Wal-Mart Offers Cheap HFA Asthma Inhalers
by Jaymi Heimbuch, San Francisco, California 
on 12.31.08
Photo via Brave New Films
Earlier this month we reported that ozone-friendly HFA inhalers are to be the norm as CFC-based inhalers are banned. Two chief complaints about this move are that the prices for HFA are much higher and that dose counters aren't usually included - dose counters help users know when the inhaler is empty of medication.
Well, Wal-Mart of all companies has solved those two problems by putting out the cheapest HFA inhaler on the market, and it includes a dose counter.
Despite the many environmentally-based arguments against patronizing Wal-Mart stores, the company has indeed come up with a solution to the core arguments against this more eco-friendly inhaler (though what they're doing to make it so cheap is cause for concern, and just might out weigh green benefits).
At any rate, the HFA inhaler is priced at $9 and has 60 metered inhalations.
"While some HFA inhalers may sell for as much as $60 for certain brands, our $9 ReliOn Ventolin HFA inhaler will ease the financial burden for sufferers of asthma who should not go without these life-saving medications," said Sandy Kinsey, Walmart's divisional merchandise manager for pharmacy.
While the HFA inhalers are good news for the environment, and the affordable price of Wal-Mart's offer makes going green easier, we still are skeptical of just how much of an eco-improvement these inhalers represent.
Via Press Release
More on Wal-Mart's Greener Side:
360 Wind Powered Wal-Mart Stores by April 2009
Wal-Mart: The Next Steps Toward Sustainability
The TH Interview: Andy Ruben & Matt Kissler of Wal-Mart
Going Green Is Strictly Business. Just Ask Wal-Mart
Wal-Mart CEO Calls for Reduced Consumption?
Follow @TreeHugger on Twitter & get our headlines with @TH_rss!
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As a long time inhaler user I can tell you that both of these arguments have always been bunk:
1. Inhalers are insanely overpriced. I still pay over $100 for an inhaler that is long out of patent because no one makes a generic.
2. The metered inhalations are always over estimated. While it may puff out "medication" for that many puffs the stuff at the end isn't as good as the stuff at the beginning. Besides that, for all but daily use, you have to "prime" the inhaler first: This means wasting a puff because it won't be any good anyway.
I'm sure my current inhaler is a CFC kind. I only hope these new inhalers are just as effective.
While the effort by Wal-Mart is commendable, the press release does not mention that the branded Ventolin inhaler provides 200 metered inhalations and retails for a little ove $50.00. The price the average consumer with insurance will pay for the 200 metered dose inhaler is less than $10.00. So how "green" is this? 3 times as many inhalers, 3 times as many trips to Wal-Mart - hey wait a minute - maybe that is the point after all!
@crhilton-
I've been using the HFA inhaler (ventolin) for about a year now, and it works fine. Tastes like hell, but works fine.
I've never had a dosage counter on my rescue inhaler before. There's one on the Advair, but that's a different kind of system than a regular inhaler. I've always told empty from full by dropping the canister in a glass of water- if it floats, it's empty.
How is this really a step forward? My current HFA inhaler costs around $30 and provides 200 metered inhalations. Getting the same number of inhalations from the new Wal-Mart inhalers will still cost me $30, but will result in over three times as much waste.
I use a Proair HFA inhaler for my asthma, I can attest that they don't feel as effective as my old CFC inhalers. The lack of a dose counter on my particular inhaler makes it difficult to determine when my inhaler is running out. The low speed of the propellant makes a brand new HFA inhaler spray seems like a nearly empty CFC inhaler. Though, if Wal-Mart can sell a HFA inhaler with a dose counter for $9, that might (emphasis on might) be worth considering making my first ever trip to that store.
@Anonymous,
I shake it. I can hear empty. I use what my doctor recommends. I've tried to get switched to more reasonably priced medications (especially if they don't come in an "auto-haler" -- which are junk) but I get a nasty look and a prescription for the same thing.
Actually my old doctor just told me that it's better to stay with this. I don't know why.
Ventolin is the really old stuff isn't it? Before albuterol and pirbuterol?
walmart sells something cheap?
whoaa
@crhilton,
Ventolin is albuterol; just a brand name for it. Either way; these are rescue inhalers. If you're using them daily, it's a good chance your asthma isn't controlled. What worries me is that it sounds like your doc isn't giving his/her reasons for sticking with your current one and isn't willing to give you options. Watch out there- my OLD doctor used to give me the "nasty look and a prescription for the same thing" and my moderate/severe asthma was horribly mismanaged as a result and landed me in the hospital. My new doc discussed all the options and now I can count on one hand the # of times I've used it in the past 1.5 years. In fact, my inhaler expired before it was ever used up.
I eliminated 95% of my asthma medications with acupuncture. After 1 1/2 years of acupuncture, I was able to get by with less than 1 inhaler per year. Now I've weaned myself from the acupuncturist, though I may have to go back for a tune-up someday.
http://www.savecfcinhalers.org
This morally despicable forced change of medication is making thousands upon thousands of asthma
sufferers sick.
See their explanations of what is going at these two links:
http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/saveCFCinhalers/signatures.html
https://www.savecfcinhalers.org/Guestbook.php
Fight back and hold those responsible for this travesty accountable.
http://www.savecfcinhalers.org
The National Campaign to Save CFC Asthma Inhalers