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Frequently Asked Questions
Asthma Inhalers and CFCs
Why do asthma aerosol inhalers (puffers) contain chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs)?
Why are CFCs being removed from asthma aerosol inhalers?
Is asthma medication destroying the ozone layer?
When will CFC-free inhalers be available?
Should people with asthma change their current medication?
What will be used instead of CFCs to suspend the medication and produce the pressure or puff?
Are the new propellants - HFAs - safe for people with asthma or for the atmosphere?
Which CFC-free inhalers are available now
How can people find out more information about CFCs and asthma?
Why do asthma aerosol inhalers (puffers) contain chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs)?
Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) wer used in most asthma aerosol inhalers, often known as puffers, to produce an aerosol or mist which enables asthma medication – reliever or preventer – to be inhaled deeply into the airways. Medications delivered in this way have been found to work better and more safely than many tablets or liquid medications.
There are some mechanical dry powder devices which do not contain chlorofluoro-carbons. These will continue to be available.
Why are CFCs being removed from asthma aerosol inhalers?
For environmental reasons, Australia has signed an international agreement – the Montreal Protocol – to stop producing and importing all CFCs. From 1 January 1996, new CFCs are no longer being made in, or imported into, Australia. However, use of CFCs in asthma aerosol inhalers has been defined as ‘essential’ on medical grounds and the pharmaceutical industry has been given until the end of 2005 to phase out CFCs in inhalers.
Is asthma medication destroying the ozone layer?
No, the amount of CFCs released from all medications is minimal. Historically, asthma aerosol inhalers have released less than 1% of the estimated half a million tonnes of CFCs released by all industries in Australia since the inception of asthma aerosol inhalers in the 1960s.
When will CFC-free inhalers be available?
Some asthma aerosol inhalers will be CFC-free before others but it takes time to develop alternatives and ensure they are safe and reliable.
The CFC-free inhalers are being phased in product by product. Most inhalers are now CFC-free.
Should people with asthma change their current medication?
If people with asthma are using an asthma aerosol inhaler they should keep using it through the transition period. Using CFC-containing inhalers throughout the transition period will not constitute a health and environmental risk.
People need to be reassured that the medicine they are taking remains the same and will continue to deliver the same benefits regardless of the propellants in their inhaler.
People who regularly use two or more different inhalers should be aware that they may find that one inhaler changes over to its CFC-free version before another. In this case they should continue using all their inhalers.
Not all people with asthma are able to use every asthma medication.
People with asthma should only change their medication with their doctor’s guidance.
What will be used instead of CFCs to suspend the medication and produce the pressure or puff?
CFC-free inhalers will contain propellants called hydrofluoroalkanes (HFAs) which are sometimes referred to as hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs).
Are the new propellants - HFAs - safe for people with asthma or for the atmosphere?
CFC-free inhalers will be therapeutically equivalent to the inhalers they replace. Like CFCs, HFAs have the advantage that they do not react with the active ingredients in asthma aerosol inhalers, they are stable, inert non-flammable and suitable for inhalation.
Unlike CFCs, HFAs do not contain chlorine and therefore don’t detrimentally affect the ozone layer.
The new HFA-containing inhalers will provide the same benefits, despite any minor changes in taste, feel or appearance.
Which CFC-free inhalers are available now?
The first CFC-free inhalers were introduced in February 1999 and most asthma inhalers are now CFC-free.
Dry powder inhalers continue to be available.
A stickiness problem has been found with some of the new propellants, especially Intal Forte CFC-free and Tilade CFC-free which have packs with two actuators, one to use while the other is drying after washing.
CFC-free inhalers now available are Airomir, Airomir Autohaler, Asmol, Epaq, Ventolin, Intal Forte CFC-free, Flixotide, Qvar, Qvar Autohaler, Atrovent, Tilade CFC-free and Seretide.
Dry powders available are - Bricanyl Turbuhaler, Flixotide Accuhaler, Flixotide Diskhaler, Pulmicort Turbuhaler, Symbicort Turbuhaler, Foradile Aerolizer, Oxis Turbuhaler, Serevent Diskhaler and Seretide Accuhaler.
How can people can more information about CFCs and asthma?
For more information about asthma and CFCs talk to your doctor, pharmacist or call your local Asthma Foundation on 1800 645 130.