PRIMATENE MIST Nationwide Shortage!!!

[Wiix]

I use it and am having a terrible time finding any. I have about a week's worth left and when that runs out I don't know WHAT I am going to do. If ANYONE has any I will buy it from you just PM me PLEASE!!! Unopened refil still in the box only Please.

[Wiix]

On www.Primatine.com it SAYS they are having a problem with a 3rd party manufacturer BUT then I just heard that the FDA has told them they can ONLY sell them until the end of this year. NOW, what's the truth is what I want to know. Is Primatine cutting into Big Drug Companies Profits on their prescription inhalers??

Why?? What is this about?? Drug companies losing money on THEIR outrageously priced Albuterol inhalers?? People fed up with the Bullsh*t going to doctors every 3 months JUST to get refils then they sock you with more tests or they won't give you refills?? I KNOW what's going on. The B*ST*RDS!!!! I went through all that a few years ago. If I can't breath, well, I guess I will just have to die.

WHY would they stop making them with so many people depending on them??? Other people have told me the same thing. They are SICK to Death of the Medical Run a round just to get refills!! That's why I started using it. I guess I could TRY the tablets but people tell me it makes their heart really race.

[Wiix]

OK, here is the FIRST site I have seen with ANY mention of Possible availability. Two to three weeks SO what does that mean to us?? A Month??

[mrsD]

Perhaps this is what is happening....

Many older products, have been allowed on the market grandfathered in
when newer laws required safety and efficacy to be submitted to FDA.

Guaifenesin (Robitussin) was recently involved with this... and had to submit new data.

Some companies choose to not do the high $$ involved. Some get delayed.

Because of the death of that model (her name escapes me) perhaps this is being required of Primatine.
http://www.jlh-design.com/2007/01/pr...piracy-theory/

Primatene was also in short supply about 4 yrs ago. That took 6mos, to get it back on the shelves.

Here is a web forum discussing diversion, abuse:
http://64.233.167.104/search?q=cache...lnk&cd=7&gl=us

If it were true that the active ingredient was being diverted into illicit drug manufacture, you'd think they would put it behind the pharmacy counter, like pseudoephedrine.
The secrecy about this is confusing.

I could not log onto www.fda.gov/ for you tonight. It seems to be down. Sorry

[Wiix]

It hasn't been at my local Walgreen's now for about 3 months. I have been cruising odd stores here and there and when I see ANY I grab all of them. I am down to my very Last one now. I'm getting nervous.

[Curious]

wii, i have some errands to run monday and i'll look here for you.

[Wiix]

Thank you. I will Gladly send you a M.O.

[mrsD]

and I found this:

http://www.fda.gov/cder/meeting/ozone/Sander.pdf

This is interesting:
http://www.fda.gov/ohrms/dockets/doc...6-Attach-1.pdf

reformulating the inhaler to be fluorohydrocarbon free, like the RX ones have become. This looks like the most likely cause of the interruption.

We really need to move this thread out of this forum and into Medications, so we can find it easily! I'll PM Curious to do it.

[mrsD]

Thanks Curious.

I decided to ask at the Wyeth board at CafePharma. They may answer back if
they are in a good mood...many posts asking for info just get flamed. So if I get a good answer I'll come back here with it. Cross your fingers.

[mrsD]

37 views to my question, and not one answer, so far.

I am still searching for a REAL answer:

found this just now:
http://lungdiseases.about.com/od/ast...matenemist.htm

This cites the PDF I linked to above.

FDA Considering Ban of Primatene Mist

About.com Health's Disease and Condition content is reviewed by Sanja Jelic, MD
Will Primatene Mist Be Taken Off the Shelves?
If you're one of the 3 million Americans who use Primatene Mist to manage your asthma, you may have to look for an alternative. The Pulmonary-Allergy Drugs Advisory Committee voted 11 to 7 in favor of removing Primatene Mist from drugstore shelves because of the harmful chemical it contains.

Primatene Mist Contains Ozone-Depleting Chemical
Primatene Mist, manufactured by Wyeth Consumer Healthcare, contains chlorofluorocarbon (CFC) which facilitates the propulsion of the medication (epinephrine) from the inhaler canister. CFC has been used in many aerosolized products in the past, but its use has been phased out because of its effects on the Earth's ozone layer. CFC depletes the ozone layer that provides protection against the Sun's harmful rays. (Read more about ozone and your health.)

No OTC Alternatives for Primatene Mist Users
Currently, there are no epinephrine-based inhalers on the market that use hydrofluroalkane (HKF), the environmentally safe aerosol propellant, and there are no epinephrine-based prescription inhalers on the market.

CFC-Containing Prescription Inhalers Banned
Prescription inhalers containing CFC are being phased out. In March 2005, the FDA ruled that all prescription inhalers containing CFC will be banned by the end of 2008, forcing drug manufacturers to use an alternative, environmentally safe aerosol propellant.

Please read the whole above article!

I just searched Ebay for you: Many there! You can get them and even buy ahead:
http://search.ebay.com/search/search...ist&category0=

The bidding is pretty aggressive there. So prices are not "low".
You may just have to go to a doctor. Sorry.... and get albuterol, now. Think about this: If you buy albuterol at a discount pharmacy with an RX... you can get about 10 of them for $100 or less. Of course you need the doctor RX first, which costs. But in the end it might be less $$ to get the RX and a good check up.