Ozone-Friendly Medication for Asthma

A new version of an inhalation aerosol medication for asthma uses hydrofluoroalkane (HFA) instead of chlorofluorocarbon (CFC) as a propellant. CFC's have been banned in developed countries since 1996 but use in inhaled treatments for asthma has been excluded from the ban.

The environmentally friendly medication is Ventolin HFA (albuterol sulfate HFA inhalation aerosol), a short-acting bronchodilator that relieves sudden symptoms associated with bronchoconstriction during asthma attacks. Ventolin HFA was developed by GlaxoSmithKline (London, UK). GlaxoSmithKline says it is committed to phasing out the use of CFCs.

"The introduction of Ventolin HFA means that people with asthma can now use an ozone-friendly version of a commonly used product to manage acute asthma symptoms,” said Doug Cline, M.D., a primary care doctor at Broadway Family Practice (Camden, NJ, USA).




Related Links:
GlaxoSmithKline