Asthma Alert

If you or someone in your family relies on Primatene Mist epinephrine spray to help control wheezing and other mild asthma symptoms, talk with your doctor about other options. After almost 50 years on the market, Primatene Mist, the only asthma inhaler sold without a prescription, will disappear from store shelves by Jan 1, 2012. The reason is the medication currently contains chlorofluorocarbons, or CFCs, which are being phased out because they damage the protective ozone layer that shields us from some of the sun’s harmful ultraviolet rays. A CFC-free version of Primatene Mist is being developed, said an executive at drugmaker Armstrong Pharmaceuticals. But the product still would have to earn approval from the Food and Drug Administration before it could be marketed. Ask your doctor for a written action plan that covers preventive strategies, such as dealing with seasonal allergies and other asthma triggers, guideline for what to do if symptoms flare, and treatment options.