Inhalers going waaaay up in price in December

Jeannie143

Veteran Member

Joined : Apr 2004

Posts : 6056

Posted 9/6/2008 9:07 AM (GMT -6)

I was reading about the replacement propellant for inhalers in Scientific American magazine and wondered what everyone is planning to do about the increased cost. I believe the new gas will raise the price to three or four times the current cost. I don't have any insurance and there won't be any generics until 2012. Any ideas?

Here's a link about the price increase:

HFA inhalers replacing generic albuterol inhalers, driving up costs

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Red_34

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Posted 9/6/2008 9:42 AM (GMT -6)

Many people that don't have insurance are in the same bind as you. These meds keep getting more and more expensive while our paychecks seem to get smaller and smaller. The only thing I can think of is ask your doc for samples and/or check into prescription assistance plans. If you have asthma, it seems that there should be something out there to keep you BREATHING ya know? I just wish that the USA had the same universal healthcare systems like some of the other countries.

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Razzle

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Posts : 4415

Posted 9/6/2008 9:57 AM (GMT -6)

Another example of governmental regulation without forethought into the impacts of such regulations on the average consumer...

-Razzle

Chronic Lyme Disease, Gluten & Sulfite Sensitivity, Many Food/Inhalant/Medication Allergies & Intolerances, Asthma, Gut issues (dysmotility, non-specific inflammation), UCTD ("Secondary Lupus-Like Syndrome"), Osteoporosis, Anemia, Lymphopenia, intermittant Pancytopenia, chronic malabsorption/malnutrition, etc.; Currently TPN-dependent.

Meds: Zofran, Vitamin B12 Shots, Heparin (to flush PICC line).

Chartreux

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Joined : Aug 2006

Posts : 9664

Posted 9/6/2008 10:21 AM (GMT -6)

Yep! I posted about this earlier, it's not so much the Goverment, but more the Enviromentalist that have done this too us. It has to do with propellents harming the ozone, However, with the low dose of propellent in the asthma inhalers it is unfair to target those of us with asthma. But the drug companies got scared and have gone willy nilly on us. So blame the Enviromentalist for this one! I'm all for the enviroment but at what point do we call it just plain old scare tactics. Let face it there are more harm in the old refrigerators than there is by one inhaler! When is enough enough...
Lucky for me my doctor was nice to give me a coupon for a free rescue inhaler. Plus when will the insurance companies pay for the new inhalers??? It's time the insurance companies started covering these new medications faster!
This is just my view point! as I stated i'm for a cleaner Enviroment too, I just don't think we need to take it this far!
Soft hugz to all...

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Aurora60

Veteran Member

Joined : Jul 2006

Posts : 1257

Posted 9/7/2008 7:30 PM (GMT -6)

Regarding the inhalers with HFA, I have been using a Pro-Air albutrol inhaler since last Nov. The pharmacies have already stopped dispensing the CFC inhalers. As far as cost, My co-pay on this type of inhaler is only $6.50. So if you have prescription drug insurance it won't be so bad. And do they work as well - sometimes they do, depending on how bad the attack is. But I have found that using a spacer with my inhaler makes all the difference in the world. So if you use an inhaler without a spacer it is likely not to be as effective. When you spray directly from the inhaler into your mouth most of the med stays at the back of your throat and does not penetrate to the lungs as well. I found out the hard way. Got so hoarse I coudn't even talk. I also use an Azmacort and have no problems with that. So if you are lucky enough to have insurance coverage the price isn't so bad. Just my thoughts on this problem. Best to check with your dr. or pharmacist.

Jeannie143

Veteran Member

Joined : Apr 2004

Posts : 6056

Posted 9/7/2008 9:57 PM (GMT -6)

Chartreux,
From my research it appears that the drug companies are behind this one. They get to look all angelic by getting rid of those nasty CFC propellants and actually, they are gonna reap a bundle until the generics come out in 2012. I have no insurance so I will probably just get a new puffer every few weeks and then try to make them last for three years! Not practical, but I've learned to deal with and get around the drug cost issues. I also get some of my meds free from Partnership for Prescription assistance. Ain't life grand?!

Chartreux

Veteran Member

Joined : Aug 2006

Posts : 9664

Posted 9/7/2008 10:06 PM (GMT -6)

Thank you Jeannie, I sometimes go off it, sorry..but there is more harm to the enviroment, from older refrigerators than in a few inhalers...I'm glad that the Partnership for presciptions can help you, we'll need to get that info out to everyone...There are also other low cost prescription plans that different pharmacies offer as well. If you need help with your prescriptions always ask your pharmacy they might be able to help or maybe local church could help..Just a thought...
Hugz to everyone!

proudmom9727

New Member

Joined : Sep 2008

Posts : 1

Posted 9/8/2008 12:13 PM (GMT -6)

This is troublesome to me, I can barely afford the inhalers I get now

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groovey

Regular Member

Joined : Nov 2007

Posts : 127

Posted 9/9/2008 8:44 AM (GMT -6)

Oh how I feel for you folks in the US who do not have a national health system as we have in uk...we are so lucky and we can get our inhalers for free if we have chronic asthma or over 60 years of age or on a low income. or if it is mild like mine pay a yearly subscription of just £100.00 which covers all meds regardless of the problem.We also have physios who work to reducing asthma through exercise and massage...all free.Take care out there or come and live in the uk...cold and wet a lot of the time but brilliant health care...groovey xx

Allura

New Member

Joined : Sep 2008

Posts : 10

Posted 9/16/2008 3:07 AM (GMT -6)

Because I have private insurance the cost for me will be the same. My concern is that I've tried these new inhalers and they don't work. My insurance company started dispensing these last November but there were so many complaints about the dangerous position it put us in, they pulled all of the new ones and started dispensing the old ones again. After December I don't know what they can do about it. I use 2 inhalers a month as it is (along with a whole host of other meds) I don't know what to do when my environmentally/politically correct rescue inhaler doesn't work!!

Mia84

Regular Member

Joined : Apr 2008

Posts : 79

Posted 9/16/2008 11:05 AM (GMT -6)

Allura I agree with you. The new ones dont seem to work as well as the old ones. I have to use more of my rescue inhaler when I have problems then I use to. I could use my old one twice and be fine. The the other time it took 3 times (2 puffs each time) to get the job done.

~Mia~

Asthma: Diagnosed Feb. 2007

Current Medications- Advair 250 and Albuterol

Past Medications- Flovent 110 and Prednisone

Jeannie143

Veteran Member

Joined : Apr 2004

Posts : 6056

Posted 9/16/2008 11:09 AM (GMT -6)

I have heard that using a "pipe" or separator with the new inhalers improves the inhalation of the dose and prevents it from just painting the back of your throat... Worth a try?

Allura

New Member

Joined : Sep 2008

Posts : 10

Posted 9/16/2008 5:30 PM (GMT -6)

Spacers have always been recommended for inhalers and I have used them with no increased results, but even though I'm not confident, I'll try anything. I did talk to my doctor today and asked him about the new inhalers. He says that they have made improvements since the original release last November and to give it another try. He also recommended that if they still don't work to use my handheld nebulizer along with the rescue inhaler. (I bought two handhelds about a year an a half ago since I was traveling through Europe...4 different countries...and did not want to have the hastle of different outlets in every country) If you haven't used them they're great, especially for kids. They run on 2 AA batteries, make no noise, can be used anywere and fit in your purse, backpack or anything you would carry with you while on an outing. Now the bad news......they're not cheap. The brand I decided on cost $250.00 each. I don't know if the price has gone down since the time of my purchase. The other bad news, or inconvience, with that resolution is that because they are nebulizers it's not just 2 puffs and go...it's sit down somewhere and take the time to use it. But, all said and done, it's at least an option.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS
As it says I'm new to the site and its always nice to have someone to talk to. I would not have thought to talk to my doctor about this issue today if I hadn't read you previous comments. Thank you

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