In 2009, the FDA banned the use of chlorofluorocarbons in albuterol inhalers. This meant that all of the generic inhalers (which contained CFCs) were pulled from the shelves. As pharmaceutical companies saw the ban coming, some CFC-free hydroflouroalkane (HFA) inhalers had been brought to market in the years prior. These new inhalers were, of course, branded and more expensive than generic inhalers.
What happened next will shock you! Well, maybe not. But the research on the topic is interesting and worth a read. Go now to my latest post over at the AcademyHealth blog!
