I bought my brother-in-law a twin pack of inhalers for Christmas. What is this world coming to when you buy someone a gas card and a box of Primatene mist? This is supposed to be the season for candies, cookies, gingerbread houses, socks, mittens, games and other fripperies that one wants but doesn't need. Honestly, I shouldn't be buying medical necessities for my family for Christmas, but this is what America has come to.
To find out why it was necessary for me to buy Primatene mist for my BIL, follow me over the artistic orange cloud...
On December 31, 2011, there will be no more Primatene Mist on the shelves. Because the inhaler delivery system puts CFCs into the ozone, they must be disconinued. Primatene Mist is the only over the counter inhaler. All other inhalers are by prescription only.
FDA Announcement
Those inhalers also used to have CFCs, however they reworked their inhaler system to use HFAs and guess what, that renewed their patent and ended the days of cheap prescription inhalers. Now the cheapest prescription (emergency) inhaler is about $40-50.
My brother-in-law, like so many of the unemployed, cannot afford medical coverage. His unemployment recently ran out. He got 8 days of work this month, acting as a skippy for my Ex, but that only managed to pay for a bicycle for his kid and cover the child support payments. There is no way that he can afford to see a doctor, get a prescripton and pay for inhalers.
When he mentioned that they were discontinuing the Primatene Mist, I didn't believe him and looked it up for myself. What horrified me the most were the comments under the articles. Comments that show a serious disconnect between the middle class (who have insurance) and the poor (who don't). They don't understand that not having an over the counter alternative means that my BIL has to wait to have a major attack and go to the Emergency Room and hope he doesn't die somewhere on the way in order to get another inhaler.
I have seen this man have an attack and I rushed into the house and swiped my son's emergency inhaler for him to use. It is truly scary to watch, so I bought my BIL an inhaler for Christmas. I started by checking E-BAY, but people are capitalizing on the fact that a ton of stores have already pulled the product and are pumping the price up. There are no depths to which a person will not go to make a profit. If finally found it with an online retailer. If someone wants the name, feel free to e-mail me and I will let you know where I got it.
So, to recap. If you have athsma and no medical insurance, well too f'n bad. Just hope you don't die on the way to the emergency room.