On December 31, 2011, the last over the counter epinephrine asthma inhalers containing chloroflourocarbons (CFCs) will be removed from the market and consumers who rely on them will be forced to switch to more expensive CFC free alternatives.
CFCs are an aerosol type substance that depletes the ozone layer and this move by the FDA is in accordance with the 1987 Montreal Protocol where 26 nations pledged to eliminate these chemicals.
Here’s the kicker.
These CFC free “green” inhalers are available by prescription only. Not only will consumers have to pay for a doctor visit to obtain them, but they will also have to fork out anywhere from $10-$50 more per inhaler, in some cases triple the current price!
Wait, there’s more.
Will this elimination of CFC inhalers actually help the environment?
Nope.
Dean Baker from the Center for Economic and Policy Research says:
“It’s just absurd to think that this is anything that could have a measurable impact. You’d be hard-pressed to find a law that raised costs so much for such a nonexistent benefit to the environment.”
Edward Parson from the University of Michigan, an expert on ozone regulation, wholeheartedly concurs.  He says the beneficial environmental impact of removing the cheaper inhalers from the market will be “tiny”.
As it turns out, the new “green” inhalers aren’t even really green! The propellants used are hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) which are considered powerful greenhouse gases.
Score another one for Big Pharma. By spending only $520,000 lobbying the FDA between 2005 and 2010 to eliminate the cheaper inhalers, off brand competition has been completely eliminated simply by hiding behind a pseudo-green facade.
No worries though. The patents for the new CFC free inhalers will expire in only about 6 years. Prices should go back down then when generic brands hit the market once again.
In the meantime, Big Pharma will rake in about $8 billion in additional revenue from a captive and dependent consumer along with insurance companies and the US government.
$520,000 spent on lobbying plus $1 billion to develop the “green” inhalers compared to $8 billion in additional revenue gained. An insanely good return on investment in only 6 years.
Ah, helping the environment can be such a profitable endeavor.
Sarah, The Healthy Home Economist
Sources: CFC Inhalers Being Phased Out by FDA Due to Environmental Effects
Jess – can you please speak more to your experience with and knowledge of lobelia please. I have some dry lobelia and tincture per one of our local apothecary’s recommendation but I know it can cause nausea so I always feel confused about dose and route (tea, tincture, etc) and how often and when to take for my hubby. Does it REALLY help? I would LOVE your insight!!!!
I wrote to my senators when I heard a while back and they sent me some crap about the ozone layer. No one cares.
I used to be so dependent on my inhalers, thankfully since going paleo, my asthma’s under control.
Got Asthma? Get Ready to Open Your Wallet – The Healthy Home Economist http://t.co/5GBZAWNO
I was on inhalers for many years….
Since I switched to raw dairy, I have thrown them all out and never looked back.
The hypocrisy, however, continues…The factory-farm industry contributes more to the CO2 problem than the transportation industry, yet they go after asthma inhalers.
With each day that goes by, I am less optimistic that we will be able to turn this boat around.
Live your happiest life possible within the confines of what the gov’t and big biz allow. It’s really all you can do.
~Kenny (who is losing his optimism)
Don’t lose your optimism Kenny. It is a very important tool for health. Just know how to navigate the minefield safely which is what this blog hopefully helps you to do in some small way. We are just dealing with the same problems as anyone ever has in humankind just in a different oppressive form.
No one can ever take away from you your choice to smile no matter what! 🙂
“Live your happiest life possible within the confines of what the gov’t and big biz allow. It’s really all you can do.”
I’m going to live by that advice.
I believe there are natural alternatives to dealing with/healing asthma, but the ‘banned’ inhalers did work better/faster than the new ‘psuedo-green’ ones. It’s a scary proposition (to use a more expensive, just as chemical laden, less affective treatment) when you are having trouble breathing! Way to go FDA…thanks for making sure my inhaler doesn’t hurt the ozone (said w/ sarcasm)!
FOrtunately, our asthma is under control with just coffee, but I feel for those who will be hard-hit by this.
I’ve never heard of coffee helping asthma. Maybe the CREAM in the coffee would help with asthma but what is in coffee that helps?
My guess would be that coffee is a stimulant, causes vaso constriction of the veins / arteries and dilates the pulmonary bed ( bronchioles, aveloli ). Increasing air flow, gas exchange.
But, I agree. Never heard of coffee helping any COPD ( asthma, bronchitis, et al ) issue.
Coffee used to help me as well with mild bouts of asthma. Coffee enemas helped even more but then I couldn’t sleep at night. Fortunately I have gone into remission after 39 years of asthma and about 30 years of medications.
Got Asthma? Get Ready to Open Your Wallet – The Healthy Home Economist http://t.co/E0EqEDPd
A compelling reason for people to seek natural alternatives to drugs…
Yes, or go on the GAPS diet and put that asthma in remission once and for all!
I am on the GAPS diet and have put my asthma on remission that I’ve had for 39 years! Bee venom therapy really helped a great deal to turn it around as did large amounts of garlic mixed with cayenne pepper. GAPS has helped me heal up the last piece of it!
Tracey
I’ve never been to clear on how inhalers work, do the propellants themselves enter the airways?
The whole concept is just plain frightening to me, I’m so relieved no one in the family has ever needed them. My old GP (bless him) believed them to worsen the condition, so when one of my sons had a “touch of asthma” as a wee boy, he assured me with healthy food he’d grow out of it. Meanwhile other mothers were furious at his response and told me to change doctors. Of course he was right!