Primatene mist being pulled from the market

**Nishu** · 05-26-2011, 06:04 PM

Not sure if this has been posted but I hadn't heard about it so I thought I'd share anyway.

Primatene Mist is the only over-the-counter asthma inhaler on the market in the United States, so that means people who have come to rely on the product will have to use prescription medications instead. And — you could see this coming, couldn’t you? — those Rx products may cost more than Primatene, which goes for $16-$20 per half-ounce container plus a mouthpiece. (That’s good for 270 “puffs,” according to the Primatene Web site.) The FDA’s statement offers guidance for people who find it hard to pay for their new asthma meds.

Primatene Mist’s days are numbered - The Checkup - The Washington Post

**MissSeetonFan** · 05-26-2011, 06:19 PM

I didn't realize it was still around. When the government banned the CFC propellant, I thought it disappeared then. My prescription strength inhaler changed propellant from CFC to something else. I guess it was a phased in thing.

Too bad. When my prescription changed propellant, the actual price jumped by about 40-50%. So the OTC stuff could suffer more from a change.

**MaryCarney** · 05-26-2011, 06:34 PM

The problem with Primatene is that people 'self-diagnose' and self-treat their 'asthma'. PARTICULARLY in children.
Primatene is labeled 'for treatment of physician-diagnosed asthma symptoms' - but my ER experience is that the vast majority of people who use it have never been diagnosed with asthma. It is particularly misused by smokers.

**Nishu** · 05-26-2011, 06:35 PM

I wish they would replace it with something else. Even a more expensive CFC-free, OTC inhaler would still be cheaper than an ER visit or a doctors visit.

**NikoSan999** · 05-26-2011, 07:09 PM

While none of us use it we don't have prescription with our health insurance or doctor co pay. So someone like us would be screwed. We would go from paying $20 (?) to full fledged prescription price plus doctor visit for renewal for him/her to say "Yep, you still need it....here's your prescription and please pay on the way out".

**pollypurebred39** · 05-26-2011, 08:49 PM

I've used it when I could not afford a doctors appointment and a script. Sad to see a choice for the working poor taken away.

The FDA’s statement offers guidance for people who find it hard to pay for their new asthma meds.

What's the FDA's guidance?

**imagine** · 05-26-2011, 09:50 PM

Originally Posted by pollypurebred39

I've used it when I could not afford a doctors appointment and a script. Sad to see a choice for the working poor taken away.

The FDA’s statement offers guidance for people who find it hard to pay for their new asthma meds.

What's the FDA's guidance?

"According to the FDA news release, "Replacement medicines for Primatene Mist may cost more."

The agency offers the following advice to people who can't afford a more expensive medication:

-- Talk to your health care professional about programs that help patients get medicines they need.

-- Contact the company that makes the drug that your health care professional prescribes. The company may have a patient-assistance program that makes medicines available to patients at low or no cost.

-- Contact the Partnership for Prescription Assistance"

Environment Trumps Health As FDA Ends Sales of Only OTC Asthma Inhaler in U.S. [Archive] - DVD Talk Forum

**pollypurebred39** · 05-26-2011, 09:59 PM

This comment is not directed at you Imagine. I thank you for the time you took to find this information out.

Oh sure, instead of standing on my own two feet and taking care of myself the advice is for me to beg for help. Fabulous! No thanks.

**Missy** · 05-26-2011, 10:00 PM

I'd pay more for another OTC though if there was an option. VS the copay and etc of the visit, plus the copay of the script, as long as my dr still saw it fit for me to use.

**cab54** · 05-28-2011, 09:11 AM

Originally Posted by MaryCarney

The problem with Primatene is that people 'self-diagnose' and self-treat their 'asthma'. PARTICULARLY in children.
Primatene is labeled 'for treatment of physician-diagnosed asthma symptoms' - but my ER experience is that the vast majority of people who use it have never been diagnosed with asthma. It is particularly misused by smokers.

Yup. My dad smoked for about 60 years. He used primatene, even though I begged him to stop. I told him to ask his doc for broncho-dilator meds, if needed. He continued with the primatene anyway.

**pollypurebred39** · 05-28-2011, 10:18 AM

I think there's a lot of self medicating going on out there, for whatever reason. All those heartburn medications, Aleve, even Benadryl was once a prescription only drug. Aleve is just naprason, I take it when the inflammation in my spine causes me not to be able to walk more then a few feet. I buy it over the counter and use prescription dose levels (doctor told me to). I always double check with my local pharmacist if I have any other medications I'm taking at the same time.

There are tons of once was a prescription only medications on the market. Heck there's lots of pharmacy only medications on the market too, or restricted medications that only require a discussion with your pharmacist.

I figure it this way, it's kind of like buyer beware. I'd much rather have the option of these drugs then not. The truth is, if I didn't have these options I would be doing without. It's just not so easy to pay out of pocket for a doctors visit and then a script. To do that would mean I was choosing to pay for a doctor and meds or paying the light bill, or food and gas. There's just really no real viable options for me other then OTC medications, and I know I'm not the only one.

**imagine** · 05-28-2011, 11:12 AM

Originally Posted by pollypurebred39

I think there's a lot of self medicating going on out there, for whatever reason. All those heartburn medications, Aleve, even Benadryl was once a prescription only drug. Aleve is just naprason, I take it when the inflammation in my spine causes me not to be able to walk more then a few feet. I buy it over the counter and use prescription dose levels (doctor told me to). I always double check with my local pharmacist if I have any other medications I'm taking at the same time.

There are tons of once was a prescription only medications on the market. Heck there's lots of pharmacy only medications on the market too, or restricted medications that only require a discussion with your pharmacist.

I figure it this way, it's kind of like buyer beware. I'd much rather have the option of these drugs then not. The truth is, if I didn't have these options I would be doing without. It's just not so easy to pay out of pocket for a doctors visit and then a script. To do that would mean I was choosing to pay for a doctor and meds or paying the light bill, or food and gas. There's just really no real viable options for me other then OTC medications, and I know I'm not the only one.

You wouldn't need to go to the doc every time you needed a prescription for the inhaler. They normally give you enough refills for a year. when Buddy was on then I would ask if they had any samples and they would give me at least one at the visit.

When Buddy's medicine was costing us $100 a month because we were between insurance. I ask if they had any samples as we were between insurance. They ask how long until the new one kicks in I said three months so they gave me (free) three months.

**pollypurebred39** · 05-28-2011, 11:35 AM

Wow, Lucky you! My regular doctors office no longer gives out samples. Started that about 3 years back, sent out a letter saying that it was the new policy of his office (connected with a major medical center) that they would no longer be accepting samples from reps because of the kick back scandals and that we could rest assured that our doctor would be prescribing only the medications that he felt best for whatever condition we had.

My doctor did the same thing (the refills), I still have the ampules for the nebulizer, but it does not help when you are out and about, can't carry a machine around. My doctor charges $150 a visit, just not going to happen. That's 7 Primatene mists, it's real easy to do that math when we struggle to keep bills current. Going to my doctor is about the same to me as lobster, a luxury. I've have had to humble myself twice and go to the clinic, once when I was out of my mind in pain with my spine, and once because I had pneumonia. If there is something I don't ever want to have to do again it's that. They try to make it as dignified as possible, but there's nothing dignified about it. They are a group of volunteers that do not accept any gov money, it's all donations. They have very few samples, too many people. You wait weeks for an appt., but if it's an emergency you can come in and sit in their waiting room and they may be able to squeeze you in sometime during the day.

I think the day I walked in that clinic and accepted free help was the day my Grandmother rolled over in her grave.

**Nishu** · 05-28-2011, 11:00 PM

They've kept this thing on the market for years even though certain groups have called for it to be pulled because of the self medicating issue. The FDA said it was safe enough to keep on the market. And then it gets banned because of CFCs? I don't know, it just seems kind of shady I guess. I would have hoped they had done some research into it before they pull a medication off the shelves that could very well be life saving.