For years the FDA has been warning asthma patients about the switch of inhaler types. As the deadline grows near, the FDA is asking patients to ask their doctors to switch now. Until now, rescue (or fast acting) inhalers contained a compound called chloroflurocarbons, or CFCs for short.

These compounds damage the protective ozone layer that shields Earth from UV rays produced by the sun. The new alternative, hydrofluroalkanes, or HFAs do not damage the ozone layer. However, there are some downsides to the HFA inhalers.

The FDA warns that patients will face a learning curve: HFA inhalers may taste and feel different. The spray may feel softer. Each must be primed and cleaned in a specific way to prevent clogs. And they tend to cost more.

Link: Fox News

These inhalers do taste different. In fact, the old CFC inhalers did not have much of a taste (that I could taste anyways). The new HFA inhalers have a sweet taste, but it is not a bad one. As far as cleaning goes — I have not cleaned my HFA rescue inhaler, and it works perfectly.

Justin