new "CFC-free" metered-dose inhaler "Pro-Air"

***mods, if my post does not quite belong here, please move. Sorry, I just didn't know where to put this!! It's not medical advice out-right, but information on other's experience with a medicine. THANK YOU!****

Are there any other asthmatics out there that think these new "CFC-free" inhalers don't work as well as the old albuterol inhalers? Or any nurses who have had patient's complain about less efficacy with these new inhalers?

I just am curious on both a personal and professional level. I don't practice at all anymore due to cancer and many, many health issues. So my friends and mainly this board give me so MUCH of the "pulse" of what's happening out there. As for the personal angle, I've had asthma my whole life, and I find these new inhalers to be terrible. I just don't get the relief I had with the older ones. I may ask to go back to Maxair, but that's yet another 50 dollar prescription, instead of a 15 dollar one. And the cash is >tight<.

Being on COBRA, and between me and my 2 kids, we have almost 600 dollars a month on rx's. Can't get medicaid for the kids cause I've had "insurance" for them. Would have to go without ANY insurance for a year for them to even be eligible to apply for my state medicaid. The $ 1,000+ dollar/month COBRA payment stinks too, with no job for over a year. I wish I had a home job. An easy job...

Anyway, back to reality. Anyone out there with info?
Check again if your kids may be eligble for medicaid. At one point, I had insurance paid by my company for me and the kids, and was still eligible for a medicaid program becuase my income was so darned low. Here in NH there is something called HealthyKids, which is really another name for medicaid, but they allow you to have another insurance and medicaid if under certain income. This would cover any out of pocket expenses and copays, etc. There are also other tiers, that you can pay into like 25-50 a month for coverage. I think also if you are paying over a certain amount for their COBRA coverage, they can also allow you to drop it and then cover the kids. I also had a link of ALL the medication programs from manufacturers out there and will search for it for you. Oh- many counties here in NH also have medication cards for residents that you can get many meds cheap. It is available in other states as well, but not everywhere. Not all meds are covered, but you can save a ton if some meds are on there. I am supposed to be stopping by city hall today to pick up cards for my kids and gram and hopefully wont get sidetracked. (my daughters bday is today and I have a million things to do).I will post the information on that once I get it as there is a website that lists all the places that participate.

here is the link for information on literally hundreds of prescription drug programs:www.pparx.org

Ditto what Kuku said about the prescription aids, they're available for anyone regardless of income, direct from the manufacturers.As for the Pro-Air, I have one but have not had to use it yet (knock on wood). I have, however, heard many many complaints about it being less efficient than the old MDIs. Not much we can do about that, they were changed because of regs.

wow, thanks kukukajoo...that is awesome. i will try reapplying to medicaid. i am in the process of filing for SSDI despite some saying I am too young. I am just more scared of my children being out of medical care than me. Guess that's the mom in me. My little girl just turned 7 on Dec 22. Happy birthday to your little one, and thank you so much for taking time out of your very busy day to help me out.Tazzi, thanks for telling me about your hearing complaints about the Pro-Air. I just really wonder what it is that makes the difference?? Theoretically it shouldn't matter, but it does somehow. Thanks.

Don't listen to whomever says you are too young for SSDI, you are NEVER too young if you are disabled. If you are denied the first time, appeal and realpply.

They changed my Aunts albuterol inhailer to the pro air and she says that is doesnt work as well. She is on medical and often she has to purchase one or more inhailers on her own and the cost is more than double what she used to pay for the old ones.

Here is the webpage where you can see if your county participates in the discount drug program:http://www2.caremark.com/naco/

Quote from rehab nurse***mods, if my post does not quite belong here, please move. Sorry, I just didn't know where to put this!! It's not medical advice out-right, but information on other's experience with a medicine. THANK YOU!****Are there any other asthmatics out there that think these new "CFC-free" inhalers don't work as well as the old albuterol inhalers? Or any nurses who have had patient's complain about less efficacy with these new inhalers?I just am curious on both a personal and professional level. I don't practice at all anymore due to cancer and many, many health issues. So my friends and mainly this board give me so MUCH of the "pulse" of what's happening out there. As for the personal angle, I've had asthma my whole life, and I find these new inhalers to be terrible. I just don't get the relief I had with the older ones. I may ask to go back to Maxair, but that's yet another 50 dollar prescription, instead of a 15 dollar one. And the cash is >tight<. Being on COBRA, and between me and my 2 kids, we have almost 600 dollars a month on rx's. Can't get medicaid for the kids cause I've had "insurance" for them. Would have to go without ANY insurance for a year for them to even be eligible to apply for my state medicaid. The $ 1,000+ dollar/month COBRA payment stinks too, with no job for over a year. I wish I had a home job. An easy job...Anyway, back to reality. Anyone out there with info?

I am also an asthmatic and don't like the new CFC inhalers at all. They certainly don't provide the relief they once did. I brought this up to the pharmacist and this is what they suggested. At least twice a week the medication canister needs to be removed from the plastic part. The plastic part needs to be thoroughly washed and left to dry. According to the pharmacist, more of the medication settles in the plastic part than in the old style inhalers. While I have not found this to make a big difference it does seem to help a little. Good luck with the financial part. My cost went from $15/inhaler to $50/inhaler, so I know what you are going through.

I work in an asthma and allergy clinic and I have not had any patients complain about the ProAir. I'm glad you posted this. I am going to start asking the patients specifically about it. Thank you!

We've had these in Australia for years and I haven't noticed any difference with the effectiveness of them just that they taste different. I can't remember when we got the CFC free ones but I think I might've still been at school. I've had asthma almost all of my life. The taste is sweeter but that's about it.

Well it seems that it's divided,then. But I am glad I am not the only one who suffers when this new inhaler doesn't work as well. It just doesn't feel like it "does" anything. With the old inhalers, I felt almost instant relief. With these new ones, I get almost no relief. So then I have to lug out the nebulizer if I really want some relief. I have been an asthamatic all my life as well, been on all the drugs for it. I was thinking to ask my physician next visit if Maxair is still on the market, because that did work for me, but I quit taking it only because of the price. If I have to pay the price for either Maxair or ProAir, I'd rather go with ProAir. I am also on Advair 500/50, Symbicort, Xopenex. Asthma is no fun. I hate those commercials for asthma inhalers that say "if you require use of your rescue inhaler more than twice a week"....man, I wish only had symptoms 2x week. Even with all my meds, I am still on the rescue inhaler daily. My best friend is a smoker, and her and I told her the other day how sad it mad me that she smokes like a chimney. With all my asthma drugs alone, and then the pain meds, chemo, seizure, depression, etc (so you can imagine I have my own pharmacy). I told her, look at me take all my asthma drugs so I can breathe. She just says it makes her nerves go away (there are many ways to do that!!!) I love my friend, but sometimes we can sure disagree And yeah, she's a nurse, so when she's done smoking she goes to wash up and then back to the oncology ward (so she doesn't stink). Thanjs everybody, and I'd love to hear updates from your pt's, WhiteRN!!!