News
FDA phasing out seven inhalers for asthma, COPD
PR Newswire
SILVER SPRING, MD—The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) today announced that seven metered-dose inhalers (MDI) used to treat asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) will be gradually removed from the U.S. marketplace.
The inhalers to be phased out in their current formulas and the dates they will be withdrawn from the market:
Alupent and Tilade, June 14 this year; Azmacort and Intal, Dec. 31, 2010; Aerobid, June 30, 2011; Combivent and Maxair, Dec. 31, 2013.
The FDA says that patients using the inhalers scheduled to be phased out should talk to their health care professional about switching to one of several alternative treatments currently available. Until then, they should continue using their current inhaler.
These inhalers contain ozone-depleting chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), which are propellants that move medication out of the inhaler and into the lungs of patients. Alternative medications that do not contain CFCs are available.
