Xopenex

As albuterol is not going to be sold anymore soon, I was given Xopenex. Question...is this my emergency inhaler now?? Thanks:)

I just got a bunch of information in the mail from my insurance company about the inhalers that will be replacing alberterol inhalers with CFC's and xonopex was one of them.

From the info pamphlet they sent on xonopex, it sounded exactly like albuterol without the CFC's. I'm sure someone who takes something other than reguler albuterol will be along shortly to answer your questions better than I can.

Looks like I'll be changing over to xonopex myself :)

Thanks for the reply:) I am really terrified to change meds as the albuterol works good for me. Before I had it as a rescue inhaler I had an attack and nearly died. I was in the hospital for a week and sick at at home for a long time. I hope this works as good. My pharmacist told me stocked up on albuterol for me if it doesn't.

Hello everyone! Albuterol metered dose inhalers contain CFC (chlorofluorocarbons) which is the propellent that sends your medication into your lungs. CFC has been proven to deplete the O-Zone and the FDA has informed the mfg of Albuterol to stop production by the end of 2008 or change the propellent to HFA (hydrofluoroalkane) which is O-Zone friendly. Manufacturers have already begun to make or speed up the production of inhalers which contain HFA (Xopenex is one already using HFA). This is probably the reason that most MDs are Rx'ing the change to Xopenex. Ck your inhaler ... if it is Albuterol w/CFC, contact your MD and ask for a new Rx w/HFA. FDA has found that HFA inhalers are safe & effective & pats should not find any significant differences from their CFC inhalers. It may be possible that some pts might find that the new inhalers have a slightly different taste or feel. For pts who have been switched from Albuterol to Xopenex, you will find a pleasant surprise in the fact that Xopenex usually does not give what some refer to as "jitters" as it increases the heart rate less than Albuterol. Please let me know if anyone has anymore questions.

hi they recently changed my 6 year old over to xopenex for his emergency nebulizer treatments. And yes a new pleasant surprise no more bouncing off the walls or jitters. yeah!!

My question is.....If the propellent in the old albuterol was bad for the ozone....What was it doing to my kids lungs??????????

My experience with the new hfa has not been as rosy as some might say. Albuterol CFC works much better for me than the HFA type Albuterol. With HFA I have to use 3 to 4 times as much to get only half of the results that the CFC type gave. The CFC type allowed or caused the thick phlegm (part of asthma symptoms) to thin or flow which was as helpful to me as dilating the airway.

Years ago I used to do auto air-conditioning service. The CFC propellant, Refrigerant R12 in inhalers was this same refrigerant and it never aggravated my asthma. Then when the new refrigerant 134a (which is the new HFA propellant) replacement was required, I began to have severe symptoms accompanied by lots of odd tasting phlegm. For the first few weeks of using HFA products, not only Albuterol, I had the same odd tasting phlegm and a need to use inhalers more often than before.

Back to the auto air-conditioning days. When it caused asthma problems for me I did internet research on this new refrigerant 134a and found that even though it was allegedly better for the environment it was hazardous to humans. The MSDS (Material Safety Data Sheet) sheet from the makers warned of it. This was even backed up buy some military studies. Now that information cannot be found on the web and the new refrigerant 134a MSDS states that there is no concern other than suffocation from oxygen displacement. I won’t go into any dialog on the ozone layer but, as it pertains to treating asthma symptoms, I prefer the CFCs. I still have one left for real emergencies.

I feel albuterol works better also. My pharmacist stocked up on it for me so I can get it until he is out or it is illegal to sell...then I will buy all he has. The taste is better also!

I am 56 years old and was diagnosed with severe asthma five years ago.  Albuterol made me feel like I was just jumping out of my skin.  I have always used Xopenex and it works for me.  I also take an injection of Xolair every 28 days and the dreaded Prednisone when needed.

A few months back I had a Petition AGAINST the FDA to stop the CFC ban...I realized that the transition was too far gone already. Proair HFA is terrible. But I love Xopenex HFA. Used it in my Nebulizer before it was made into the inhaler. Less side effects and a little cheaper than Ventolin HFA. We have to find the right inhaler now, before the change. For me Xopenex is my new "Albuterol"...I'm learning to not let my Asthma get to the point where I need a rescue. Education about our triggers is a great help. Things I've learned that in my 40 year battle with Asthma I never knew.

I agree with another day, try the Xopenex. It's not the same as albuterol! The Xopenex works very good for me. It's the same medication that is used in your nebulizers, so think about it.................

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* Allergies
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Pituitary Gland
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Patient: "I always see spots with my eyes"
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I just got the Proair HFA, and it does not work nearly as well as the old Albuterol for me. Can you still buy the old Albuterol through the end of 2008? I'm all for helping the environment, but it stinks that this new one doesn't work as well for me. It really doesn't seem to do anything.

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24 years old
Diagnosed with UC March 2007; yet to go into remission
Asacol 4 tablets 3x/day

Sara,

Why not give Xopenex a try?  It works great for me and as you can see a few others have used it with success.

Good luck!

Carla

 

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Moderator, Allergies/Asthma

I will ask my doctor about it. Thanks, another day!

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24 years old
Diagnosed with UC March 2007; yet to go into remission
Asacol 4 tablets 3x/day

ceebee, I read that your pharmacist is going to sell albuterol to you when there's no more. Now nobody has more albuterol, can you tell if your pharmacist still have some to sell. I would like to buy some for myself. How are you doing with the Xopenex, are you still using it?

 

Ceebee, Albuterol is still available only the difference is the propellant which is now HFA.  I use the albuterol for my rescue inhaler and it works fine for me and I have been using the one with HFA for the past year as my pharmacist switched over early.  I have very bad asthma so I use a long term inhaler called symbicort.  I use it twice a day and I hardly ever have to use my albuterol. If your asthma is a daily problem you should not use albuterol every day as it can be hard on your heart.  Your best bet is to talk to your dr. if your asthma is not controlled and get a long term inhaler like I use.  Albuterol does not give me the jitters so that is why I like it.  I was also given a xopenex inhaler and it never worked for me - no jitters but no relief for breathing. As far as the CFC albuterol you are lucky if your pharmacist still has it and is willing to give it to you. But the honest fact is the CFC that is claimed to hurt the ozone layer is such a small amount in an inhaler that it really would not harm the ozone.  But we are dealing with the government, the FDA and the EPA and when they decide something then that's what happens. Even if all the asthmatics in the US were still able to have a CFC inhaler it would make no difference to the ozone. Think about all the gasoline, coal, power plant emissions that harm the ozone.  Those are the things that are bad for the environment. But somebody at the EPA got it in their head to make the change.  Those people must not have asthma or know anyone who does. And the drug companies would just as soon people use the long term inhalers like mine or advair because they are much more expensive. Also, when my dr. gives me a nebulizer treatment it is with xopenex but xopenex in a nebulizer is different than in an inhaler. Sorry to expound but this is a subject that really gets my goat.

Aurora 

One more thing for those who don't find the HFA albuterol working as well - you need to use a spacer with your inhaler.  Maybe that is why the albuterol works so well for me.  With a spacer the med gets into your lungs and does not linger on your tongue or in your throat if you don't use the inhaler correctly.  You can get a spacer at any pharmacy and your dr and pharmacist should be telling you to use a spacer.  Got all my info from my truly great pulmonologist who saved my life this summer.

Aurora

I agree with you Aurora, there was no cause for the Government to step in and force us to have cfc free inhalers,
when there are other things out there that are hurting the environment more than our asthma inhalers, it had such a small amount
of cfc in it. But, as the Government has step in, nothing we can do about it much now, I like the Xopenex and it's the same med used in
your nebulizer . Sorry the Xopenex is not a help to you Aurora, maybe another emergency inhaler med will come out
soon that'll help those better than Xopenex. Since Xopenex is used in nebulizer form, might be you need a strong dose of
Xopenex in the inhaler form as we do get and build up amminunities to certain medications if you've been on them for
a long period of time...

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* Asthma, Allergies, Osteoarthritis, Spinal Stenosis, Degenative Disc, Fibromyalgia, Gerd, Enlarged Pituitary Gland
******** "We could never learn to be brave and patient if there were only joy in the world" from Helen Keller *********

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Hi Chartreux, I would guess that the xopenex used in the nebulizer is stronger than my inhaler. But I am one of I imagine a few people who do not get the jitters from albuterol. And it works fine for me.  But I am on symbicort long term and that keeps me breathing free.  Only when I over exert myself do I need my rescue inhaler. And who knows maybe they will come out with another type of rescue inhaler. Thanks for your reply.

Aurora

For more information about the HFA inhalers and the many side effects, Please check out the link below. I didn't realize that so many patients were suffering like me. I've tried ALL of the HFA's and ALL of them made me sick.

https://www.savecfcinhalers.org/

IWAW, have you tried using a spacer with your inhaler? This may help you not to feel as sick after using it.  Also, how bad is your asthma?  Maybe you need a long term inhaler and not just a rescue inhaler.  Have you tried xopenex?  I find it to be very mild although it doesn't help me as a rescue inhaler.  How are you feeling sick from your inhaler, and which one do you use and how often?  Rescue inhalers are not meant to be used every day.  If you have to use is several times each day then you need a long term inhaler.  Also, do you rinse out your mouth carefully after use?  Using the spacer will keep the med going into your lungs and not lingering on your tongue and throat.  You may feel sick if your med is staying in your mouth and throat.  Before I got a spacer I was so hoarse I could barely talk. But I have bad asthma that was not under control so that is why I use symbicort for long term and I have no side effects from it now, just a slight nausea when I first started but I was able to breathe freely from the start and that meant more to me than a little nausea for a week. Please post and let us know how you are doing.  Also, it might be a good idea to talk this over with your dr.

Aurora

Aurora, what brand of albuterol do you use? I am using proventil HFA and it makes me feel sick, anxious, shaky. It's so hard for me because I am an anxiety sufferer and on medication for that.
Thank you for the great information.

Cris

 

Cris, I use Proair albuterol HFA as my rescue inhaler. You have not mentioned how bad your asthma is. If you are using albuterol or a rescue inhaler every day then you should have a long term inhaler. I only use albuterol if I am having a really bad day. Otherwise I use symbicort as my long term inhaler and I never have any side effects anymore. At first I had a litle nausea but it passed quickly. I have tried xopenex and it does not clear up my breathing. That is why I use albuterol and I don't get the jitters from it. But everyone is different and reacts differently to meds. I also have acid reflux and I take protonix for that and I have no problems with my stomach. I also take 5 other meds for health problems and none of them react with each other. My dr. was careful to put me on meds that all work with each other. I do have a pulmonologist though who treats me for my asthma but my health care system is all connected. If your asthma is bad you really should see a lung specialist as this is the best way to treat and control asthma.

Aurora

 

 Thank you so much Auroroa for your reply, It's good to know about other albuterol inhaler, I never heard about ProAir. And yes I am using another inhaler for long term,(Flovent HFA), but that's something that I have to change, I used it when it was CFC. I need to find the right inhaler HFA for both, long term and rescuer. I will continue to taste one at a time. The spacer is a good idea also.

 By the way, have you signed the petition to have the CFC back? I did and I hope we can have them back because they work better.

Thank you again.

Cris