Albuterol metered-dose inhalers (MDIs) are the cornerstone of emergency asthma and COPD management. The ability to use these life-saving devices depends on the knowledge of patients and their caregivers. HFA MDI’s have significant differences from CFC formulation.
HFA inhalers are dry powder formulations that cannot get wet because moisture clogs the tiny hole where medication is dispensed causing the inhaler to malfunction. HFA inhalers must be stored upright, protected from moisture, dirt, extreme temperatures, and dropping or jarring to avoid malfunction. HFA inhalers must be primed prior to the first use and thereafter according to manufacturer’s directions (varies from 3 days to 3 weeks) to insure that the correct dose is dispensed by the inhaler. HFA inhalers have a limited shelf life after the first use, which requires infrequent users to refill timely, even if the inhaler isn’t empty.
HFA inhalers don’t have the same “feel” in the throat or taste as CFC inhalers. As a result, many patients doubt that the inhaler dispensed medication and use more doses than necessary. This combined with irregular priming makes tracking doses critical since there is no other way to tell the inhaler has medication. Many inhalers continue to dispense “doses” of inert ingredients or sub-therapeutic doses of active medication after the recommended number of doses are dispensed giving patients a false security. Inhaler load also varies greatly from 60 to 204 recommended doses, so frequent users may run out quickly. Unexpectedly empty inhalers often result in unnecessary doctor’s appointments, ER visits, and hospitalizations.
A new product, InhalerMate, helps patients and caregivers manage the challenges posed by HFA inhalers. InhalerMate is an impact- and water-resistant case with a counter that allows users to count doses dispensed from an inhaler. The case clips to purses, gym-bags, backpacks, and belts, preventing damage from dirt, moisture and rough handling.
A prescription label and the included vital information sticker can be placed on InhalerMate for patient identification, accurate dosing directions and emergency information. Patient asthma action plans also fit inside. The brightly-colored case is easily identifiable in emergencies and keeps the inhaler clean and dry.
Ensuring HFA inhalers are replaced timely is difficult for occasional users is difficult since they often discard the box, prescription label and foil wrapper. The prescription label on the InhalerMate case shows the purchase date, important for timely replacement. InhalerMate's counter is easy to use and reminds users to refill their inhalers by reminding them of doses used each time they open the case.
HFA inhalers are more expensive than the CFC inhalers. InhalerMate helps patients save on insurance co-pays from lost or damaged inhalers as well as helping patients to only refill inhalers when truly required, rather than monthly as some patients have done in the past. InhalerMate’s labeling also means fewer lost inhalers.
HFA inhalers, while environmentally friendly, create challenges for users. InhalerMate simplifies asthma management by protecting inhalers, tracking doses, and making it easy and convenient to have rescue inhalers in the right place at the right time.
Karen J. Biehle, Pharm.D, BCPS. Dr. Biehle is the co-inventor and co-founder of InhalerMate. Dr. Biehle and her sister, both asthma and allergy sufferers developed the product before HFA inhalers came to market. Dr. Biehle, who is a practicing pharmacist in a busy pediatric hospital emergency room, quickly realized the challenges patients faced from HFA inhalers. Now InhalerMate, once considered more of a convenience item, has transformed into a vital piece of the asthma management puzzle..
