGED TWO YEARS AGO TO PROVENTIL HFA AND NOW SHE IS WORSE. NOW SHE HAS TO TAKE ADVAIR 500, SINGULAR, PREVICID, AND NOW WE ARE ON A NEBULIZER. SHE IS IN COLLEGE AND IS CONSTANTLY HAVING ASTHMA ATTACKS. USING THE PROVENTIL SEVERAL TIMES PER DAY ALONG WITH THE NEBULIZER. I WANT TO HELP SAVE HER LUNGS.  Anonymous, TN #122

I am an asthmatic and not having ventolin as a medicine to help control my asthma has caused great health concerns for my family and I. The quality of my life now has been lowered. I am always wheezing. Although you say the new products are the same.....My LUNGS say differently. Please allow the use of Ventolin with the CFC. The removal of Ventolin with CFC has also been effecting 3 of my children the same way . As well as ..2 of my grandchildren. The disease is nolong being managed well, without the use of Ventolin with the CFC. The new products are not as effective and for me and some of my family members they are not effective at all. This is a major problem for us. The removal of the CFC may be helping or may not be helping the the airspace above us but for SURE IT IS HARMING MYSELF, my children and my grandchilden. We all ask that you allow the product Ventolin to be returned to the pharmacy shelves for those who need it . Thank you. Anonymous, CT # 361

"The new inhaler does not work as well. Have you watched your child gasping for breath and know that the medicine he has now does not work as well? The child knows this too and begs for the medicine that would work to let him breathe !!!! DO NOT BAN THE MEDICINE !!!!!!!!!!" Anonymous, NC # 621

I have asthma; my 8-year-old daughter and my 3-year-old son also have asthma. The HFA inhalers do not work as rescue inhalers for any of us. Our daughter just had an ER visit night before last after using the last of our CFC inhalers. Without them, she might have died before she got to the ER; the HFC inhalers would not have saved her.
Anonymous, GA # 684

Ok first before i got switch last year i was in great condition to do any thing . in high school I wrestle play football and
baseball . now i might just have to stop with out the warrick inhaler i can die my astma is trigger in a blink of an eye.
armstrong is shit ,and proair and advair i can easly be an all american in one of the three all i need is my warrrick
inhaler.please help i want to be successsful. Paul Julion, IL # 1523

My daughter's asthma has been under controll for three years using cfc albuterol. Two weeks ago she began using her new hfa albuterol prescription. From the first use she stated it barely worked. She has since suffered chest pain on nausea after using her proair. Two nights ago she was in the emergacy room with a severe asthma attack. Both she and I fear the next attack because there is nothing effective to rely on. please please give us back albuteral cfc. To prolong this decision is cruel and dangerous. Thomas J Kukowski, MN # 1577

Please, please allow inhalers made with cfcs to be manufactured again. My son cannot tolerate any of the HFA inhalers. He goes into brochialspasms. He now has to carry a nebulizer to all soccer games, swim meets and birthday parties. He's 14 and feels like a complete dork. Please do the sensible thing. Nancy King, NJ # 1600

My daughter struggles to breathe. the new drugs do not work!!! also they have greater side affects. i cannot believe that nothing is being done to reverse the decision to ban these life saving inhalers. Nancy Young, NJ #1625

After 18 years of asthma it finaly sent me to the hospital. If I needed 2 puffs of ventolin I need 8-10 of the proair to even
effect me. To bad ventolin isnt around anymore it could have saved me lots of money and kept me out of the hospital. Dan Kokkila, MN # 1632

I have a 14 year old son with asthma. He has been using albuterol since he was 3 years old. The CFC inhaler always worked for him. Now he gets no relief with the new inhaler and I'm scared for his health. Watching him use his inhaler and struggle to breathe afterward is terrifying. People lives are at stake. Becky Blaine, CA # 1662

"My son is asthmatic, and the new inhalers do nothing for him.  Please legalize the old formulation."
  Nydia Rivera, FL  8/5/2009

"My 7 year old son cannot breathe. His new HFA inhaler makes him wheeze MORE not LESS. Thank You FDA!"
  Matt Deguitis, AZ #2407

"Thank you for doing this! My 9-year old has asthma, and had to switch to ProAir. It doesn't work the same...I know it, he knows it, but the doctor says we are crazy, and that it is the same exact medication." Nicole James, CA #2302

"Three of my four children have asthma. The new inhalers pose significant risks and complications. Their asthma was manageable and their quality of life was good with the old inhalers. Why in the world would the FDA want to move so many already compromised individuals into an even higher risk cohort? Whose interests are being served here? Patients' well-being must come first. Shame on the FDA." Brigette Mastel, MN #2285

"My daughter and I both have asthma. When we were forced to switch inhalers we both noticed we were not getting ANY relief. When she comes to me with problems breathing my automatic rely is lets use your inhaler. Which makes her cry because she knows "IT DOES NOT WORK" (her words). What are we supposed to do now that we do not have working Rescue Inhalers?" Shelley Miller, MO #2606

"My 14 yr old son has sport induced asthma and uses his Albuterol inhaler before games and athletics. He recently told me his new inhaler is not working." Lori Randolph, TX #2987

I doubt that any of you or your loved ones are affected by this change in inhalers. My daughter, and all of these other people, are unable to breathe. They NEED inhalers that work, and these actually make their asthma worse. WAKE UP and let these people breathe!!! Diana Knight, PA #2958

"My daughter is not able to use the HFA inhalers." Angela Leonard, NY #3652

"My daughter has used the new HFA inhalers with dismal results. This is an outrage for the millions of asthma and copd patients." Nancy Caswell, NV #2387

"I have to wonder if any in this party to eliminate MDIs has ever had a child almost die before reaching their inhaler in time??????" R.Brian Tanner, TX #2383

"Please do not get rid of this inhaler. My son has used it since he was just a small boy. He has a lot of asmatha attacks. We almost lost him a few times. Primatene Mist has always worked better for my son than the drug brands. Please don't take it off the market." NAH, OK #2396

"My son has had asthma since he was 5 years old. The new inhalers do not do the job. The albuterol is the one that worked. My son is now 22 years old and has a real rough time with breathing. I can't imagine banning something that is so necessary for so many people." Gloria Moses, VT #2310

"Help! My son is suffering greatly due to the new albuterol inhaler delivery system using HFC. An asthma sufferer since he was 2 yrs. old, his asthma is now worse than ever at age 22 due to this new system which contains ethanol. Please bring back the CFC inhaler. People are turning blue trying to "go green!" Cynthia Ritter, MD #2430

"The new inhaler does not work for my 17 year old daughter. We want the old ones back. She can't inhale it when she's having an asthma attack." Karen Russell, OH #2295

"I'm 13 years old and ive have asthma since i was 4. Ive always used an Albuterol CFC inhaler from Warrick that has always worked great. Now i have a ProAir inhaler that sucks. It's completely ineffective and it even makes my asthma worse and now i have to rely on using a nebulizer. I had a really bad attack one night during a thunderstorm and my house had lost power and i was rushed to the emergency room because i couldn't use the nebulizer and i didn't have a working inhaler!" Ariana Figueroa, FL #2739

"As almost everyone else has posted, the new inhalers are not helping in emergency situations. My son has used albuterol for 10 years and was recently forced to get the new one-pro air. He is really struggling as they just dont work."  Stacy Johnson, AZ #3678

"My 15 yo old son has very severe asthma. Even though on multiple preventative drugs, his asthma is still never controlled. The new inhalers DO NOT work nearly as well. He has to use PRO AIR now and I must say this inhaler is crap!! Im a Respiratory Therapist and the new inhalers really scare me when it comes to an attack. I just ordered a portable nebulizer, because I am scared the inhaler will not help during a severe attack. HELP!"
Cheryl Jones, Guestbook, July 25, 2009

"The new HFA inhalers make my son cough until he vomits." Amy Prater, OH #1304

"My son almost died from an allergic (reaction) from the new meds. Please bring back the old CFC inhaler."
  Stephen Storms, AZ #3438

"It's one thing when I have to suffer, but I can't take seeing my son suffer." Bill Conrad, DE #591

"It is important for my daughter to be able to breathe and live a full life. At some point technology may reach a point where there is a better solution for how the inhaled medications are administered, but we have not reached that point. Until then, lets keep everyone breathing." Celeste Vanderbrugen, MO #3106

"My daughter has tried the new HFA inhaler. It does not work for her. In fact it actually makes her asthma worse when she uses it. Please make an exception to the CFC ban for these life saving inhalers." Shawnette Keller, PA #3048

"My daughter has asthma. The new inhalers do not work. Once she can no longer get the CFC asthma inhalers, she will be in serious trouble. Please help my daughter by allowing her access to the medicine she needs."
Robert G. Boyd, CA #3610

"As an RN, an asthmatic and the mother of an asthmatic son who could have died after using his "environmental friendly HFA RESCUE inhaler" it is IMPERATIVE that the CFC inhalers are made available to patients who had life threatening reactions to the new "rescue" inhalers." Teresa Wright, IN #4506

"I have four sons with asthma. The HFA inhalers DO NOT WORK!!!! I challenge our legislators to step up to the plate and HELP US get CFC inhalers back on the market! Dear Legislators, how many asthma sufferers have to DIE before you make this right?" J. Brent, CA #3426

"Please allow the inhalers with the CFC's. I support the environment, but not when my baby can't breathe! Please make the change and show us that our people are what's most important!" Molly Burrows, IA 6/20/2009

"My 9 year old daughter is allergic to HFA and now has absolutely NO RESCUE INHALER. We were sent home with a nebulizer to deliver her albuterol, but what is she to do at school? This is an OUTRAGE!" Brandy Edwards, UT 3/10/2009

"The new inhalers are not effective in rescuing my daughter during asthma attacks. I am afraid for her life."
  Lisa J, IA #4259

"My daughter has not felt adequate relief of asthma flare-ups since her CFC albuterol was replaced by HFA albuteral (Pro-Air) or Xopenex. In the past she felt quick and complete broncho-dilation after using her inhaler. Now she feels minimal decrease in broncho-spasm and horrible shakiness that interferes with her ability to attend college classes, so much so, that she often refrains from using the inhaler during the day. This only exacerbates her symptoms."
Charlotte Thompson, WA #4284

"My son hasn't been the same with the new inhalers." Matt Madore, VT 3/3/2009

"HFA MDIs are dangerous for my corn-allergic daughter and they just don't work for me. Please stop the ban on affordable, effective and safe CFC MDIs!!" Michelle Forsman, WA 2/22/2009

"Please bring back our CFC inhalers. We are not breathing w/o them. My daughter called crying, scared, and wheezing terribly late one night. She was having an attack and the new HFA inhaler "did nothing" to ease her struggle to breath." Jean, NY #4297

"It is outrageous that a safe and effective medication has been banned! My daughter has been having severe breathing problems since using the new inhaler. she needs the old CFC asthma inhaler. I also have asthma, but not as severe right now, so I will be giving my CFC inhaler to my daughter so she can breathe." Judith Simon, NY #4245

"This will KILL, yes KILL my son. We NEED albuterol as a fast acting rescue inhaler. I also rely on albuterol. I want to help the environment, but until we order all factories and large corporations to switch to solar energy the government looks ridiculous harming very, very sick people by taking away their life saving medication." Carolyn Bassett, NC #4175

"My daughter cannot use the new inhalers. They make her worse. What is she suppose to do die???? Who are these people trying to play God with peoples lives" Amy Street, NC #4102

"i am a 15 year old who has had asthma for a little over five years. last year i got a HFC inhaler and it made thing worse for me. with my old inhaler i took around four puffs on days i ran the mile for school. but with the new one i had to take around twelve puffs and i still collapsed after words. this last semester i ran without an inhaler and broke my ten minute wall. the new inhalers were harming me more than helping. in fact i took a puff of my new inhaler and it made me gag, it could have gone bad but the shelf life of my old one was around three to four times that of these new ones. all this was was an attempt from pharmaceutical companies to make money off asthmatics because the CFC containing inhalers had been generic for too long. i am all for environmental protection but using it as a way to harm others and pad your pocket is sickening." Cody R. Blea, CO #4065

"Since the forced switch to the HFA albuterol from TEVA, my daughter's asthma symptoms at night have become worse. On 8/7/08, she tried to take her rescue puffs, but the inhaler was clogged. It is also not as effective as the older generic albuterol from Armstrong. By the time we cleaned it with warm water and tried to use it, she became very breathless and we had to use the nebulizer. Obviously, this caused a lot of distress, in addition to waking up at 3am. Now, she is afraid of using PROAIR, but that's all she has."  Dr. Subba M. Rao, M.D., SC #2670

"I was not informed by my son's doctor or the pharmacist that his CFC inhaler was switched to a HFA inhaler. In fact I had never even heard that this change was being made to inhalers all around. In September of 2008 my 5 year old son woke up with a terrible asthma attack. Within seconds I had started him on his Albuterol inhaler. The first 2 puffs were not effective, that has never been a problem before. We tried again, twice with no results, he was getting worse. He was barely getting any air in and his lips were turning grayish-blue. I have never been so scared in my life and the panic in my son's eyes was heartbreaking.

"I left the room to get the phone so I could call 911. I knew the inhaler was full as I had opened it just that week and besides priming it he had only used it once as a preventative before soccer practice. But just in case I thought I would grab the backup I kept in my purse when I went to get the phone. I ran back and had him use the inhaler, I wasn't sure it would work as he was barely getting any air in but I timed the puff with one of his breath intakes as I dialed 911. It seemed to be taking forever and I wasn't getting any ringing from 911 so I hung up and dialed again and gave him another puff. Within seconds of the 2nd puff he was able to take in air and normal color was returning to his lips. My son could finally breathe!

"I didn't need 911 assistance after that, I did spend quite a bit of time on the phone with his doctor who instructed me to dig out his old nebulizer, thankfully there were just a few ampules of albuterol left and we used those to get through the night. He ended up being very sick, which is when his asthma gets the worst. It wasn't until a day or so later I was looking at the 2 inhalers and noticed the difference, the one that didn't work was an HFA and the one that worked within seconds and saved my son's lfe was his old CFC. I went to the pharmacy and asked about them and was told that they no longer supply CFC's because they were harmful to the ozone layer.

"I was told that they do get complaints about the new inhalers and the best they can do for me is to tell me that I should clean it more often and shake it 5x more before using it. I collected the few CFC's we had around the house and we used those. I did conduct a few experiments, before soccer or hard playing activity he uses his inhaler. We tried the HFA a few times before and each of those times he had to stop playing and come for his CFC inhaler. When he uses his CFC inhaler first he doesn't need to take a break during play. These HFA inhalers are not effective for my son! I had to get a portable nebulizer and go back to nebulizer treatments. So we have to carry it in a fanny pack wherever we go and spend 5 -10 minutes for treatment rather than having a inhaler in my pocket or purse and have a treatment that lasts a few seconds. There needs to be a solution for this, people are being harmed and even losing their lives!"
Rochelle Barthel, MN 2/16/2009

"My children's asthma was under control until recently, now when they get a cold or start to have an asthma attack, we cannot seem to get the asthma under control like we used to-ever since we were required to change their rescue inhaler." Lori Hellrood, WI 2/21/2009

"Spouse + 2 children w/asthma - HFA inhalers not effective; can't take asthma control medications."
  Felicia Kyle, GA 2/19/2009

"Both my son and I are on the new inhalers, and both feel very strongly that they do not work effectively. My son no longer uses them, and instead uses his nebulizer more." Janice Lacerna, VA 2/15/2009

"I have a young niece and nephew with asthma. They are very precious to me. Please do the right thing and make the old inhalers available again. The only thing that should matter is whether the inhaler works for the patient or not. Nothing else matters. Period." Tracy Heitz, MO #3962

"These new HFC inhalers do not work for us. My son will need to visit an urgent care facility today because he cannot get relief from his symptoms using these new inhalers - in the past, the CFC inhalers worked fine." JJ Prichard, RI #3984

"my son has used the cfc inhalers since he was 5 yrs old and they have saved his life. we have tried the hfas and not only found them to be ineffective but to accentuate his conditions. why were these not tested more and why is there not more support against this from physicians and the medical community." Michael Jones, CO #2953

"MY DAUGHTER IS 18 AND HAS ASTHMA. HER PUFFER WAS CHANGED TWO YEARS AGO TO PROVENTIL HFA AND NOW SHE IS WORSE. NOW SHE HAS TO TAKE ADVAIR 500, SINGULAR, PREVICID, AND NOW WE ARE ON A NEBULIZER. SHE IS IN COLLEGE AND IS CONSTANTLY HAVING ASTHMA ATTACKS. USING THE PROVENTIL SEVERAL TIMES PER DAY ALONG WITH THE NEBULIZER. I WANT TO HELP SAVE HER LUNGS."  Teresa Kaylor, TN #122

"My son has had asthma since birth. 14 years. It is terrifying for him, and gives me a feeling of total helplessness knowing i can't do anything to help him breathe. Please do not take these inhalers away. They keep my son alive."
Kelly Denham, MI #370

"my daughter will be 21 in 2 weeks and has had asthma since she was 2 months old. Over the past 2 months she was in the ER 2 times and received this replacement inhaler as well. UNFORTUNATELY, IT IS NOT THE SAME!! We need to save lives first!! The environment is not being effected by this medication by the asthmatics in this country are!"
Jacy, MD #393

"My son's HFA inhaler is so ineffective, it's only proper place is in the trash recepticle! I feel lied and betrayed by my own government. When the FDA is touting it being as effective, why are most of the people I know with asthma complaining about their HFA inhaler's ineffectiveness (the nurse at the dr's office even complained about it and she's a professional!)." Katherine Mitchell, IN #406

"My daughter and husband are asthmatics and needs these inhalers....the new replacements are not effective. Please consider the facts and allow these inhalers back on the market" Beatrice Johnson, TX #1454

"My daughter finds that the new inhalers do not releave her symptoms. Please keep the CFC asthma inhaler." Anonymous, FL #2780

"My daughter is a soccer player with sports induced asthma. She uses her albuterol inhaler prior to games and practice and never has a problem. When I put her new inhaler in her bag, Pro air, she said she could not breathe during the game. she did not even know that I had given her a different inhaler. I was able to obtain some Albuterol inhalers, but she will be in big trouble when they discontinue them altogether." Diane Johnson, IL #1992

"My daughter needs the rescue relief the current albuterol inhalers give her!" Susan, PA #2054

"My son has asthma and has to use the new inhalers all day rather that just once or twice per day with the proventil. What a pain! He misses his proventil." Karen Markham, NY #2947

"My daughter suffers from asthma and the new inhalers are in effective. Please reinstate the "old" inhalers. People are suffering and we can't afford to worry about the environment while people are dying from asthma. Lets get our priorities straight." Adrienne Erickson, FL #2061

"My son, who is 14 years old now has been using the Warrick inhaler for 14 years with good success. For the FDA to insist that we change to this ineffective HFA inhaler is medieval. He now has asthma that turns into pneumonia on occasion and I pray to God that nothing happens to him. We need to bring a class action suit against this policy."
Laura Harris, MD #1957

"My son needs CFC inhalers for his asthma. Do NOT take these off the market!" Eileen Sullivan, NC #1846

"The rescue inhaler my son uses is critical , the substandard replacement is frighteningly inadequate and offers little or no relief at the crucial moment it is most needed. bring them back immediately . this is totally unacceptable"
Jeanne Companion, NY #3256

"My little brother has asthma that was well controlled with the CFC Proventil inhalers. Now he cannot go outside, go jogging or even be near cold air in the winter as the non-CFC inhaler is not working for him at all. He is desperate to get his life back." Carla Companion, NH #3232

"My Son has had asthma since he was a baby. He is now 20 years old. He has always been involved in sports, and active, despite him having asthma. He would just use his CFC inhaler, and keep on exerciseing. When the inhalers changed the pharmacy gave him the HFA inhaler. From the first time he used the inhaler it did not work for him. He now can no longer exercise or run, because the new inhalers do not work at all when he finds himself short of breath. He also uses Advair Inhaler which he uses on a daily basis to help control his asthma attacks. This new HFC inhaler has greatly effected my Sons way of life. He no longer can enjoy the sports he loves, and is forced to worry when his next emergency may occur. Soon he is turning 21 and will no longer have medical insurance, he worries about having an asthma attack, and having to be hospitalized as he is a student and cannot afford the hospital bills. He is hoping that the old CFC inhalers are put back on the market soon so he does not have to worry so much."
Anonymous, CA #4529

"My daughter is allergic to sulfates and the new inhalers make her asthma worse!!! this is a really messed up law for those who really need the albuterol without sulfates."
Ron Welden, CA #4321
(Ed. This "sulfate" complaint is fairly common, but we think patients are confusing "sulfates" with sulfites, sulfonamides, sulfur or sulfa drugs; we have been unable to find any reports of problems caused by sulfates. Magnesium sulfate given by IV is often used to revive dying asthma patients. We are fairly sure that the problem is caused by something other than the salt form of albuterol in HFA inhalers, albuterol sulfate (as opposed to the albuterol base used in CFC inhalers). Xopenex HFA inhalers use levalbuterol tartrate rather than albuterol sulfate for those who would rather not use albuterol sulfate in Ventolin HFA, Proventil HFA or Proair HFA.)

"My daughter and I have tried this new HFA inhaler and it requires us to take much more inhalations and doesnt work to stop our asthma as well it also causes rapid heart beat, coughing, and simply doesnt work as well at all. I have had asthma as since i was 5yrs and now at 37 I am very well informed on the use of the inhaler and it simply doesnt last as long you get less medication for a higher price and it just doesnt work as well...." Anonymous, CA #4291

"My 15 year old daughter will be in the emergency room tonight. She has a mild cold and is wheezing. Her CFC inhaler ran out last night. We called for a refill and were given ProAir. She has had no relief in the past 24 hours. She is a varsity basketball player and will have to go back to carrying around a nebulizer. This seems so unnecessary and ridiculous."
Lynn Young, FL # 3447

"My daughter has mild to moderate asthma. She is has been controlled for years. That is until she started using the ProAir HFA inhaler. It gives her no relief and has no effect on her peak flow readings. On the 2 occasions she has flared due to infections ( her asthma is triggered by infections) we have had to put her back on a nebulizer to relieve the asthma symptoms." Anonymous, MO #3515

"It is hard for my daughter also! It is a hard thing for me to watch!" Anonymous, NC #4132

"After thirty years my daughter was finally controlling her asthma with standard inhalers. The ban on CFC inhalers has set her treatment back. We both know that the new HFA inhalers do not work as well for her. In relation to the massive CFC problems that need to be tackled, this seems like a petty token gesture - with lives at stake."
Bonnie Castle, NY #4021

"My children are having problems with the new inhaler. There asthma seems to be worse since they started on this." Anonymous, RI #3729

"My son finds the new inhalers much less effective and his doctor agrees, saying that many of his patients have the same complaint." Anonymous, PA #3727

"Please bring back the original inhalers, the new ones are hurting and even causing death in people, even children! This is just not worth it, save our fellow human beings now before more lives are lost senselesly, our need for people to breath is more important now than the ozone, I am concerned for the enviornment, but not as concerned as I am about my child and husband being able to breath when they need to." Lesley P., NV #4030

"Please, Please bring back the CFC Proventil! My daughter and I both have severe asthma. I used to be just fine using the CFC Proventil, and now I have to do several puffs before I do anything. My daughter is suffering terribly right now, she is doing so many Proventil HFA puffs a day, that I will be contacting her dr. again tomorrow. I am afraid that she is gradually getting worse day by day on this new, horrible HFA drug. She can't do anything but sit still, and not talk much, or she gets very panicky because she feels like she can't breathe well. She is 13, and she wants to do things like other kids. This is just so unfair. If the big drug companies want to change the drugs, we will gladly pay for drugs that work, but having this HFA drug is not a valid, reliable option for the many millions of people with asthma. Please, please do something soon, so that we can live and breathe easily again. Please help save our lives!!! Please bring back the medicine that works for us, which is Proventil CFC, NOT Proventil HFA!!!" Anonymous, NM #2715

"My son has a hard time with the proair it works nothing like the albuterol, warwick with CFC." Diane Baer, AZ #2258

"My daughter finds no relief from the new HFA inhalers. Please bring back the CFC inhalers to help her.She has used Proair and Proventil HFAs with no relief." Anonymous, OH #2348

"My daughter suffered an asthma attack at college, tried the HFA inhaler for the first time IT DID NOT WORK! Luckily she had an old cfc inhaler but it was an hour away. Another ignorant government healthcare decision."
Roberta A Bond, FL #2318

"The HFA inhalers do not help my sons asthma attacks as well as the old CFC inhalers."
Claudine Stueve, KS October 4, 2009

"My Daughter has Asthma, and she tells me that the new inhaler without cfcs does not work effectively. I was appalled when she told me this. Who is repsonsible for this?" Veronica Walker, IL #782

"my daughter will be 21 in 2 weeks and has had asthma since she was 2 months old. Over the past 2 months she was in the ER 2 times and received this replacement inhaler as well. UNFORTUNATELY, IT IS NOT THE SAME!! We need to save lives first!! The environment is not being effected by this medication by the asthmatics in this country are!"
Jacy, MD #393

"My daughter has exercised induced asthma and we knew nothing of this change. About a year ago when the doctor gave her her prescription it was for the new type inhaler. We just figured he was giving her an upgraded version. She always takes a puff of the inhaler before she plays water polo and when she used this "new" one the first words out of her mouth were, I do not like this inhaler it does not work. She was unaware of the change so this was like a blind test and it also made  her dizzy and not feel quite right. I cannot believe the government is worrying about the slight amount of CFC's in the old type inhaler but does not care about asthma sufferers." Sandee Paoloemilio, FL September 7, 2009

"I need the Albuterol cfc inhaler's back. Pro Air and Proventil with hfc do not work as well as the original albuterol with cfc's. I have State of Ohio medicaid (CareSouce) insurance they only allow Pro Air. I have to use it twice as much to get any relief. I have to refill my prescription every 20 days now. The cost for Pro Air or Provintil is $50 a piece. Albuterol with cfc's was only $21. That was the price without insurance. I, as well as a few doctors and pharmacists, including friends and family believe this whole concoction of hfc's and cfc's was a way for some people(companies & elected officials) to make money. It is a scam. I'm disappointed and disgusted with congress for allowing this to happen. I have absolutely no faith in our government as a whole. I can't breathe. My air is no longer free to breathe in. The only medicine that gave me relief to breathe freely is banned. I have had asthma since I was a child, my lungs didn't fully develop. Do they know how an asthma attack feels? It feels as if you will take your last breath any second, it feels as if you are slowly suffocating to death. How do you live a full life when you never know when an attack is coming? There is no relief when you reach for an hfc inhaler...you just pray it will give you enough medicine of some kind so you can breathe again. I thought air was supposed to be free..I have to pay for water, I have to pay the taxes on the land I own. Now I can't even breathe in the air that was supposed to be free. America the land of the free..what is free? Not me or a lot of other citizen's who need this medicine back." Teresa Booker, OH September 5, 2009

"We need the old inhalers back. My poor son already cannot afford his preventative so has to use his inhaler more often. Now, he has to get an inhaler that is not only ineffective (just AWFUL) but is more than double the price of his old one. They need to bring the old albuterol inhalers back NOW for the sake of many people. I will never be convinced that the environmental concerns are that serious. My 80 year old mother cannot tolerate the new inhalers, either, so now uses NOTHING!" Anonymous, MN #4093

I worry for the health of my young daughter using the new inhalers.  Severe asthma sufferers report that the new inhalers do not help and have caused reactions.  The banning of these products can not significantly effect the environment when compared with other major causes.  Please-restate them or give us a choice!!
Susan Arcelay  NY,  1/2010

My daughter's life depends on it. 
Janet Bush TX, 2/2010

I have a three-year-old with asthma.  He rarely uses the emergency inhaler, but I'm VERY concerned about what will happen when we no longer have it in the future, if the CFC inhalers are not brought back!!
Cindy Perry UT, 2/2010

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