My husband has taken Berotec (along with Pulmicort) for many years and today our pharmacist informs me that it's been discontinued.

I did some fast research on the net and found info showing that this has been coming for a few years. Something about CFCs in Berotec and the govt phasing these out.

I'm seriously irritated that we're only finding out about this now but that's not the immediate concern.

The urgent problem is what inhaler he should take now. Ventolin (which the pharmacist recommended) doesn't work on him.

Our Doc is on holidays this week so I'm wondering - does anyone know what the recommended replacement is? Is there any option besides Ventolin?

Any help would be great!!
Thanks.

Well he takes Pulmicort - a steroid - for the long acting treatment of his asthma. Which is what I think Flovent is. What he needs is a rescue inhaler. Something short acting that stops an attack once its started.

He has used Ventolin (albuterol) in the past and it didn't work very well. In fact, he had pulmonary function tests that showed conclusively that his recovery is marginal on any of the albuterol/salbuterol family of drugs. Which is why he was on Berotec.

I talked to the pharmacist and she said there is no stock available from their supplier anymore. In any event, he's going to need something new so we're looking for any help or info we can get.

He has used a nebulizer in the past but it's not very convenient.

Right now he only uses the Berotec once or twice a week. The pulmicort has really reduced the number and severity of his attacks.

But in the spring, and during extremely humid or extremely cold weather, he might use the rescue puffer a bit more. If he finds that he's having more attacks he can increase his Pulmicort for a while and that solves the problem.

But regardless of how good the Pulmicort is he still needs a rescue puffer. There are certain plants and products that make him wheeze no matter how good his other meds are. They are his worst triggers and it's almost impossible to avoid them completely.

He did try the new Ventolin during a round of pulmonary function testing and it was not very effective at all.

I even contacted the company that makes Berotec and they don't have, and aren't planning to have, a CFC free Berotec inhaler. They only offer Atrovent and Spiriva - neither of which are rescue puffers.

Our pharmacist suggested Bricanyl. Anyone on this or know anything about it?

I really appreciate all your help on this. Any info or discussion is helpful at this point!

Thanks!