Primatene Mist to Go Off the Market

Long considered a potentially dangerous medication, over-the-counter Primatene Mist will no longer be sold in the U.S. after the first of the year. Many physicians consider OTC inhaled epinephrine as an inadequate treatment for asthma. And, they say that its availability could lead to fatal asthma events by promoting self care of a significant reactive airway disease. Remarkably, the drug is going off the market because of its use of chlorofluorocarbon propellant, not because of its relative ineffectiveness or patient safety issues. Perhaps this is the end of a less than satisfying story of American pharmacotherpy.

Long considered a potentially dangerous medication, over-the-counter Primatene Mist will no longer be sold in the U.S. after the first of the year. Many physicians consider OTC inhaled epinephrine as an inadequate treatment for asthma. And, they say that its availability could lead to fatal asthma events by promoting self care of a significant reactive airway disease. Remarkably, the drug is going off the market because of its use of chlorofluorocarbon propellant, not because of its relative ineffectiveness or patient safety issues. Perhaps this is the end of a less than satisfying story of American pharmacotherpy.

Long considered a potentially dangerous medication, over-the-counter Primatene Mist will no longer be sold in the U.S. after the first of the year. Many physicians consider OTC inhaled epinephrine as an inadequate treatment for asthma. And, they say that its availability could lead to fatal asthma events by promoting self care of a significant reactive airway disease. Remarkably, the drug is going off the market because of its use of chlorofluorocarbon propellant, not because of its relative ineffectiveness or patient safety issues. Perhaps this is the end of a less than satisfying story of American pharmacotherpy.