Posted: 6/6/2010 8:39:29 PM EDT
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Has anyone heard of the new style inhaler only lasting 2 months after opening.?
Was getting a refill at the pharmacy and thats when they told me. Posted this in GD but also wanted to see if anyone knew more in here. New one's don't work for shit even with the spacer. |
I've heard the same thing BUT, it makes no sense to me. You are not putting anything into the inhaler by using. If it is going bad in two months once used, then it is going bad from the time it was made and would have a 2 month shelf life whether used or not.  .
And thank the greenies for this! |
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Once upon a time, I was given a Ventolin "roto-haler" as a sample. You put a capsule of powdered albuterol in this thing that looked like a tiny kazoo. Give it a twist to break open the capsule, then hold it to your mouth and take a big ol' breath of albuterol dust. No idea if that sort of device would address your concerns, or if it's still on the market, or what. |
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They can be good for years like most medications.
This is a public service announcement: Most people with a white coat in a pharmacy have no education and may have no high school education (6 techs or more to one Registered Pharmacist kinda deal). Most states require some Bull Sierra O.J.T. test and a few actually require education which is not much at all  . My best friend's wife is a pharmacy tech at Wally World and is a big source of entertainment for 2 RNs.
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| I am a Pharmacist. Ventolin HFA is ood for 12 months after being removed from it's protective package or roughly 200 inhalations, whichever comes 1st. Here's a link to the Ventolin HFA site for more info. Ventolin HFA |
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Quoted:
I've had a pharmacy tell me the 2 month thing as well. It's BS. I have extremely mild asthma and a single inhaler generally lasts me a year or more at a time. Still works just as well when it's nearly empty as it did when it was full. Yeah, unfortunately sometimes bad info makes it's way out of peoples' mouths from time. The "problem"/difference with the new HFA inhalers is their propellant. I've had people tell me they don't work because they are used to having that blast of spray from the old inhaler hit the back of their throat and make them cough. The new HFAs don't do that. It's a slower delivery. The reason for the 12 month dating is due to the fact that this is the maximum that the manufacturer is willing to bet that you will get the full or any of the dose. This could be due to propellent "bleed off" or acidental accuation or the cannister nozel being partially or completely clogged. Will it work after 12 months if you are religeous about cleaning the mouth piece? Maybe, but are you willing to stake your life on it with a "rescue inhaler" that doesn't work when you need it? You've got to remember where most people keep rescue inhalers are in "less than ideal" places. By that I mean in their pocket, in their glovebox, tacklebox, toolbox, you could name more. All these places are prone to dirt and dust and unless you clean the mouth piece daily or after every use, it will eventually get clogged. The two month date is BS. THey may have heard that from some sales rep and just passing along what they heard instead of doing the research. I am from the old school and believe less that 50 percent of what I hear from sales reps, they are salesmen any way you slice it. If it sounds "too good/bad" to be true, it probably is. I tend to look things up for myself and look before I leap. |