The new albuterol inhalers are inferior to the old. The "innovation" was the removal of CFCs (asthma inhalers were an exception to the CFC ban, until recently)

The new albuterol inhalers are inferior to the old. The "innovation" was the removal of CFCs (asthma inhalers were an exception to the CFC ban, until recently). This required new, patentable, formulations (though the 'active' ingredient remained the same), which gave us the sucktastic, easy-clogging, overpriced sulfate-based inhalers we have today. The pharma companies were all too willing to go along with the EPA on this one. The FDA and EPA would have you believe this transition went smoothly for asthmatics. They are lying. Some people are allergic to the new inhalers (sulfates can irritate the airways), which led to the creation of a black market for the old ones, but that supply is bound to run out eventually. With insurance, I pay about $40 for one of the new inhalers (If you're poor and don't have insurance, you get to die, I guess). Generally they make my breathing more constricted for a minute or two until the albuterol kicks in, so I try to avoid taking a hit from my inhaler unless I'm really having trouble. Nice. Fortunately, since I moved to a beach town on the coast of Florida last year, I haven't needed my inhaler very often. Unfortunately, I'm no longer willing to relocate for work (dirty, city air is the worst), now that I've found a place where the air isn't trying to kill me. :)